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Post by onlymark on Feb 23, 2013 10:04:13 GMT
Unbeknownst to me another Porter had arranged to go to India a little after I had already sorted out a visa and booked a flight - arriving a little after myself. Even though we were both in the same country and overlapped by a few days we were in completely different parts until I left, when she began to visit areas I had been to. I look with interest on her 'take' of the areas and the country. However, I made a trip report at the time of my visit and it is detailed here. Obviously when I say things like 'I've just arrived' it is taken as in the past now.
So - It's a bit heavy on the photos though ..................
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Post by onlymark on Feb 23, 2013 10:05:53 GMT
So, I'm here. It was cold and rainy when I arrived in Delhi last night so I slipped out for something to eat (Veg. Biryani, mixed veg raiti, bombay potatoes) and went to bed. Then I realised India is three and a half hours ahead of Jordan so I tossed and turned for quite a while listening to the thunderstorms and the street noises. Eventually I got up at 6.30am and gave up. I had a quick walk round the streets while it was still dark and went for breakfast (masala dhosa) then hung around waiting for the rental car to turn up. Eventually it did and I battled my way out of Delhi and headed south. Hoping the weather would improve (it did). After a few hours and a spot of lunch (plain rice, nondescript veg curry, raw onion/tomato/cucumber and a rice pudding type thing) and stopping off at a couple of things I've arrived in Jaipur. I've had a nice dinner (veg thali) and stretched my legs a bit out in the streets (dark again though). Internet is limited to a couple of hours for free so I'm going to add a few more bits after I've answered some mails. One thing to note, the object of this 'report' is not to show you some nice photos of the Taj Mahal and normal tourist places as it's all been done to death elsewhere and with far better photos than I can do. So, this is an impression of what tourists don't see (or rather, maybe they do but it's not 'interesting' to them). This is more about the bits in between the places where the tourist coaches stop. Bear with me and I'll post when I can. Otherwise I'll round it off when I get back. First a few shots of what it was like near my hotel and then on the run out of Delhi to the south –
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Post by onlymark on Feb 23, 2013 10:06:42 GMT
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Post by onlymark on Feb 23, 2013 10:07:18 GMT
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Post by onlymark on Feb 23, 2013 10:07:38 GMT
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Post by onlymark on Feb 23, 2013 10:08:22 GMT
A bit of an idea how off the beaten path this is – And then I came to a place I was heading for. It is a bit on the tourist trail but nevertheless it’s worth a visit as it’s relatively unknown. Here is the description of what it is – a step well somewhat grander than the one I just mentioned –
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Post by onlymark on Feb 23, 2013 10:09:02 GMT
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Post by onlymark on Feb 23, 2013 10:09:39 GMT
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Post by onlymark on Feb 23, 2013 10:11:33 GMT
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Post by onlymark on Feb 23, 2013 10:12:54 GMT
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Post by onlymark on Feb 23, 2013 10:13:32 GMT
Bright sunshine welcomed me this morning so after a breakfast of potato stuffed paratha, yoghurt and tea I hit the road. Unfortunately it seems the roads have been upgraded quite a lot since I last came this way. For the first couple of hours out of Jaipur the single carriageway road is now a toll motorway. Bugger. There isn’t really an alternative heading in the right direction, so I had to stick with it. At least it was quiet, but boring – Quiet at least until we had to do a bit of a contraflow due to some roadworks –
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Post by onlymark on Feb 23, 2013 10:13:51 GMT
We seemed to stay on the wrong side for a long, long time and even those on the left side, the ‘correct side’ seemed to be going the wrong way – Eventually the road opened up again and got even more boring – I managed though to find a way off it and down a ‘normal’ road through some villages – Just have to watch out for traffic pulling across in front of you –
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Post by onlymark on Feb 23, 2013 10:14:08 GMT
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Post by onlymark on Feb 23, 2013 10:14:32 GMT
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Post by onlymark on Feb 23, 2013 10:15:01 GMT
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Post by onlymark on Feb 23, 2013 10:15:24 GMT
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Post by onlymark on Feb 23, 2013 10:15:44 GMT
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Post by onlymark on Feb 23, 2013 10:16:06 GMT
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Post by onlymark on Feb 23, 2013 10:16:24 GMT
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Post by onlymark on Feb 23, 2013 10:16:51 GMT
Breakfast this morning was a bit delayed as the cook hadn’t turned up. So a number of us waited until someone else stepped in. That meant the selection was a bit restricted. Masala omelette and toast was about it. So that’s what I had. Anyway, the sun was shining again so I set off on a very bumpy road for a couple of hours towards Jaisalmer. The scenery began to change to something a bit flatter and more desolate – Seems about right but best check if I’m on the right road – Yep, that’s right. So a quick look down the road (can you see the camel?) – Nope? Here they are – Anyway, time was passing, breakfast wasn’t such a great affair so I thought I’d stop for an early lunch. Yesterday was nice if a bit overpriced so I plumped for one of the local truckstops. Here, by the way is the car I’m in -
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Post by onlymark on Feb 23, 2013 10:17:09 GMT
This is the establishment – First things first, get the tea sorted (made with cardoman, all milk and plenty of sugar) – Order the food from the chef – This is the owner, posing nicely - Hang on, where’s my tea gone? – Aha! There it is, waiting for me – A short wait and the meal came. Plenty of raw onion and the curry was paneer (cheese) based though what else was in it I’ve no idea –
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Post by onlymark on Feb 23, 2013 10:17:35 GMT
Headed off again after paying the equivalent of one euro and a few cents. A little while later I came across this memorial as I was passing near and army base. The relevant line states “Who left for his heavenly abode in an unfortunate accident during FD (?) firing.” I bet there’s a story behind that! Another hour or so later Jaisalmer came in to view – A bit closer – Thought I’d check in to the hotel first even though I intend to have a walk round the fort/old city. I first drove down this small street but then the hotel appeared, better than I expected – Sorted myself out and went for a walk up to the fort. There are many, many photos, most are obvious and the first few are as I walked around to the gate. As with many forts the first gate you come to isn’t the gate inside, it just leads to another and then yet another gate, usually around a bend or two, for defensive purposes. The last couple are back on the way out through the gates. Originally started to be built in 1156AD, it took about seven years to get it something like ready but then over the next hundred years or so additions were built. It wasn’t a pure ‘fort’ with only soldiers inside, it eventually contained numerous temples, buildings and abodes. The whole thing is about 5km around, the walls being 3m or so thick and a space immediately inside of 2 to 3 metres for the soldiers to walk round near the top of the wall.
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Post by onlymark on Feb 23, 2013 10:18:45 GMT
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Post by onlymark on Feb 23, 2013 10:19:01 GMT
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Post by onlymark on Feb 23, 2013 10:19:17 GMT
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Post by onlymark on Feb 23, 2013 10:19:38 GMT
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Post by onlymark on Feb 23, 2013 10:19:55 GMT
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Post by onlymark on Feb 23, 2013 10:20:27 GMT
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Post by onlymark on Feb 23, 2013 10:20:56 GMT
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Post by onlymark on Feb 23, 2013 10:21:13 GMT
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