Dear Friend, for some reason the past few photos I wanted to publish are not going through. Both in Jodhpur and here in Udaipur, I can only make phone calls and send text messages from my cell, I have no ability of sending email, therefore the photoblog can't be updated as easily.
I had a long, tiresome but very productive day. I departed Pushkar at 7am this morning and we made the trip in 4 hours to Jodhpur (I made a good choice hiring a driving rather than relying on the bus). Once in Jodhpur I did the needeful: drop my luggage and took an auto rickshaw to the fantastic Meherangarh Fort. Amazing does not describe give justice to it. Perched up high in the old town gives it a dramatic look to it, and the views of the blue city below are gorgeous. After 2 hours touring the fort it was time to pick the baggage and head to the airport to catch the flight to Udaipur. I arrived exhausted to the hotel and took a long needed nap. I just finished dinner up in one of the guesthouses around. Despite Lake Pichola being almost dry, the look of the palaces are still magnificient. Especially in the evening where with lights it really gives an extremely romantic undertone to the city. I luckyly missed the daily showing of 007's Octupussy (it was filmed here) that is shown in many restaurants at 7pm.
I hope that my cell phone works and that I am able to publish photos, but if not I will keep on taking them and publish them once I am back in Delhi in Saturday.
30 April 2009
29 April 2009
Pushkar
My first evening in Pushkar was not at all a pleasant one.
Hardly had I arrived in town and a man was giving me flowers and urging me to do an purda (offering) in one of the ghats (bathing stations by the lake). I was able to evade him and reach my hotel, however.
After sometime to rest and shower I was ready to go about town. No sooner I started walking through the Main Bazaar and noticed all the Hebrew signs (yes, many Israelis around here) come 2 men to urge aka bully me again to do a purda since I had to show respect to Pushkar. Three times I escape them but by the third time I just gave in so that I gave in. I have of course heard about these schemes but just wanted off of my back.
So I do the ceremony, throw flowers to the ghat and then we literally start bargaing how much my donation should be. First of all he looked far from being a priest to me. So when he suggested Rs 1,000 I could not help but sneer. Donation I pointed out was what I felt I should give, something from inside me and said would donate Rs 100. Of course the whole spiel of family happiness came into play but did not budge more than Rs 200. Everything paid (that did not feel like a donation at all) he has the cheek to ask for a gift for himself from my country. Honestly did he think I was going to give anything?
Irritated I am finally able to walk around town hassle free but the mood is gone. And when I got to the hotel I fall sick. The next 2 days I just stay indoors resting and recovering. Finally this morning I decided to venture outdoors. And my initial impression of Pushkar has somehow dissipated. The staff at the hotel were always prompt and courteous and so were all the merchants I came into contact.
I decided to hire a car to take me to Jodhpur tomorrow as my tummy can still be tricky and also since the buses can be seriously delayed and unreliable. Not sure how much of Jodhpur I will see since the goal is to get to the aiport in time for my flight to Udaipur.
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile
Hardly had I arrived in town and a man was giving me flowers and urging me to do an purda (offering) in one of the ghats (bathing stations by the lake). I was able to evade him and reach my hotel, however.
After sometime to rest and shower I was ready to go about town. No sooner I started walking through the Main Bazaar and noticed all the Hebrew signs (yes, many Israelis around here) come 2 men to urge aka bully me again to do a purda since I had to show respect to Pushkar. Three times I escape them but by the third time I just gave in so that I gave in. I have of course heard about these schemes but just wanted off of my back.
So I do the ceremony, throw flowers to the ghat and then we literally start bargaing how much my donation should be. First of all he looked far from being a priest to me. So when he suggested Rs 1,000 I could not help but sneer. Donation I pointed out was what I felt I should give, something from inside me and said would donate Rs 100. Of course the whole spiel of family happiness came into play but did not budge more than Rs 200. Everything paid (that did not feel like a donation at all) he has the cheek to ask for a gift for himself from my country. Honestly did he think I was going to give anything?
Irritated I am finally able to walk around town hassle free but the mood is gone. And when I got to the hotel I fall sick. The next 2 days I just stay indoors resting and recovering. Finally this morning I decided to venture outdoors. And my initial impression of Pushkar has somehow dissipated. The staff at the hotel were always prompt and courteous and so were all the merchants I came into contact.
I decided to hire a car to take me to Jodhpur tomorrow as my tummy can still be tricky and also since the buses can be seriously delayed and unreliable. Not sure how much of Jodhpur I will see since the goal is to get to the aiport in time for my flight to Udaipur.
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile
28 April 2009
Henna tatoo
And no, I will not be getting an ear nose soon. Though men in Rajasthan do use earrings in shape of flower.
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile
Go Gunners!
Just as my thoughts were wandering I found this book in the hotel. It is an Arsenal supporter fan book entitled "A fan for all seasons". I know they play tonite or tomorrow against ManU. So Dimi do keep me posted. Or anyone else if they know the score.
