Jaipur is a lovely city and yesterday was another day exploring..another long and very tiring day!!
First we stopped at the Hawa Mahal (Palace of the Winds)…built by one of the Maharajas (I get them all very mixed up) so that the women of his harem could observe the streets of Jaipur.
We then went on to the Amber Fort. A fabulous structure perched up on the hills above Jaipur. This entailed getting into jeeps to take us up the hill and then going up and down stairs to view the impressive rooms including one covered in mirrors. It was really amazing, but everything is in this country.
From the Amber Fort we went to lunch at a hotel (not the one we are staying at)…the meals are all starting to have a sameness about them…always a buffet and the food is basically variations on a theme.
After lunch we went to a textile factory making block prints and fabulous carpets. We see how they are made, and they are made with incredible skill over a long period of time, and then are encouraged to buy. I resisted all temptation on this occassion, having done enough damage to date. But if I had the place for it I would just love one of those carpets.
Then we were given free time to shop in one of the fantastic bazaars that line the streets of Jaipur. Then I did do some damage biting myself a couple of tops.
From there we went to a place for dinner which was nice, outdoor dining, with dancers on the side…but when its all said and done it was a buffet in the end. Although they did have a tandoori oven and some nice tandoori chicken.
Then we had another adventure in store. From the restaurant we were picked up by jeeps to do a Jaipur by night tour. Now this really was fabulous. They light up the buildings at night and they are truly spectacular…castles on hills, the forts of course, and beautiful old colonial buildings all lit up. We went up the hill outside the city in open jeeps with the wind blowing, and the jeeps scooting along. My mates in my jeep just loved it although there were some wingers in other jeeps who felt scared (can you believe it???). We looked down on a spectacular Jaipur from about, it was a treat.
Back to the hotel in the jeeps and I joined a couple of other NBFs for a night cap before bed…then Sally coughed all night and I didn’t sleep much at all. I think its an asthma cough from all the pollution which really is bad…so I donated my precious Ventolin puffer to her in an effort to save both our sanities.