Jaipur. The Pink city

Today my driver and a different guide took me sightseeing in Jaipur known as the Pink city as the centre is all painted Pink
We went to the Amber fort which was v interesting.
Jaipur is a walled city and seeing the walls extended over the undulating hills of the city was remarkable.
The traffic was insane and we queued for at least an hour in the car, to get to the top of the hill which is the entrance to the Amber fort.
At one point my guide and I got out and walked round so he could show me a water storage facility. ..at which i also spotted a beautiful kingfisher.Then we waited until the driver who remained in the queue caught up and jumped back in the car ..
My guide was very informative and seemed to know everyone ,everywhere we went.
The Fort had stunning architecture and amazing views
as well as beautiful gardens ,which appear to float especially when the water rises .
A light show does happen on occasions
Sadly there was an opportunity to arrive at the fort on an elephant but I declined. I was upset to see that this was happening. The oldest elephant in service is 57yrs old .It is a steep climb .Each elephant does 4 journeys apparently before returning to their elephant park base . The elephants looked weary i thought and carried several people plus the elephant owner .It was undoubtedly a nostalgic thing to see of a time gone by. My experience at the elephant sanctuary in Sri Lanka came to mind .I did struggle with this part of today's trip. My guide understood and also didn't like this practice. He is a member of a group that aims to protect the animals.
There were so many couples having professional pre wedding photoshoots .Apparently this is normal as the wedding days are too busy ,so this is seen as a good opportunity to get photos and to become acquainted. Some photos will happen on the wedding day .The actual wedding outfits are not worn for the photo shoot.
When we returned to the car,after looking round the Amber Fort, it was jammed in by all the other cars .It was mind boggling, like tetris. How my driver got the car out without incident is a miracle.
I was taken to a community craft place where handmade rugs are made and handprinted fabric also
It was incredible to see each knot being made on the loom by hand
to make an entire carpet or rug and then another man sitting all day separating the tufts whilst another uses scissors to trim the tufts..there is no way I could do their jobs ,so I admire them.
It takes weeks of painstaking work to create the beautiful products.
Inevitably I got taken to a showroom where things became really uncomfortable as I was shown several undoubtedly beautiful rugs which they could ship VAT free etc ....a definite expectation to buy ...I can't blame them they are trying to make a living but it was really tricky.I was upset that I couldn't support them as I just don't need a rug .
Things got worse when the guide asked how I got on and I said uncomfortable as I felt I was expected to buy....unfortunately the owner is his friend ..oops.
So when we stopped at the palace on the lake...suddenly there were no offers to take photos ..I think while he recovered from my feedback..he declared it a cultural difference.
I did apologise and tried to explain that I cared about their situation but felt bad because I couldn't help ,because I didn't need what they were selling
I was just mindful they'd benefit if I bought the carpet but couldn't help cos don't need one.
Based on this I declined to visit Gem making as I absolutely didn't want to feel the same about not buying jewellery.
We crawled back through the traffic to the main part of the Pink city so we could go to the palace museum and the observatory.
The traffic was still insane so the guide decided we would get out in the middle of the road and walk.
This was one unique experience with cars beeping scooters up my backside,cars at the side of me at the same time and squashed in a group of people walking along.
Actually I loved the authenticity of it .Crossing the road you take your life in your hands ,but you simply have to go for it and hope for the best !😳😂.
.Its a familiar experience to be honest from other Asian countries I've visited and from Morocco.
The palace museum was interesting, many things had very high gold, silver and jewels content . There were 2 enormous silver jars which had been taken to Buckingham Palace as a gift to King Edward 7th
Once again I found myself in a craft market inside the Palace but I asked the guide to stay with me
I was introduced to an award winning artist who paints with one hair of a squirrel! Anyway his work was excellent and I did buy a picture with all the significant animals of India...peacock is the national animal i have learned, the picture also has elephant 🐘 tiger 🐅 and 2 more ,cant remember. All are symbolic too for good fortune or peace etc .
I also bought a wooden peacock 🦚 from a guy who inlays gold ribbon..into carved wood ,by hand. He was delighted to show me a letter from Prince Charles for an item his father had made
All these skills are being passed down through the generations but Ive been told that the current younger generations are not interested in learning ,which is a shame.
My guide and I then went to the observatory. Initially I wondered what it was all about ,but it was epic ...i loved it .It was outdoors .large structured sundials and the curves of each of the Zodiac signs as they are in relation to the sun( I think ) ..
Using the sundials and adding 11 as the time is gauged on Indian Mean Time,which is based on time near Varanasi, ( where i am going to in a few days),it is possible to accurately calculate the local time in Jaipur
The adding 11 is because there is a natural time difference between Varanasi and Jaipur. The guide accurately demonstrated this to me .
My guide became very enthusiastic and I was able to match his enthusiasm as I am interested in horoscope type things ..I think my enthusiasm restored some of my credibility with my guide
I commented on his enthusiasm, which led him.to offer me the opportunity to meet with an astrologer... I was delighted
..I have often wondered about the planets and my birth chart.
As is so often the wonderful case in Asian countries, everyone knows someone and all things are possible,usually at Zero notice. So ,an hour later I met with an astrologist ,who came to my hotel and got details of my birth chart.
Apparently I was destined to be a nurse, according to the planets alignment at the time i was born .(so never destined to be a millionaire then !😂😳)
Plus, a strong influence of Saturn at the time I was born , means its not surprising I have an interest in Law.! I found the meeting a really interesting experience
I went for dinner at my hotel which was ok and there was music and dancing.
A really enjoyable day and interesting day , in a city I have known the name of ,and been curious about for a long time.Read more