Totally Raji
Greetings from Jodhpur!
Having a lovely time here in this ancient blue city!
Visited the fort/castle yesterday which is magnificient and I don't usually use that word to describe anything, but it truly is. Perched up on a huge sheer cliff, built in 1459 - so ornate and grand and such amazing views of the blue city below in all directions... In the Hindu temple there, I gave rupees to the donation tray, then the man there tied thread bracelets of protection on our right wrists and put red dots on our foreheads. We had dinner on an outdoor terrace in the castle with views in all directions - the food was to die for - we had thali platters with dishes specific to Rajasthan which we've never had before and were so good. We could hear a joyous festival going on in the city below and they played erie classic Raj music as we dined by candlelight...aahhh...
Today we walked around the narrow winding roads of the city west of the clock tower - such a cool experience. We ended up in this 7-story textile warehouse where they gave us a showing of their signature pieces, then we sat and had chai and chatted with the young men who work there. We bought a kashmiri scarf for me and 3 silk scarves for Josh to wear with suits, 60's style. They had pictures of Prince Charles there with his new wife and Richard Gere there and Billy Corgin from Smashing Pumpkins, who had a zoned out look on his face - ha ha. We bought a handmade camel leather collar for Mochi in a tiny alleyway, where the maker sat on the ground working. When I asked if it was camel leather (which it most likely is since cows are sacred), he had another worker there get all of the camel collars out for me to see - ha ha! They were very nice, but since I don't really have a camel, I didn't see much use for them.
Next, we go to Jaisalmer - deep into the Rajisthani desert, very close to the Pakistan border. We plan to see the fort and to go on a one-night camel trek. Then we go to Bikaner and Deshnok to see the fort there and the rat temple, where we will walk around barefoot with 1000's of holy rats. Then to Jaipur and then to Delhi and Agra to see the Taj Mahal. The new med student, Kyle, is planning to meet us in Delhi to sightsee with us - so should be fun.
Our last day in Bombay, my caretaker, Aalam, and Kyle had a swim with us at the hotel pool, which was really fun and relaxing. Then we all went to my favorite restaurant again, Moti Mahal, and had a lovely meal. Aalam had meat for the first time in many months since the guesthouse food is veg only. Then we visited the hooka/sheesha cafe, Mocha, and smoked a lemon-mint hooka together - it was my second time and Kyle and Josh's first time and Aalam seemed to be an expert.
I may post pictures after dinner - we're having Chinese food at the hotel restaurant...
namaste
Having a lovely time here in this ancient blue city!
Visited the fort/castle yesterday which is magnificient and I don't usually use that word to describe anything, but it truly is. Perched up on a huge sheer cliff, built in 1459 - so ornate and grand and such amazing views of the blue city below in all directions... In the Hindu temple there, I gave rupees to the donation tray, then the man there tied thread bracelets of protection on our right wrists and put red dots on our foreheads. We had dinner on an outdoor terrace in the castle with views in all directions - the food was to die for - we had thali platters with dishes specific to Rajasthan which we've never had before and were so good. We could hear a joyous festival going on in the city below and they played erie classic Raj music as we dined by candlelight...aahhh...
Today we walked around the narrow winding roads of the city west of the clock tower - such a cool experience. We ended up in this 7-story textile warehouse where they gave us a showing of their signature pieces, then we sat and had chai and chatted with the young men who work there. We bought a kashmiri scarf for me and 3 silk scarves for Josh to wear with suits, 60's style. They had pictures of Prince Charles there with his new wife and Richard Gere there and Billy Corgin from Smashing Pumpkins, who had a zoned out look on his face - ha ha. We bought a handmade camel leather collar for Mochi in a tiny alleyway, where the maker sat on the ground working. When I asked if it was camel leather (which it most likely is since cows are sacred), he had another worker there get all of the camel collars out for me to see - ha ha! They were very nice, but since I don't really have a camel, I didn't see much use for them.
Next, we go to Jaisalmer - deep into the Rajisthani desert, very close to the Pakistan border. We plan to see the fort and to go on a one-night camel trek. Then we go to Bikaner and Deshnok to see the fort there and the rat temple, where we will walk around barefoot with 1000's of holy rats. Then to Jaipur and then to Delhi and Agra to see the Taj Mahal. The new med student, Kyle, is planning to meet us in Delhi to sightsee with us - so should be fun.
Our last day in Bombay, my caretaker, Aalam, and Kyle had a swim with us at the hotel pool, which was really fun and relaxing. Then we all went to my favorite restaurant again, Moti Mahal, and had a lovely meal. Aalam had meat for the first time in many months since the guesthouse food is veg only. Then we visited the hooka/sheesha cafe, Mocha, and smoked a lemon-mint hooka together - it was my second time and Kyle and Josh's first time and Aalam seemed to be an expert.
I may post pictures after dinner - we're having Chinese food at the hotel restaurant...
namaste
posted by mavis | 11:12 PM
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