On The Desert Road
Thursday, October 27th, 2005Since our last entry we have traveled around the state of Rajasthan, from Mandowan and a hotel the like of a palace in Indian Jones and the Temple of Doom – double wooden doors to enter room, high ceilings, painted art work, opening on to central cout yard lobby – to a 5 star mud hut in the desert and thats just some of the accomotation we have stayed in.
Biskaner was our 4th day in India, we visited Junagarh Old Fort. The first of many forts, palaces, temples, and museams. Moved on to the Golden city of Jaislmer, which is entiley built out of a golden sandstone brick, so looks gold(ish) those newer buildings our painted a golden coluor to match. It has an interesting fort dating back 855 years, the highlight was a little museam called Desert culture and Folklore museam. I’m not the biggest fan of museams but this one is a private collection of a Mr. Nand Kishoe Sharama, who is a very interesting Little man who remembers the time before independance, and was kind enough to take us on a tour of his collection, well worth a visit.
After Jaisalmer was Jodpur and another Fort!
We moved up into the mountains after Jodpur and away from the crazy cities, traffic is nutts. To a peaceful forest hotel and a very nice hindu temple. We just can’t remember the name of the place! We spent much time just hanging around the accent temple, unlike many in India it wasn’t a tourist trap no mineral water stands, no kids selling postcards. Just peaceful, with the strangest religous moment of our lives: There is no entry fee to the temple (which is made entirely made of white marble and looks like a temple u would imagane in ur mind) there is a holly man with great english skills walking around with a donation tray. The holly man walks towards us and introduces the temple and himself and then blesses us a honoured guests placing an orange bindi (dot on forhead) and then asks for a donation, “as much as u like”. Seems fair to us I give him some change around rs 20 while Amanda has no smallish change asks me if I have any more cash (unable to give too big a donation need money to get tea no atms in forest) Holly man opens donation tin and pulls out change, i’ve never seen anything like it made us laugh, getting change from a donation and from a holly man no less.
after swinging past Udaipur we found Pushkar, more of a backpackers haven. Wlked up 586 steps plus slops to the top of a mountain to visit a temple and watch sun set. Skiped the temple and watched the sun set with a group of other backpackers. The market in pushkar is very good, and the holly lakes are surrounded by the town. They are holly so you ust take of your shoes 40 feet away from the edge, somthing we didn’t know and which equalled some shouting from local people. Puskar was enjoyable and nicely laid back, with some temples that we skiped after two weeks we were templed out.
We moved to Jaipur (I hope people are following this on a map) to Jaipur the Pink city look more orange to me. at the City palace have seen the worlds largest individual piece of silverwear a big jug. Visited the Amber and tiger forts, and watched a modern bollywood film at the cinema. The film was very chessey in hindi and english, it was enjoyable and a nice evening out something different recommended. The audience partisipation is second to none, shouting whisling at the screen. Lots of shouts during bikini scenes on beach.
curently in Varanase have seen the taj mahal and river ganges, very impressive. we now are back packing as we have no driver, FREEDOM!!! been on a rickshaw a few times always funny as some bloke peddles away with us sitting in the back, i’m not exactly light weight poor guy. the roads make it a fun ride as the pot hols sometimes turn into roads, sometimes.
Amanda is coming down with a cold so chances are i’ll get it sometime in hongkong, something to lookforward to.
In other news 3 weeks in and miller smells! today amanda washed my towel for me as it smelled, i knew it did but was holding out until the next wash, early next week. but it was stinking out the bathroom. got pictures next week i leave all my lothes to smell maybe i get them washed. maybe not.
doing well have sent some postcards, be good.
Miller