rtw trip Rajasthan

The blue city-Jodhpur

In wrong order-we have moved to Thailand but won't be spending long in this area!!

Gateway to India in Mumbai where boats came in with terrorists attacking Taj hotel

Taj Palace hotel in Mumbai

Give me money for photo!

Bit concerned having what little hair I have removed

Us in desert

Tania with Indian bangle seller

The trotters are everywhere!

Me with driver getting supplies!

Lunch!!

Dont think it suits


Last set of photos of India

More photos from Rajasthan

The Taj

Us on rickshaw

Street scene

Getting ready for Bollywood at Amber fort

Garlands on arrival

Hungry squirrels

Bollywood again

One of our hotels-where Charles and Camilla stayed!

Street life

Tania having an impromptu cookery lesson!

Nearly forgot one of the highlights of India-the Taj Mahal was beautiful-white marble changing colour with the sunset. -I even sat on Diana's seat!

Yum yum

Colourful sarees
Our driver - Culdeep, in Rajasthan

Us on rooftop overlooking town in Rajasthan

Monkeys near palace in Udaipur!

Colourful Indian men and ladies

Hat trying

Me with Maharaja of Jodhpur's cousin

Lake palace at Udaipur

Watching tennis-lazy b......!

Fierce!!

The eagle has landed

Indian girls

Camel riding in Jaisalmer

Charles and Camilla's bed!






We have now left Rajasthan after over 5 weeks in India. Overall impressions of India - The tourism slogan, Incredible India, is certainly true enough. It is incredibly dirty, incredibly smelly, but also incredibly colourful, very different and and interesting. The people are incredibly friendly with everyone asking where you are from and trying to practice their English. There are some amazing forts and palaces that we have visited but you can't help thinking that the money would have been better spent in the past easing some of the poverty, putting drainage, water supplies etc. If you are a maharaja or relation in India you have an incredible life of luxury but it doesn't sit very well with the other saide of India. There are beggars everywhere and within a few seconds of coming out of a hotel or getting out of a taxi there will be beggars and someone trying to sell something. It sounds harsh but it does get you down after a while. One of the problems seems to be that there are just too many Indians!! for the amount of work available so consequently there are four or five waiters watching you eat and topping up your water or putting some more rice on your plate after every mouthful! and always someone trying to do something for you to get a tip. You even get asked for money to take photos, someone will be outside every public toilet with a paper towel to dry your hands after-they even turn the tap on for you - I am sure there are a few other services they offer but I wont go into those!! It has cost a fortune in tips!

Despite some of the drawbacks of India we had a great time. We stayed in a hotel in Jodhpur where Charles and Camilla stayed during there tour of India last year - it was the home of the Maharaja's cousin who apparently plays pol with Charles. We even stayed in the same room!

The lake palce at Udaipur was beautiful and we watched the re run of Octopussy (the one with V Amritraj) which was filmed there, at one of the bars. We have been camel riding in the desert in Jaisalmer at sunset- very uncomfortable very romantic and good fun. We have taken about 3000 photos as there is so much to take in and you find yourself coninually looking around at the sights around. It is certainly a real hit on all the senses!!

Just as we have got used to cows in the middle of the road and avoiding the dung, the continual hooting of cars, motorbikes etc, the constant smell of drains, the beautiful colourful sarees, the amazing palaces and the friendly people, It is time to go.

We have now moved on to Thailand. We flew to Bangkok day before yesterday and are moving up to Chiang Mai in a few days before heading off to Laos

Will blog again in a week or so

Tania at Amet Haveli hotel Udaipur




Amazing temples

Amazing temples