Another Day, Another Elephant Ride (it was part of the package)

We did our Jaipur tour today, November 11: the Wind Palace, the impressive Amber Fort, the astrological observatory, the City Palace, etc. The entrance fee to the Amber Fort included another elephant ride, so what the hey, we're getting good at this. (The government has limited the Jaipur elephants to five round trips per day after several collapsed, killing tourists; so our guide said). We also visited a rug and textile showroom, where Vicki further stimulated the local economy. Tonight we are resting, re-charging batteries, fortifying ourselves for the long drive tomorrow and Pushkar. Probably a camel ride too.

Vicki adds:

November 10, deepest, darkest India

Day 72 of the trip Memsahib Sherouse is feeling quite a bit exotic. Having been made gun-shy of traveling independently in India by other blogs, we are finding the personal guided trip quite interesting. We were met at the airport in Varanasi by our guide and the driver who took us first to the hotel and then again later for a boat ride on the Ganges to watch the evening ritual and see the cremations. We saw this all again before dawn the next morning. Apparently this is the only thing there is to do in Varanasi. I would advise those contemplating a trip to India to omit Varanasi, with its floating donkey corpses, crematoria, laughing yoga practitioners, bathing, washing clothes and dishes, P/A system chants, and tourist boats propelled by 10 year old boys. We were driven back to the airport where we flew to Khajahuro on Kingfisher airlines, to a quite nice hotel, the Greenwood. That evening we went to a regional dance performance, quite well done. Next morning our local guide, George, took us to a tour of the 22 extant temples in Khajahuro, of which only 2 percent, contrary to popular belief, present miniature three-dimensional depictions of the Kama Sutra or some such. But very well done.

In the afternoon the driver took us to Agra, a 4 hour drive, then a train ride of 2 hours, where we were left at possibly the filthiest, most disgusting hotel we have ever seen. Armed with our own sheets and towels, we managed for 2 nights by not bodily touching anything in the room. Agra is known for its scamming of tourists, lousy hotels, frequent power outages (20 times in 2 days), and general filth and pollution... and the Taj Mahal.

The Taj Mahal was wonderful. Photos don/'t do it justice. Unfortunately there was considerable haze, and some of our photos won't do it justice either. The haze partially cleared, and it was a magnificent sight.

We also visit the Agra Fort. Another highlight of the day was a visit to Pizza Hut, and a pepperoni pizza, which was wonderful, our first American food in 6 weeks. (I have lost at least 10 lbs).

Today we had a 7 hour drive across north central drive across north central India, and in route saw Fatiphur Sikri, a 16th century ghost-fort in very good condition, and on into Rajasthan and its capital city of Jaipur, where we are staying in a very nice, clean hotel in the city. Only one power outage so far.

Mark is typing this for me as. I am staying flat on my back to rest my shoulder, which is getting better, but very slowly.