Day 5 - Delhi to Jaipur

Early breakfast at our hotel, nothing like a curry to start the day.  Our bus left at 8:00 in heavy traffic

It was a tad smoggy outside today

After 2 two pit stops and a variety of sites along the way, we arrived in Shahpura for lunch. But here are the details:

First, herders, rebari, herding their cattle on a 500 kilometer trek. Bus driver pulled off to the side of the highway, we all got out to meet and greet the herders.

The herder with red turban is 70 years old. The herder in the green turban is his son in law.

Next were the monkeys along the highway

Planet of the apes!

According to our guide, India is a free zoo - monkeys, cattle, goats, camels.

Then we arrived in Shahpura where we got off the bus and hopped into 5 passenger jeeps for the ride up to the restored palace for a wonderful lunch.  The streets are too narrow for big vehicles. 

Some of our group in the jeep ahead.

Streets started to get crowded and narrow.

Our lunch destination - the palace Shahpura Haveli

We were welcomed and had a red welcoming dot put on our foreheads

Marilyn with her dot.

Lunch at the palace 

Our waiters

Fortress next to the palace

After a great lunch, Indian food, we walked through the village past the animals, shops and met some children

Jewelry shop

Spices

The school children wanted to know our names, they spoke great English

We met this young girl in a men's wedding attire shop - what's your name, how old are you!

School girls that wanted to know our names and shaking our hands

Camel pulling fully loaded cart

Narrow streets filled with shops and shoppers

The fresh fruit and vegetable stands

Yes, tiny eggplants in the middle front next to red carrots.

All fresh seasonal veggies

Then back into the jeeps and back to our bus

Fortress coming into Jaipur

Temple on the outskirts of Jaipur 

Our guide, Deependra invited all of us to his room for drinks - vodka, rum, coke and/or orange juice.

A great day. The city of Shahpura, our lunch at Shahpura Haveli, meeting the school kids, and the herders made an amazing day.

Tomorrow we tour Jaipur - The Pink City.

Day 4 - Delhi

Breakfast at hotel, we went with the North Indian  breakfast - Bhaji

Good, but switching back to the Southern Indian tomorrow morning.

Riding the big bus with 14 passengers, 1 tour guide, a driver and his assistant.

Driver's assistant passing out water, in training to become a driver.

Typical Delhi traffic this morning

The poor side of Delhi

Making deliveries via bicycles

First stop - we visited Raj Ghat, monument where Mahatma Gandi was cremated.

Heading to our next destination - Jama Masjid, the largest mosque in India.

Street food

More traffic

The mosque

Rickshaw ride through the narrow streets of the Chandni Bazaar

The electric wires dangling in the lanes

 

They told us to keep our elbows inside the rickshaw, lanes were narrow and crowded

Our driver

The streets of Delhi 

Then we were off to lunch.  A nice Indian restaurant served us  family style, assorted first courses, assorted curries (chicken, vegetable, dal, and spinach), rice and ice cream for desert.

Then we headed to the house where Ghandi was assassinated 

Foot prints marking his final steps

The World Peace Gong

On various occasions, locals ask us to be in their photos.  These two did but I was able to get a picture  of them too.

We made a final stop to shop and learn about rugs.  Too expensive for us but beautiful, good thing we left credit card in hotel safe!

Tomorrow a traveling day - we leave for Jaipur - the "Pink City".  A 9 hour  trip, counting pit stops and lunch stop.