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Hello. About to leave Jaipur where I've been for the last two nights. Rajasthan is quite hot and full of history but i think i'm getting used to it. As I am with India. I feel like I'm already beginning to understand something of the psyche and there's so many contradictions coming to the fore. The place is friendly, hostile, polluted, beautiful and has extremes of wealth and poverty so closely juxtapositioned I'm not sure you'll see such obvious and unashamed discrepancies in many places.
Jaipur itself is ok (faint praise i hear you say). Apparently it's the 'jewellery capital' of India but i've manged to control my not so strong shopping instincts in spite of rickshaw drivers detours. Jewellery production seems to involve lots of factories and children anyhow so probably should refrain anyway. Having said that, so much of what i normally consume probably involves this sort of stuff so i really should pay more attention. I went to the fantastic Amber Fort yesterday were i was shown around by a very (physically) fit 57 year old and the night before i went to Galta or 'the monkey palace', site of a forgotten Hindu Temple overrun by wild monkeys where a small tribe/cult of Hindus still reside. As if nobody told them the humans have gone. Eeerie and somewhat apolcalyptic - i've got some decent photos which i'll try and upload soon. You'll have to be content with some random elephants courtesy of STA for now.
Off to Jailsalmer tonight on a Sleeper train that departs at midnight (allegedly) and only takes 13 hours. Exacerbating this siuation is the fact that I've only been able to get 'sleeper class' which isn't sounding very appealing at the moment and i hope i have some luggage by the end of it! See www.seat61.com
Reluctant to leave since i've met many interesting travellers here but i've got to get going if i want to do as much as i've set myself. Jaisalmer is scrub desert on the border with pakistan so a white Englishman shouldn't have too many problems turning lobster red! Oh yeah, i'll probably go on a camel safari since that is the thing to do there. What a tourist!
For those tuning in for beardwatch i'm sorry to dissapoint but am still fairly well shaven. The hair might be in for some salon hardcore esq treatment soon though.
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