This morning after breakfast we met our local guide Ahjay (?) and headed off to the Amber Fort as the elephants only take up 1000 persons each day and you have to be early to secure a first-come, first serve basis.
En route we took a detour through the Old City to see the Palace of Winds, built for the royal ladies to be able to enjoy the parades without being ‘seen’. It is situated on the main road and is hecticly busy, as luck would have it we had to cross the road (in early morning rush hour) to get a good pic. It was worth the pic though and the sites we saw on the street.
Then we stood in-line for the elephant-ride, captive audience for the very persistent hawkers of elephants, umbrellas, hats, jewelry, pens and books. They only use female elephants for this task as it is a narrow ramp and bringing male elephants together in such close proximity is just ‘asking for trouble’ đ The “grande dame” of this little troop is approximately 70 years old.
The ride was bumpy, but more comfortable than expected. Although trying to take pics with one hand and steadying with the other probably does not enhance the experience. Our lady kept on spitting – she had quite the attitude. Sara’s first had to take a bathroom-break before they could head off.. real lady.
The palace was incredible, especially the mirror palace and domes in the kings’ quarters. The ‘favourite wife’ even had her own hot water jaccuzi. The other eleven had to make do without it… it’s a hard life ;P
Then we stopped at the water palace (actually a garden in the middle of a man-made lake) and took pictures. We looked at some very ornate slippers… where there’s tourists, there are hawkers – its like they are attracted by the click of the camera’s like moths to a flame.
Eventually lunch at a very nice restaurant with a turban museum exhibit, henna tattoo artist, musician and palm-reader/astrologer thrown in the mix. They had the most beautiful Ganesha statue at the back of the restaurant behind a curtain of shiny discs. I think he’s my favorite of the Hindu Gods.
The girls had their palms read and later the evening our indian horoscopes were delivered in a folio at the hotel – should make for some interesting late-night reading.
After lunch we visited a place that extracts, cuts, polishes and sets gemstones into jewelry pieces – all made by hand. Poor, poor Adam. Sara had a pendant made and chose two pre-set garnet pendants for her family. Csilla got a silver bracelet and I got a star ruby pendant set in gold with a gold chain. We chose the stones for our pendants, then chose the setting and lastly the material – silver, gold (white/yellow). Sara went with white, I went with yellow as my star in my stone has a golden sheen. I know that white sheen in star ruby is ‘higher quality’, but I like mine – it’s different.
Then it was Adam’s revenge on the girls – we went to a textile place, saw how block printing is done and then looked at textiles, pashminas etc. Adam had a custom made Indian suit (Long coat-like jacket and traditional pajama pants) measured up and made for an upcoming Indian wedding he is attending back home. He went with a deep green to compliment his green eyes. This took a while to select the fabrics and do the measurements and by then we’d turned the shop over “looking” at everything.
This is very frustrating for me because my husband will confirm that I look with my hands, I feel stuff and if possible smell perfumes, soaps, shampoos. And I scratch, the best things are at the bottom of the pile đ In India if you so much as reach out a hand in a general direction multiple “sales personnel” jump to open up packets and hold it in-front of you. They are really persistent.
Then we stopped at a small optometrist to have my sunglasses fixed – the lens fell out at the fort – OK, Ok it dropped to the floor while we were laying on the flat of our backs to photograph the dome of a room. It was in a remote corner of the kings’ quarters and quite a hidden gem. Then we had a leather strap fitted to my watch as the original one was on its last legs.
After a long day we headed home for some rest before supper in the courtyard. We had the vegetarian house special and was honoured to meet the chef. Still the best in India so far!
A lady slipped on some stairs on one of the higher floors and the doctor was called. She got carried down the stairs on a plastic chair and taken to the hospital. Bet she’ll not forget Jaipur in a hurry.
Adam retired to his room while we went to the roof terrace to watch the puppet show. A puppeteer, accompanied by a man with small drum enacted some scenes such as a dancing lady with hip-movements that will put Shakira to shame. There was a fighting soldier, who looked like he was on some illegal drug, a snake-charmer and his snake, a man riding a camel (he was more under the camel, than on it) and a magician who seemed to loose his head constantly.
He had to compete with a wedding ceremony close-by the hotel and the accompanying fireworks display – free show.
Just as we headed down our jewelry arrived and then it was time for bed.
I had to admit it was a long day and although the intentions were good, I was too tired to do the blog or even read the horoscope document.
I started the blog at breakfast this morning and it is now 5:17 pm – power-nap time.
Before I sign off I want to tell you more about Ganesha. He is the elephant-headed god and the ruler of Wednesday – he is the god of Good Luck. If hindus make a big-ticket purchase they will do the deal beforehand, but only take it into possession on a wednesday. If it is a car/motorbike etc, then will drive by the temple to obtain Ganesha’s blessing on the object (also draw a swastika on it for protection – at the temple). Every Hindu home also has a statue of him near the entrance to bless the occupants and guests. He also receives the first wedding invite from the couple – for him to ‘attend’ the ceremony and bless the union.
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