Thursday, August 13, 2009

August 13th in India





































































































































































































































































On the 13th I woke up early with a migraine and after 3 hours and 2 pills I was able to get up and around. Then we got a call of good news! Our luggage had arrived at the local airport. So we hired a driver at 12:30 for an 8 hour day. Hiring a driver in India is the best way to go. Our driver is named Surrender. It's spelled different, but that's exactly the way it is pronounced. He's fabulous. He takes us to the best places to places that we wouldn't find on our own, he stops anytime we want for pictures, he takes pictures and video for us, he helps us in every way. So we can go anywhere and be safe. He doesn't let people take advantage of us either.

After the airport pick up we dropped our luggage off and headed out for an adventure. First stop was City Palace. We had to pay to enter and we were givin an audio tour headset. The City Palace has been home to the rulers of Jaipur since the first half of the 18th century. The complex is a superb blend of Rajput and Mughal architecture, with open, airy Mughal-style public buildings leading to private apartments. Today, part of the complex is open to the public as the Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II Museum. Its treasures include miniature paintings, manuscripts, Mughal carpets, musical instruments, royal costumes, weaponry, and provide an introduction to Jaipur's princely past.

Then we were off to shop! We saw camels on the way and ask surrender if we could ride. He said he would get us a better price down the road and he did. I got on first and then Daniel. It was so, so , so fun! The camel raised up and we were in the sky! Everyone on the street smiled real big at us, some laughed, people waved. We passed some people on an elephant and they waved. Everyone that is around the camel helps, from the older men, to the younger, to the children. One helps you in your stirrup, while another takes a picture, and so on. This is to ensure everybody gets a tip. It really is their livelihood, so I was happy to tip. There was a 12 year old boy that asked for a tip after we got in the car to leave that I missed. I rolled down the window and gave him 10 rps. He said "NO, 20 rps, and don't forget my friend." His friend was a small child and so cute!

After the camel ride we took pictures of the famous Jal Mahal. Since we are here during monsoon season when the water fills the Man Sagar lake, it looks like it floats. It was built in the mid 18th century by Madho Singh 1, it is inspired by the Lake Palace at Udaipur, where the kind spent his childhood. It was later used for royal duck shooting parties.

Next Surrender took us to a small 4th generatin family owned jewelry shop in the hills of Jaipur. It was literally in the hills and just awesome! First they gave us a tour of the shop, showing us how the workers (who are also family members) take the rough natural stones and shape them, polish them etc. They they took us inside to look at all of their creations. I had to have something because unlike any other jewelry buying experience, this one was going to mean something. Everyone there was so kind. The had hancho was the one working with me and he showed me a picture of himself with Sting and himself with Stings supermodel girfriend. He said that he is friends with Sting and that Sting visits them often and has one of a kind jewelry pieces made there.

I wanted something simple. So I picked out my own irregular shaped mother of pearl stone and they are mounting it to a silver ring for me and delivering it to my room this morning. I can't wait!

Next he took us to a tailor and fabric shop almost across the street from the jewelry shop. Same kind of personalized attention. We looked through books of Indian clothing and chose two very traditional outfits. One for each of us. Then we picked out fabrics, colors, etc. They measured us and are delivering our Indian clothing this morning. We will possibly wear them to the wedding today.

At this point we are extremely exhausted so we went to eat at McDonalds in the city. Oh my goodness, I had my first veggie burger and it was just a heavenly experience!!! Do they have those at McDonalds in America?

Next and last I went to a massage parlour for an 8:30 pm appointment. Daniel couldn't get one because he didn't want a man to massage him and they don't let women massage men or men massage women. That being said, he waited in the lobby while I got a massage. The room looked like a centuries old parlour. Very dark, old, interesting, and warm. I had to use the restroom and instead of a toilet there was a hole in the ground with a flusher. Not uncommon in India, but the first for me.

Finally, our days journey was over and we were dropped off at our hotel for a good rest.

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