Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
Yo all- still having a fab time here in India. Currently in Udaipur, leaving tonight on an overnight bus at 10.30pm tonight, then on to a train tomorrow and finally end up in Mumbai tomorrow around 4pm. It wil be our first experience on an Indian train and bus- eak, hope we survive it.
Okay, so got about 10 days to write about again now. Sorry if it's boring, I'll keep it brief. So many funny things have happened to us, I hope I can remember them. Most of them it's a you kind of had to be there moment, but here goes....
Friday 10th Sept: Left Pushkar early to drive to Jodhpur. Took about 5 hours with our driver stopping about every 30mins for a fag break (I reckon it should have taken an hour and a half)...nevermind. Anyway...we stopped at this really wierd cafe on the side of the road where some proper wierdo's were staring at us the whole time, then more turned up. It was like they just rang their mates and they were like come and stare at some white girls for a while. We found it pretty funny to be honest! Then went to The Fort there called Mehrangarh Fort, the views were amazing of 'The Blue City'. Just a fleeting visit to Jodhpur as we went back a few nights later.
Saturday 11th Sept: Travelled to the Thar Desert for a night in mudhuts in the desert and camel safari. We got dumped on the sand dunes for an hour and they said it would be a beatiful sunset....it was cloudy...and they picked us up before the sun went down- you go figure that out...we're still trying to....anyway!!! Got back there and after being nearly persuaded to sleep open in the desert, it completely chucked down with rain....for hours and hours!!! The power cut out and we were all huddled around a little shelter with candles and flying beatle everywhere (Ami was not impressed...about the beatles). There was about 20 of us which was awesome and we were all chatting and drinking beer and swopping stories about how everyone was ripping us off. Was the best night here so far, met two girls, one from Kingsbridge and the other from Tavistock. Our drivers got really drunk on Whisky and started telling really inappropriate jokes.
Sunday 12th Sept: Got up at 5am for our 2hour camel trek at sunrise- was AWESOME!!! Drove sraight to Jaisalmer where our hotel had a pool- lush- spent the sfternoon getting sunburnt and chilling out. We were 5mins away from the Fort there and it was free to get in with loads of little windy streets with fab shops and cafes/restaurants. Went to a restaurant recommended by Roughguide- little tibet restaurant....do NOT go there. It took 2 hours to bring our food out and it was all wrong- muppets. We went off on one about how we were going to write to Roughguide- I think they were scared of us afterwards- oops!!!
Monday 13th Sept: Went into the Fort again and got henna tattoo's each. Found this cake shop and ate them like we'd never seen food before!! Chilled out by the pool.
Tuesday 14th Sept: Drove from Jaisalmer back to Jodhpur- took bloody 7hours!! Our driver wouldn't know 5th gear if it smacked him in the face. Got into Jodhpur and an Auto Rickshaw (Tuk Tuk) went smack into the back of the car. We were a bit shaken, but not surprised. We were surprised we hadn't had a car accident until now the way they all drive here. So our driver went in hot persuit of this Rickshaw, can you imagine how many there were on the road- I'm sure it was like following a yellow cab in New York. It was chucking down with rain and Deepak had his window open, this motocycle drove straight past and hurled water in the car all over him. We were laughing so hard in the back I had to put my head down- he was pretty pissed!! Gave up finding this rickshaw and went back to the hotel we were at a few nights before. Ventured out about 5.30pm in monsoon conditions to find The Lotus Cafe, recommended to us by some other travellers. The streets were like huge full flowing rivers- I KID YOU NOT!!! God knows what we were walking in- we tried not to think about it. Never found the cafe. Saw the sunset over the MehrangarhFort from a rooftop restaurant- amazing!!
