The group headed back to the Palace this morning and we
all walked through some of the village.
Parts of the village were very reminiscent of European Medieval towns
with walls and buildings right up to the road.
Of course, the bands of monkeys shattered that illusion.
We also gave away the first round of gifts to kids. As we started giving out gifts the word got around and soon we had a large contingent of children following us. Most of the gifts were school supplies like pens, pencils, and markers, and a few toiletries snagged from the hotels.
We then headed to the Samode Bagh (the hotel that the rest of the group had stayed at the night before) so that they could
check out and we could see the facility. That facility has beautiful gardens with fountains and lovely flowers and is enclosed by a wall.
We were able to see the “tent” cabins. Each room was a stand alone structure with normal walls and ceilings and they had a front patio overlooking the inner gardens.
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However, the outside roof was draped with canvas to look like a tent as was the inside ceiling.
We were able to see the “tent” cabins. Each room was a stand alone structure with normal walls and ceilings and they had a front patio overlooking the inner gardens.
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However, the outside roof was draped with canvas to look like a tent as was the inside ceiling.
The effect was lovely and fitted well into the garden.
Jessica did note that they had a visitor in the bathroom the night before.
The drive to our next stop was typical of all of our other drives in that we saw interesting conveyances and heavy traffic.
Motorcycles are common, and you often see up to three people on one, four is not uncommon, five is somewhat rare, and six very rare. We saw all of that, but the one with six moved too fast in traffic for us to take a picture. But here is a motorcycle carrying a family of five.
There were many markets,
and lots of wildlife and domestic animals.
Our next stop was a relatively small town where we stopped at a hotel right beside an old fort. This hotel was a Haveli that was owned by the same maharaja that owned the palace and garden hotels we had stayed at the night before. It had a lovely entrance gate and gardens with views of the fort.
The hotel was absolutely gorgeous, obviously retaining much of the architecture, art and furniture from when it was a private home of the maharaja. The interior was just as opulent as the palace interior but on a smaller scale. Right next door was a rather dilapidated looking building that is apparently part of the same structure. We were told that they are also in the process of renovating it to add another 40 some rooms to the hotel.
From this hotel we headed out on a camel cart ride through town...
and into the fields around the town.
We stopped at a small complex of buildings that was the family home of our local guide. The men and boys, and a few of the more daring women and girls, welcomed us to their home.
We sat on a large covered veranda and were served some of the best chai masala tea we had yet had in India. The women and girls eventually started warming up to the silly tourists.
The terrace was just across from the animal sheds where there were a number of cows hanging around, including what looked to be a newborn calf.
Jessica did note that they had a visitor in the bathroom the night before.
There were many markets,
and lots of wildlife and domestic animals.
Our next stop was a relatively small town where we stopped at a hotel right beside an old fort. This hotel was a Haveli that was owned by the same maharaja that owned the palace and garden hotels we had stayed at the night before. It had a lovely entrance gate and gardens with views of the fort.
The hotel was absolutely gorgeous, obviously retaining much of the architecture, art and furniture from when it was a private home of the maharaja. The interior was just as opulent as the palace interior but on a smaller scale. Right next door was a rather dilapidated looking building that is apparently part of the same structure. We were told that they are also in the process of renovating it to add another 40 some rooms to the hotel.
From this hotel we headed out on a camel cart ride through town...
and into the fields around the town.
 |
| Sambars |
We stopped at a small complex of buildings that was the family home of our local guide. The men and boys, and a few of the more daring women and girls, welcomed us to their home.
We sat on a large covered veranda and were served some of the best chai masala tea we had yet had in India. The women and girls eventually started warming up to the silly tourists.
The terrace was just across from the animal sheds where there were a number of cows hanging around, including what looked to be a newborn calf.
We shared pictures all around and posed for a group picture
then headed back to the Haveli hotel for lunch. On the way we ran into a "traffic jam" in that too many vehicles were trying to get through the same small gate at the same time and NO ONE will back up.
Then it was back on the bus for a ride to Jaipur, the capital
of Rajasthan. Our hotel is the Shahpura
House, town home of another maharaja, turned hotel. The hotel was still decked out in lights from
the Diwali festival. It had a lovely,
festive look and pretty grounds with a pool in front.
then headed back to the Haveli hotel for lunch. On the way we ran into a "traffic jam" in that too many vehicles were trying to get through the same small gate at the same time and NO ONE will back up.
 |
| Tight fit. |
We had dinner on the rooftop terrace and enjoyed
musicians and dancers. Some members of
the group were even lured out onto the dance floor to dance with the pretty
ladies.
Then off to bed to rest up for our next day of sightseeing.
Then off to bed to rest up for our next day of sightseeing.
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