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November 10th.
Last night I almost fell asleep before I hit the bed, I was so tired, first good night sleep since I left home. Up at 6:00 and a quick shower. July, Martin and I decided to explore the streets before we left Bundi. The streets were just coming alive. Shop keepers were swiping away the garbage left behind from the previous day, cows were being fed, milk man delivering his milk in brass containers tied to his motorbike. An old man was happily washing is feet as he sat off to the side of the road. People here love their pictures being taken and are thrilled to see themselves so it's very easy to take. The people have so much character in there faces as well as their dress. We are as foreign to them as they are to us, we glance at each other in such awe probably each wondering why we are the spectacle of observation.
Today we drive to Bijiapur, ~ 5 hours.The landscape is becoming increasing "more hilly" as Sharlender would say.The buildings, instead of the previous mud covered with dried manure, is now rocks found locally and miles and miles of rock fences.
We are staying at Bijiapur Castle which has been in the royal family for 13 generations.We are greeted by musicians, marigold necklaces and a shower of beautiful rose petals - this is heaven.The wooden door o our 2nd floor room opens to a spacious area with an extremely large bathroom and dressing room.The hallway opens to a courtyard below with a temple and swimming pool.The grounds are surrounded by a stone wall with battlements on each corner.There is a volleyball court on the other side of the wall that the local boys play.
We had a guided tour of the small village, very different from Pachewar- one thought was that the Prince was with us at Pachewar so the villagers were behaved. Here the kids begged for pens, one girl would not let go of my arm until she realized she was getting nothing. This is a good lesson for foreigners, handing out anything to locals just encourages begging.
Drinks were served prior to dinner. The owner of the castle greeted us, as did all the previous proprietors of the properties we stayed at - it is such a wonderful gesture. Sharlinder appears to be related or in the know of all these people who seem to have "Singh" some where in their name. We sat in the courtyard and listened to musicians and watched a belly dancer - there was something odd about the dancer - Jacoba asked if it was a male - everyone was so curious trying to figure this one out, and in deed it was.
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