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile
Dreaming of oranges, apples, grapes and Evian
So I have not been posting as many pictures lately. Well, turns out my belly is not doing so well.
On my first evening in Pushkar I had a doctor called over. And I kid you not when I say his name is Sanjay Gupta (turns out my Dr Gupta's father and CNN Gupta's father are 2nd cousins). At any rate he recommended I rest at least 48 hours before I do any travelling. Yesterday I spent the day inside the hotel room. Today I am able to go out a little bit but nothing too extrenuous. In one of my dreams yesterday I was feasting on oranges, apples and grapes and they were all fresh and cold. And how miss my bottle of Evian!
I will probably only have a glimpse of Jodhpur and not much time to see much if at all. But have to go into town to catch flight to Udaipur.
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile
27 April 2009
Jaipur
Jaipur is crowded, chaotic, smelly, dirty. There is poverty everywhere. But it is all so fascinating and people despite being a tad pushy and sometimes annoying, are also warm and mostly mean no harm.
I hired the services of an auto rick shaw driver who took me around the sites for 2 days. Ramsah (sp?) was a nice guy who spoke very good English and took me to the places I requested (eventually). Of the places I visited Amber Palace and the city palace of Jaipur really impressed me.
From day one I had to quickly had to learn that since I am a foreigner I have to pay extra on everything. Palace/museum entrances are much higher for non-Indians. Even for rickshaws or cabs they most often double the original fare. Then you have to haggle and pay only around 50% higher. Same thing happens to the things you buy. But in the end the diffence is Rs100-150 which is 2-3USD.
Ok, I can not get over older men with henna dyied hair. Yasmin wrote saying that they prefer the orange look than their greys showing. Go figure!
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile
I hired the services of an auto rick shaw driver who took me around the sites for 2 days. Ramsah (sp?) was a nice guy who spoke very good English and took me to the places I requested (eventually). Of the places I visited Amber Palace and the city palace of Jaipur really impressed me.
From day one I had to quickly had to learn that since I am a foreigner I have to pay extra on everything. Palace/museum entrances are much higher for non-Indians. Even for rickshaws or cabs they most often double the original fare. Then you have to haggle and pay only around 50% higher. Same thing happens to the things you buy. But in the end the diffence is Rs100-150 which is 2-3USD.
Ok, I can not get over older men with henna dyied hair. Yasmin wrote saying that they prefer the orange look than their greys showing. Go figure!
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile
26 April 2009
25 April 2009
Apparently the maharajas are buried here though some people may take naps as well
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile
24 April 2009
First Impressions
Dellhi is warm, hazy, chaotic.
I did not get much to see about the city since I mainly stayed in the south part of town where my hosts live. I wanted to experience the quiet Delhi. So I went to the Lodhi Gardens (park in a wealthy part of town with some nice old structures), then ventured to Humayun's Tomb (Mughal emperor- impressive mausoleum which is a percursor of the more famous Taj Mahal) and finished with a visit to Baha'I Temple which is shaped into a big lotus.
I will wait for my return to Delhi in a week to view the more emblematic landmarks such as the Red Fort or Jama Masjid. Right now I am in a train going to Jaipur. I am admiring the barren landscape and have come to see through the train window people living in slums going through their morning ablutiongs, going to school or to work, living their daily lives. This morning while my cab was driving me to the train station saw many people on the streets sleeping anywhere they could. One learns to be humble.
I also saw elephants and camels as mode of transportation this morning. Actually one thing that so far stuck on my mind is traffic. It is chaotic and the only rule is that the bigger and faster has the right of way. But on the same highway one can see cars, trucks, motorcycles, auto rickshaws going against bycycles, rickshaws and people walking. It is quite an spectacle. I am sure there are accidents; just surprised I have not seen any yet.
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile
I did not get much to see about the city since I mainly stayed in the south part of town where my hosts live. I wanted to experience the quiet Delhi. So I went to the Lodhi Gardens (park in a wealthy part of town with some nice old structures), then ventured to Humayun's Tomb (Mughal emperor- impressive mausoleum which is a percursor of the more famous Taj Mahal) and finished with a visit to Baha'I Temple which is shaped into a big lotus.
I will wait for my return to Delhi in a week to view the more emblematic landmarks such as the Red Fort or Jama Masjid. Right now I am in a train going to Jaipur. I am admiring the barren landscape and have come to see through the train window people living in slums going through their morning ablutiongs, going to school or to work, living their daily lives. This morning while my cab was driving me to the train station saw many people on the streets sleeping anywhere they could. One learns to be humble.
I also saw elephants and camels as mode of transportation this morning. Actually one thing that so far stuck on my mind is traffic. It is chaotic and the only rule is that the bigger and faster has the right of way. But on the same highway one can see cars, trucks, motorcycles, auto rickshaws going against bycycles, rickshaws and people walking. It is quite an spectacle. I am sure there are accidents; just surprised I have not seen any yet.
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile
23 April 2009
22 April 2009
19 April 2009
17 April 2009
16 April 2009
09 April 2009
03 April 2009
02 April 2009
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
