A Passage to India

[KitKat]

Then it was off to Jaipur. The roads to Jaipur seemed to be better. Less potholes, travelled at faster speeds. Was actually not that keen to travel at high speeds because of the danger of accidents at high speed! There were still hazards on the roads – vehicles travelling at really slow speeds, in the opposite direction, speed bumps on the highway..


lots of these drying on the roadside

Had a pit stop at one of the rest areas. Decided to have fried chicken for lunch, tasted OK and was at least freshly and fully cooked.


The countryside between Agra and Jaipur seems to be a little more lush.

 

[cmon0005]

Amazing photos!!

Bringing back good memories of my trips there.

 

[KitKat]

After about 6 hours from Agra we made it to Jaipur. There seems to be a little more order in this city. They had traffic lights which seem to be obeyed.

 

[KitKat]

"Good sleep overnight but woke with some abdominal cramps.. uh-oh…let’s say the runs has begun… so from this time onwards let’s say I was quite regular"

You have just made certain that we will not be visiting India.
Mrsdrron is freaking out enough over Africa!
So I am enjoying your TR even more as this will be my only experiences of India-through the eyes of fellow AFFers.

As we left India, I felt that I would not return... However as I write and think about our experience there I feel that I would return some day. The runs were not that bad and was fixed eventually with some norfloxacin. It was an adventure for us and we did do it in comfort which I highly recommend.

 

[Fantic125]

"Good sleep overnight but woke with some abdominal cramps.. uh-oh…let’s say the runs has begun… so from this time onwards let’s say I was quite regular"You have just made certain that we will not be visiting India.Mrsdrron is freaking out enough over Africa!So I am enjoying your TR even more as this will be my only experiences of India-through the eyes of fellow AFFers.

Gastro-Stop worked wonders for me to 'ahem', "slow the flow" when I was there in 2011 (for 7 visits in 8 months).

A Yakult every morning I found also helped.

 

[lmere12]

I'm with you drron, really enjoying your pics and TR KitKat ..... !

 

[Sprucegoose]

The "artwork" behind the bed looks like a cowhide pattern. :shock:

Clearly the unluckiest cow in India!

great TR KK..

 

[SeatBackForward]

lots of these drying on the roadside

Dried cow Manure. It gets re-used as fuel.

 

[KitKat]

Dried cow Manure. It gets re-used as fuel.

Yep, a bovine gift that keeps giving.

ITC Rajputana
Arrived at another oasis, check in was painless. Benefits explained and upgraded to a suite again. This hotel had a very impressive lobby.


Room was a little dated but again appreciated the space of the suit.


Had some lamb “kebabs” for dinner. A change from curries!


Unfortunately second night was a problem! I think there was a problem with the hot water pressure and the shower was either cold or colder… Had this looked into twice but the fix was transient.. Reported this on check out, only response was an apology.

 

[KitKat]

So the next day we explored Jaipur. First off was to Amer Fort. Took about 30 minutes from the central of Jaipur (old town) to Amer Fort.




Some scenes of the old parts of the Pink City. The Hawa Mahal.


Some locals at work

 

[KitKat]

Sun was out and it was quite warm hiking up the path to the fort. You have the option of having an elephant ride up to the fort in the mornings but we were not keen to do this. So we walked. It is an easy walk, you don’t share the path with the elephants for most of the walk up so it is quite safe.


Amer Fort


Jaigarh fort (above Amer Fort)



let sleeping dogs lie..

 

[KitKat]

Path up to the fort


elephants on the path up


First courtyard


Maota lake and garden

 

[KitKat]

elephants on the way up

Mirror palace

 

[Pushka]

My husband and son travelled to many of these places last Christmas, for a month. They went vegetarian and didn't get any tummy troubles which for them was really unusual.

 

[KitKat]

Yes, a friend did also remark that going vegetarian would be safer… but I cannot live on veggies alone!
The fort had very little artefacts in them but one could imagine the splendour that was…
After wandering around, it was an easy walk down the hill. Our driver was waiting for us in the car park. The vendors were not that persistent here.


last view of the fort from gardens below

 

[KitKat]

Well this is Jaipur, so off to another fort – Jaigarh Fort. Road up was quite narrow at some spots, occasionally one had to reverse to allow a bus to pass. One needs to be brave to drive on this path..
A little bit to walk to get to the various attractions at this fort. For me, the main attraction is at the back of the fort where you can look down on Amer Fort.




View of Amer Fort from Jaigarh

It was getting a little hot by now, time to get back to the hotel for lunch. Stopped by the lake to have a look at Jal Mahal from a distance.


Jal Mahal

 

[straitman]

Yes, a friend did also remark that going vegetarian would be safer… but I cannot live on veggies alone!

Vegetarian is the go IMHO depending upon the situation. Quality* restaurants are OK for meat dishes but we were advised to stick to vege on the the train and for flights as they are the times you cannot afford to get sick.

* Not really sure how to define "Quality" though.

 

[KitKat]

Back to the serenity of the hotel compound and some meat
Goat curry and club sandwich




some ice cream to finish off the meal

 

[KitKat]

After lunch it was off to the City Palace, part museum but most of it still a royal residence.


entrance to city palace

doors decorated with metal ornaments



close up view of metal ornaments

inner courtyard

 

[KitKat]

A little more artefacts here as I guess this was a museum... but no photos allowed in the exhibit areas.

Soon it was time to leave the museum. Took a long time to get back to the hotel as there seemed to be only one way to get in and out from the City Palace museum.
Some views to share on driving around Jaipur..