After being sickly for the whole of our stay in Pushkar, we welcomed a change in scenery to the four walls of our hotel room. A short taxi (we just couldn’t be bothered with the bus) and a short train trip later, we arrived in Jaipur in the dark and were intercepted by a kindly rickshaw driver, named Ali, who led us to the prepaid rickshaw stand and proceeded to fit the three of us, and our luggage into the back of his rickshaw, which just happened to be the smallest rickshaw in the area. Kate had to sit in the front with one arm around the driver so as to not fall off. He was talkative and really lovely, and convinced us to arrange a meeting time at 10am the following morning for a full day city tour. We told him that if we were well, we’d meet him out the front of our hotel. If we were still sick, we wouldn’t come. So we went in and set up our room, moved the tv out of the way so there was room for a mattress on the floor. Feeling peckish, we set out for a walk to try to find an eatery. Failing miserably in the dark, we caught a rickshaw to a restaurant marked in the Lonely Planet that appeared to be close to other restaurants. We decided to check the menu in a place called “Copper Chimney” but before we could even do that, we see a familiar face sitting at a table for two, deep in conversation. Feeling awkward now, and knowing that we can’t leave the restaurant without saying hi but not wanting to interrupt their intimate dinner, we decided that we just had to say something. We walked up to the table and said tentatively, “Michael?” and he turned to look at us with shock and amusement in his face. What are the chances of running into someone you know in a city in India! We decided to take the table of three next to Mike’s and Hilary’s table, and we swapped stories from our time in India since leaving Jamkhed. Amazing. Not really feeling up for much food, but realising this menu was definitely out of our budget, we resigned ourselves to the fact we were just going to grin and bear it. The girls got plain-ish fried rice, and I chose vegie korma and rice, which I thought would be fine. It was really yummy, and I’d got my appetite back a bit, so it went down a treat. We caught a rickshaw (all 5 of us) back to a hotel that we’d established was quite close for both parties, and turns out we are staying in the hotel next door!! Crazy weird.
Having a bit of a tummy upset before going to sleep and then again on waking up, I decided to skip breakfast and try to get better by not eating anything. The girls were having breaky and running late, so I went to meet Ali out the front so he wouldn’t think we’d stood him up. He wasn’t there so I went back inside. Again I went out to check, and a driver waved to me. He had a hat on, so I struggled to recognise if it was the same guy. He came up the ramp to talk to me, and as he got closer I was less sure: he didn’t seem to recognise me. I said, “Ali?” and he looked really shocked and nodded... it wasn’t the same guy, but he had the same name! He asked me our plans and then I was sure it wasn’t the right guy because our other Ali was set on what he wanted us to see. I went back to see if Kate and Hye Jin were ready, and they came out with me to meet our new guy. We told him we’d arranged with someone else, and he told us that if he said he was coming at 10, he would’ve been there at 9:30, not making us wait to 10:30am. We took his word for it, and at 10:30, started our trip around the city. On the way out of the street into our hotel, we passed what looked like our original Ali on the way in, waving to us. Too late, we’d already started with this other Ali.
He took us to the City Palace and warned us not to buy anything in this area because it was tourist price and too expensive. Then we went to the Jangar Mantar (Calculating Instruments) exhibition... where there were heaps of amazing sundials and zodiac calculators built out of stone. Accurate within 20 seconds (with the adjustment of 25 mins to local time, not Indian national time...) they were amazing because they were built in like, the 1700s!! We shared a tour guide with a lady called Liz from San Francisco who was in India for a wedding, and who should be bump into: Michael and Hilary!! The five of us in our two respective rickshaws then set off for the Amber fort, and, opting against to 1000 rupee option of riding an elephant to the top, took the free ten-minute walk up. Our driver asked if it was ok if he went to the mosque for prayer time for 20mins and we said it would be fine! Although a little energy-depleted from not eating breakfast, it was quite fun exploring the maze-like routes around the fort!
We took photos at the water palace and then we persuaded to go to the “Moghul Bazaar” which was essentially just a fabric factory selling doona covers and other embroidered, printed or tailor-made items. I succumbed and spent a bit more than intended. But I like what I bought. Then, coming back out to no driver, we were informed he’d just ducked off to the mosque again. We chatted to the factory workers for a little, til he came back. Then to the silver factory, where we decided not to buy anything, but I think our driver still got paid for bringing us there. He took us to a restaurant that we’d agreed to meet Mike and Hilary, and I had a cheese toastie and some chips with tomato sauce. I thought that would be a safe option, but, sitting here writing, I’m still sick L I thought I was better. Damn. If it lasts much longer, I’ll be taking my azithromycin and hoping for the best. Oh, how I hope it’s not a worm...
Tomorrow we’ll be having an easy day in Jaipur, probably trying to find some less touristy shops to go shopping for little gifts and gadgets. If anyone thinks of anything they’d like, which will be easily transported, let me know in the next 4 days so I can go looking!!
Prayers for good health for Kate, Hye Jin and myself would be greatly appreciated, and for tomorrow and the next day in Agra (Taj Mahal): Mike and Hilary said it was very full-on, with hawkers not taking no for an answer.
Much love to you all. Remember to facebook message me or email me if you want to skype for Christmas. Miss you. xxx
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