I seem to have very little time for my daily emails and this will be another late at night rush job after another big and tiring day (but with some real treats again).
We started with the plane being diverted and instead of being a 40 minute flight directly to Khajuraho, it was diverted to Agra and became a 3 hr flight. We fortunately stayed on the plane at Agra but the delay meant we were chasing our tails for the rest of the afternoon.
A quick lunch at the hotel (god but these buffet lunches are getting boring…same old, same old). No time for check in just dump our bags and then head off for the Hindu Temples of Khajuraho.
First the Western Temples which were absolutely spectacular. They included the temples of Laxmana and Kandariya. The first thing you think when you walk in is that it reminds you of Ankor Wat. The exterior of the temples are magnificently and intricately carved. Many of the carvings are erotic and many with the wonderful depiction of gorgeous women. It really was a true treat that rates up there with Cambodia. The steps up to these temples are so god awfully steep that some of the group just wouldn’t go up, but I clambered up on all fours in a highly undignified manner but I wasn’t going to miss out.
By this time the sun had set and we still hadn’t seen the Jainj Eastern Temples. So we set off and it was getting dark as we entered. The Jainj monks live their lives totally naked and indeed there they were totally starkers sitting and walking around. We were even allowed to take photos, no worries (I couldn’t get the bloody flash to work) but I had a go…enough male nakedness to last this month!! We were then ushered up to where the Guru sat with some other monk in a dark room upstairs. We walked in a slow procession past him. Everyone kept telling us how lucky we were to have been invited in. But by the time we came out it was dark and we had to abort the effort to see the Eastern temples which means going 2 hrs earlier in the morning (bugger).
From there we went to an art and cultural centre which was a giant emporium and also the place where we were getting a dance display. It was at this point that things started going pear shaped !! First thing was that some of our group realised that we had left 2 members behind at the Jainj Temples. They are a couple who struggle a bit and hadn’t wanted to take their shoes off again…well when we finished no-one thought twice as we walked off back to the bus. The tour guide frantically took off to find them and then the youngest and I must say lovely girl in the group emerged from the bus in floods of tears. She had apparently been abused by another woman on the bus who thought she was flirting with her husband….more about that when I get home but it was/is quite a little drama. By the way the missing couple were found.
We then had the dance show which was beautiful with the most divine costumes, singing and dancing. Far more enjoyable than I would have imagined. Back for another buffet and now off to bed for another early start.
I getting along quite well, I am getting everywhere and doing better than some. I am developing my own little group of mates. Sally and I tend to do our own thing during the day which is good.
Another big day tomorrow as we head off by bus and train to Agra…after seeing the temples we missed today. Its a cracking pace!!