Jaipur

So last time I left you in the story I was getting on an early morning train to get to Jaipur.  Just getting on the train was an adventure.  When I arrived at the bus stand the gentleman taking me helped me with my bags and checked on my train.  He was told that everything was on schedule, and to head to the train now.  So we get in line to get on the train, and a man approaches us and says that he needs to see my ticket and passport.  Upon looking at all this he tells me that the train is cancelled.  The gentleman that was helping me told the guy he was lying and needed to stop.  We went into the main train platforms and there was my train standing there waiting to leave.  So I got on with no other problems.  This train left at 7 am and I arrived in Jaipur around 4 hours later.  I got picked up by the two ladies I would be staying with.  We went to their place and I got unpacked.  Then all the adventures began.  I went to a restaurant on one of my first night called BBQ Nation.  It was good!!! It was all the meat you could eat and that was just the starters.  After that they had a buffet to get food from as well.  Wow was it good.

I also got to see some really amazing sights.  Jaipur is a city very proud of its history.  To work with the people it is best to know their history just as much as they do.  So some of the days in Jaipur I was going to historical sights to learn the history of the city.  I got to see the worlds largest sun dial which was accurate within 2 sec! I got to see some amazing forts and palaces.  One of the palaces floated on the water.  Then the Amber Fort had a really cool sound and light show at night telling more of the history of the fort and the city.

Palace on the water

Amber Fort

Amber Fort Sound and Light Show

I also got to go to go to a place that they have recreated a village setting from the early parts of Indian history.  They had dancers and performers to show what it would have looked like during a village festival. The sights and sounds and smells were wonderful.  I felt like I was walking in a local village.

Village Recreation

Young Boy Dancing at Village Recreation

Whole family performing at the Village Recreation

Besides doing all of the tourist things I also got to see some of the basic things that people do when working in India for their first few years.  I got to attend Hindi lessons a few time, but they were way above my head so I had no idea what they were saying.  I also got to go to work with one of my roomies.  She would with a group of women making scarfs out of vintage saris. I got to help match them and pick threads for the scarfs. They have a website if you want to see what I mean.

www.villageartisan.com

My time in Jaipur was well spent doing something every single day.  I loved it!!!! I felt useful in a new way.  I  left Jaipur on the 1st of January. On to my next stop of Lucknow!!!!