Day 3 continued...

When the train arrived at Jaipur station, our driver and representative from our tour company were waiting for us as we stepped onto the platform. I thought this was slight overkill until we exited the station - I was super grateful as our driver shielded me from much unwanted attention.

We had a short drive through the beautiful pink city which is home to 3.8 million people and arrived at the Trident Hotel. Wow - we thought the hotel in Delhi was great but this was something else. The service was superb, the room beautiful and the views to die for.

After a quick break, not really time for a much need rest, we met our new tour guide and drove part the Palace of the Winds or Hawa Mahal. This is so named because it was essentially a high screen wall built so the women of the royal household could observe street festivities while unseen from the outside.

Shortly afterwards arriving at the City Palace which is a palace complex in the capital of the Rajasthan state. It was the seat of the Maharaja of Jaipur. The Chandra Mahal palace now houses a museum but the greatest part of it is still a royal residence. The palace complex, located northeast of the centre of the grid-patterned Jaipur city, incorporates an impressive and vast array of courtyards, gardens and buildings.The tour included beautiful architecture, marble sculptured and hand painted facades and an amazing collection of textiles.

Yasemin, I took the opportunity to have my Han painted in henna and purchased some for you. Shane Moon I thought of you!

We spent some time observing the work of an amazing artist who has been painting in a traditional style since the age of 7, using a brush with a single squirrel hair. His work was incredibly detailed and he had many pictures on display of himself with clients including Prince Charles and Bill Clinton. It was impossible to resist.

Another carpet shop followed by a woodblock printing demonstration which was great. I was entranced with the hand printed bed sheets and scarfs.

The following pictures show a demonstration of a very basic four colour elephant print, using natural dyes. Traditionally the print would lay in the sun for eight hours for the dyes to change to their natural colour. Using acid this process was sped up, to show us what the final colors are.

The heat was still intense and we eventually arrived back at the hotel in the early evening. Exhausted but looking forward to a cold beer. I was impressed with the many activities for children including the puppet show with the most beautiful handmade puppets.

Another long but amazing day, more in Jaipur tomorrow before a big drive to Agra and the Taj Mahal!

Day 3 Delhi to Jaipur...

Today were woken at 4.30 am with a wake up call. By 5.10 we had checked out and were on our way to the railway station for our 6.00am train to Jaipur.

The city of Delhi with a population of 20 million people was already bustling and as we were soon to discover that the busiest places in India are the railway stations. Complete and utter chaos is the only way to describe it. Horns honking, lights, crowds, stepping over sleeping bodies and swerving many pot holes and obstacles while racing to the platform was one way to wake up in a hurry.

I am really glad we had first class tickets, clean and comfortable but nothing fancy. I hate to think of the experience in 3rd class, single sex, non air-conditioned carriage if we had travelled on a tour with Intrepid! 

As the train departed the station, we experienced the first real poverty we had seen on mass since arriving in India. The slums were built so close to the train line in places I could have touched the walls through the window with my hand. It was a real eye opener watching people waking up to begin their day.

Garry was unimpressed as I took photos from the open door of the carriage while the train was moving.

We had a lovely breakfast box packed for us by our hotel. 

But the food on the train just keep coming. Water, juice, tea, bread and spreads, cereal with warm milk and vegetable samosa's. I sampled a tiny bite of the samosa before remembering my vow to not eat anything that wasn't from our hotel. 

Day 2 continued...

Yesterday was a very long and hot day.

After leaving the tomb on the walk back to the car we met a snake charmer, with a live Cobra. I knew if you were with us Max you would have insisted, so this is for you!

On our way to lunch we passed a number of sites including Parliament House and India gate.

After a quick stop for a cold beer and a snack in a funky little bar we had one stop to go.

Late in the afternoon we visited Ghandi's museum. It was fabulous and perhaps my favorite part of the day. It was amazing to walk where he walked his last days, stand where he prayed and see the assassination spot. It was a very moving place to visit.

The following images depict the place Ghandi was sitting before he walked through the garden to pray, and was assassinated.

Although not on our itinerary, it was a great place to visit - thanks Trish Morgan! The museum was full of Ghandi's sentiment of peace, a moving experience. Many Indian women asked to be photographed with me in front of the world peace chime, and we were extended a kind offer of dinner at a family's home in the evening.

My favorite mural in Delhi is on the wall of the police headquarters in the city centre of Ghandi.

We arrived back at our hotel after five - it was a day filled with brilliant colour, sound, smell and sentiment. The Indian people we have met have been very warm, friendly and inquisitive.

Yasemin, I knew you would have been intrigued by the doorman at our hotel so this is for you.