Wednesday 15th Sept: Spent most of the morning and afternoon in the car on route to Ranakpur. It is in the mountains and it was so breezy and green with fresh air...it was gorgeous!!! Got dropped off at this amazing hotel, we were told there were no deluxe double rooms left, so they upgraded us to two suites. The room was awesome!!! 400 English channels (which was like music to our ears having not really watched tv since we left), the shower was wicked, there was a mini bar. We were like, sweeeeet!!! I exploded my bag everywhere in preparation to have a long hot shower, in the midst of it all we were all thinking, this is too good to be true. Sure enough there was a knock on the door. It was the manager saying our driver had made a mistake and we weren't staying at this plush hotel with a pool, but infact to somewhere 500metres down the road--- yea....cheers Deepak!! So we walked down the road (more than 500metres I might add), while our bags were driven down to the other hotel by a different driver, Deepak was nowhere to be seen, probably having yet another fag. The hostel called Roopam (if anyone is reading this, do NOT stay here), it was rank!! The first thing which raised alarm bells was the fact that the reception was a round table in the eating area. I won't even write what our room was like, all I'm saying is the mosquito net came out for the first time, with the sleeping bag liner, and we did NOT shower there!! We complained and just stayed one night instead of two. Went to the Jain Temple which was beautiful- saw Nat again with his family, well random!!
Thursday 16th Sept: Left the scabby hostel at 9am sharp to drive to Udaipur. Stpped off at a garden where we met the two Plymouth girls again randomly and met them for dinner in the Lotus Cafe...it was here...not Jodhpur- oops!!! Was awesome there. We treated ourselves to a 'Special Lassi'!!
Friday 17th Sept: Changed hotels to this gorgeous hotel on the edge of the Lake, right in the middle of town- wicked location. Went to The City Palace which was cool. Found Cafe Namaste (recommended by some other travellers we met). The apple pie was amazing!!. Went out for dinner and watched Octop**** (James Bond film), which was filmed here in Udaipur. Most rooftop restaurants show it at 7pm every night- they're mad for it here.
Saturday 18th Sept: Without boring anyone, didn't really do alot today.Went to Cafe Namaste again then watched a parade on the street here for some festival. Everyday there seems to be some sort of festival with people walking in the streets and singing whilst banging drums...don't these people have jobs???....apparantly they don't..no! Met some English people in our hotel and had soem beers on the roof.
Sunday 19th Sept: Went to Shilpgram Craft Village for a wonder round, out of season though so no stalls but still plenty of people wanting to dance for us and do puppet shows (in exchange for a buck or two- nothing is free out here). Then went to Cafe Namaste again.
Monday 20th Sept: Our last day in Udaipur- quite sad to leave but looking forward to 6 days in Mumbai. Went to post some stuff back to the UK- something simple you might think....oh no...something else I've learnt here, aswell as nothing being free, nothing is EVER simple either. First this place tried to charge us nearly 50 english quid to send stuff back, then we got a Tuk Tuk to the main post office, but before that we had to go somewhere to get the box covered in a white sheet...the guy actually sewed the sheet up on our box with a needle and thread- as if things couldn't get any weirder...or stupider, he pulled out these matches and candles and started seeling the edges of the sewn up box with candle wax printed with a brass stamp. I felt like I was watching Robin Hood Prince of Thieves when Maid Marion writes the letter to the King and seals it with candle wax- that's how bizarre it all was. If that wasn't bad enough we then actually went into the main post office (where there was no-one behind the counter, they were on lunch) to post the parcel. I don't think anyone here has heard of a que, or invasion or personal space. It was the most hilarious thing ever. It was mainly full of men in there and Jess was staring them all out. I've never experienced anything quite like it!! Anyway, got back after nealy 3 hours and you guessed it, went back to Namaste Cafe to chill out. We're just passing the time now til we have our nearly 24hour journey to Mumbai by bus, then train. I'll blog again soon it we survived them.
Nic. xxx
- comments
Hannah Short Nic - this is cracking me up!!! It all sounds so familier - I can relate to it all!! I really liked Udaipar. I remember sitting on one of the many rooftops watching Octip**** ..like you say they absoloutly love it! And in your last blog - about the guys doing the puppet show on the roof terrace - we stayed in that hotel too! It's so annoying how they want a tip for everything and try to scam you in everyway possible! Funny though :) Hope you survived the train ok....I've got a few dodgy stories but won't freak you out! Sounds like you're having a wicked time. Very envious! Keep up the blog - you'll be really glad you did it, it's great to look back on. Keep having fun my love! Can't wait to hear more stories! xxxxxxx
Mum Hey Nic, this is great - very funny. I can see a new career in journalism looming (once you've brushed up on your spelling!!). Sounds like you're having a great time and wising up to all the 'unusual' people you're meeting. Take care and keep safe. luv you, xxxxx