Day 7 - Jaipur

Breakfast at hotel - Marsala Dosa, I'm hooked.

Headed back to city center for another photo op of the Hawa Mahal (Palace of the Winds). Not really a palace, but a facade with Windows used by the ladies of the palace to watch the outside world without being seen.

We watched the bicycles with the heavy loads going by

Leather shop

We stopped by to see the local farmers selling their milk, interesting process.  A skilled buyer dips his hand into the milk pail and is able to determine the quality of the milk and then make an offer to buy.  He is able to determine if and how much water has been added to the milk, which drops the price.

The buyer pasteurizes the milk at home.

Milk cans loaded on motorcycles for delivery

Next stop was the Amber Fort, 16th century structure built on four levels.

The walls surrounding the fort.

Restoration work going on

On the top level

The Royal family's summer home

Stopped for lunch at Pink City

We both ordered the vegetarian lunch special, a sampling of Indian food - we weren't expecting such a large lunch

Next was a stop at fabric block printing center

Then a lesson on rug making

Burning the back side of new rugs, the burnt material just scraped away

Rug washing

Clipping the new rug

Finally, the shop - rugs, fabrics, scarves, clothing. Let's us say our luggage got heavier today!

Tomorrow we leave Jaipur and head to Ranthambore Fort National Park where to hope to see tigers.

Day 6 - Jaipur

Breakfast at our hotel, we went with the Indian breakfast - masala dosa, fresh fruit, plain yogurt and coffee/tea.

After breakfast, we went to see Jantar Mantar, an astronomical and astrological site built in the 18 th century. One of the giant sun dials is accurate to 2 seconds.

Sights traveling to Jantar Mantar

The sun dials at Jantar Mantar.

Aires

Leo the Lion

Sun dials

Then we went to the City Palace Museum.

Gangajali Jar - largest silver objects in the world. Weighs 345 kilos and 900 gallon capacity.

Time for lunch  - western lunch - sandwich, fries, and dessert

Left the palace area and walked to the market.  

People, traffic, animal watching at the market:

Shops - small space but jammed packed with goods.  Merchants almost drag you inside to look at their gods and buy.

And more shops.  We bought nothing.

Traffic

More traffic.  In Indian traffic, the following rules must be accorded at all times - In descending order give way to: cows, elephants, camels, buffalo, pigs, goats, dogs, heavy trucks, buses, official cars, pedal rickshaws, private cars, motorcycles, scooters, auto-rickshaws, handcarts, and finally to pedestrians. 

Camel

Elephant 

The bicycles carry such heavy loads

And so do the people

Marilyn's glad she's not driving

Dinner - chicken stroganoff, rice, tomato soup, apple pie with ice cream. No curry tonight.

Tomorrow an authentic Indian dinner - dining in an Indian family's home with cooking demo.