Here in Jodhpur at the Hem Guest House, going to Jaisalemer on Sunday. I loved Udaiper, everything centres around the lake and the streets are so narrow in the older part that they don't have too many cars (which means the motorcycles go faster). Shared a taxi with a nice French couple up to Ranakpur temple and Kumbalgarh fort. The 3 hours drive up a back road was a beautiful and at times a little scary with the one winding lane for two way traffic up the mountain. Other than our constantly burping driver, it was a beautiful relaxing day.
Also went walking with an American woman and a guide about two hours outside of Udaiper. We were hoping to hike the hills but soon realized that there are no paths and they're almost straight up. Met lots of wonderful people - in ox-drawn carts, carrying many things on their heads, making bricks, washing in the river, coming out of their houses to greet us - none spoke any English and by the stares, had not seen many foreigners either. The guide told us that many have never been to Udaiper, just a bigger village in the other direction. We had lunch by a river and visited a temple in a cave, then had to bus it back to our startiang point - after 5.5 hours we were beat.
Also met Claire Grove, a very interesting British woman, my age. She owns a button and bead shop in Cardiff, Wales and comes to India to have buttons made. She gave me this fabulous round silver button with an elephant in relief and then painted. I wish I had met Claire sooner instead of the evening before I left Udaiper, we had lots to talk about and she knew the locals - I would have loved to hang out with her for a day.
The City Palace is beautiful, my favourite so far; every restaurant is on a rooftop and it's quite pretty at night with the lights on the lake river. Unfortunately, unless you are staying at the Lake Palace Hotel, you can't go there. Went to a few museums and lazed around on the huge sofa on the rooftop of my guesthouse having chai and waiting for my cold to get better and of course a little retail therapy. The guest house is a 130 year old haveli (mansion) and Raju, the owner, was born here and is the fourth generation. Also some 'cafes' where you can just sit for a tea (the first I've found in India) and they're not Indian (French and German). Food continues to be great, eating chicken dishes now and avoiding rice.
LOVE YOU BUBBA
XXXOOOOOOO
Also went walking with an American woman and a guide about two hours outside of Udaiper. We were hoping to hike the hills but soon realized that there are no paths and they're almost straight up. Met lots of wonderful people - in ox-drawn carts, carrying many things on their heads, making bricks, washing in the river, coming out of their houses to greet us - none spoke any English and by the stares, had not seen many foreigners either. The guide told us that many have never been to Udaiper, just a bigger village in the other direction. We had lunch by a river and visited a temple in a cave, then had to bus it back to our startiang point - after 5.5 hours we were beat.
Also met Claire Grove, a very interesting British woman, my age. She owns a button and bead shop in Cardiff, Wales and comes to India to have buttons made. She gave me this fabulous round silver button with an elephant in relief and then painted. I wish I had met Claire sooner instead of the evening before I left Udaiper, we had lots to talk about and she knew the locals - I would have loved to hang out with her for a day.
The City Palace is beautiful, my favourite so far; every restaurant is on a rooftop and it's quite pretty at night with the lights on the lake river. Unfortunately, unless you are staying at the Lake Palace Hotel, you can't go there. Went to a few museums and lazed around on the huge sofa on the rooftop of my guesthouse having chai and waiting for my cold to get better and of course a little retail therapy. The guest house is a 130 year old haveli (mansion) and Raju, the owner, was born here and is the fourth generation. Also some 'cafes' where you can just sit for a tea (the first I've found in India) and they're not Indian (French and German). Food continues to be great, eating chicken dishes now and avoiding rice.
LOVE YOU BUBBA
XXXOOOOOOO
This elephant had a smile on his face, he seemed very happy.
Mosque on the walking tour.
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| At Lothal, 4,000 year old well |
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| Ranakpur - with lighting and my camera, pics are not so good |
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| Outside of Udaipur, walking |
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| Villagers |
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| Walking outside Udaiper - this is their dry season, they said much greener usually |
This guy was breaking of huge chunks of rock by himself to sell to the local building company
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| Lake Palace - water looks pretty good here - it's actually green |
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| View from the restaurant/lounge area at the guest house. |
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