Adventure Apprentice on Tour

Elephants and Magic shows

Hello everyone,  

Today is our last full day In the colourful chaotic city of Jaipur.   We are going to visit the beautiful and overwhelming Amber Palace, the journey to  get up to the palace is made on the back of Elephants, which is quite a highlight for many on this tour. We alighted from the bus and stood for a couple of minutes just staring up at the stunning backdrop before us. I took this as a photo opportunity and started to snap away ....I heard the strange music of a wind instrument but really didn't take any notice as India throws a lot of unusual sounds at you which you do find yourself switching off to, it wasn't until I caught the movement out of the corner of my eye that I realised I was being targeted by a snake Charmer....and the Cobra was starting to sprout swaying to the tune from the basket .......now we don't get many Snake charming Cobra's In King's Lynn.....I don't think I've moved so fast in all my life  !     

The palace is set up on the top of what can only be described as a steep cliff , which it lines the top of and spreads down to streets below with its many terraces. The entrance however is right up the top of a steep twisting slope wide enough for 2 Elephants to pass, this slope is scalloped walled either side well over 6ft, which when you standing next to it is fine but once atop the back of a swaying Elephant is a slightly different matter. So there we were in pairs , sitting precariously on the wooden framed seat with a pull down metal bar for protection on top of a seemingly rather grumpy Elephant, which swayed and plodded, and sneezed its way to the top . The Elephant's Name as we were reliably informed by his Mahout is Chumba, Chumba didn't want to walk in the middle of the path up to the gates of the Palace ...Chumba wanted to walk as near to the scalloped edged wall as possible and dangled us over the edge, which found us clutching on for dear life, I am sure the views were wonderful as we neared the top but I cant tell you as my eyes were slammed shut as I am terrified of Heights..much to the delight of my Elephant ride partner Michael who found this journey highly amusing as was his commentary .  

We spent a good few hours at the Amber Palace, it is really beautiful I think we must have picked the hottest day of the year ( or it felt like it) and It was relief to meet the cool air-conditioning of the Bus finally as we made our descent in the back of jeeps with joy riding hawkers clutched onto the back trying to sell us their wares at break neck speed. The plan after this was to make a photo stop of the River Palace  Jawal Mahal, this is exactly as it sounds the Palace in the middle of the Lake, this has been the first year in many that there has finally been enough rainfall to fill the lake. I Know every time I have seen it its been the Palace in the middle of a dry lake bed....so it was a good opportunity to actually witness it in the surroundings it was meant for.  

It was here, that Rafeeq advised the group that once we were on the bus, we were going to get a short Magic show..... Now this is hard to describe but there were a small group of street boys 3/4 in number no more who instead of begging could and would perform magic tricks for food money ..trust me if you could have seen these kids then it makes it hard to resist giving them anything.... Rafeeq asked the group if would be ok we all agreed instantly and Low and behold 1 of the group (this barefoot lad was no more than 7 or 8 yrs) came aboard our bus to present his magic show. He was brilliant ...his makeshift implements which had clearly been handmade and  had seen better days made no hardship for this young mans ability to use his well worn contraption to turn blank paper into Rupees...or for a coin to appear in someone's ear....He was given much applause and a mitfull of Rupees for his efforts on the promise that he buy food and share it with his little group of fellow barefoot magicians whose age ranged from about 4yrs to 9yrs. With many smiles and enthusiastic waving and promises of food he disappeared back to the streets.   So, our last night in Jaipur and the last full night for the group as it stood. Tomorrow we would lose 4 members as they were going on to another tour which started in Jaipur and it was at this juncture I realised that Rafeeq, my trusty sidekick was staying with them and that I was going to have take the group on the 6hr train journey back To Delhi !!! with only a caretaker to assist me .... !!  

Step up to the plate Chachi...could or would  Explore ! 1st adventure Apprentice make it with all remaining members of the group and their luggage in one piece using the most Chaotic Rail service in the world to Delhi ... now that is the question !  

All my Love Christine Christine is currently on the Moghul Highlights tour after winning the ‘Adventure Apprentice’ challenge.

Pink walls & Hammers

Hello Everyone

So the journey to Jaipur proved to be less eventful than that of the journey to Agra.

We eventually arrived In the Pink City at around 1300 after a couple of rest stops. Like Karauli, our hotel in Jaipur was a classified Heritage property but this time we would allocate the rooms as they were all pretty similar apart from the configuration.   A short wash and brush up and its time to head on out into the the heat and mayhem of the City for a visit to the observatory of Maharajah Jai singh dating back to 18C where the sundial there is accurate no less than 11 seconds ..I have been here several times and it fascinates me that someone could have been so advanced with the astronomy, astrologically so long ago..I always like to stand under the Astrological Dial of Capricorn (my Sign) and have a cheesy photo ..Huxley was able to come in on this one and he too had his photo taken ..!  

After the observatory came the Maharajah's Palace . Jaipur Still has a Maharajah, and is the only state in India that does. his nickname is Bubbles due to the consumption and use of Champagne used to celebrate his birth. Jaipur is a very regal city, the reason its called the Pink City is because of the scalloped walls which enclosed it are literally painted in a bright salmon pink, the centre is accessed through 4 gates (N,S,E,W)and once within the traffic and life is nothing more than total chaos. Its like one massive confined market with a remarkable level of traffic in all the usual Indian Methods, It is also heavily polluted with exhaust fumes combine that with the stifling heat makes for an interesting time. However, the shopping here is fantastic and I reckon you could buy absolutely anything. Its also a very vibrant city loads of colour mostly from the beautiful Sari clad ladies going about their duties of shopping and haggling in loud gesticulative ways, whilst cows and goats command the respect in the walkways .  

I've always Liked Jaipur. Its not the broad organised (loosely talking) boulevards of Delhi, its a cultural mish mash of vibrancies. The gents with their Moustaches & Turbans Rajasthan style, the ladies with their bright coloured Sari's and henna'd hands. It has the Majesty of a once great Royal ruled domain which has slightly lost its gloss. I like the unintentional shabbiness, the way that they hang their washing through the holes in the pink walls, whilst curious Children stare and wave through tiny broken shuttered window frames.  

So after another very full day,its back to the Hotel ..i've checked ....there aren't any Chickens outside !! but my air con isn't working so i've asked reception if there is anything they can do .... 10 mins later a man arrives at my door with a hammer with a swift kick and a wobble of the head my Air con is now working !!  After all ..this is India.   Thank The Gods for Indians bearing hammers.  

All my Love   Christine Christine is currently on the Moghul Highlights tour after winning the 'Adventure Apprentice' challenge.

Insomniac Chickens

Hello Everyone

Our time in Karauli is nearing an end and after a really interesting evening at the Palace and a fascinating insight at a Hindu Temple of Krishna at worship time (dodging the Cows Urine throwing spectacle) we headed back down to our Hotel again on the back of the camel carts..slightly more interesting in the dark as you couldn't see the bumps coming ...but the town this time at its busiest still came out to wonder what the heck are these white folk on.

We were followed in earnest by a Tuk-Tuk with neon lights and loud thumping music pouring from it ..not quite sure maybe you paid more for the entertainment !

Back at the Hotel/Lodge in our very swish and colonial surroundings we took to a few G&T's and settled down to a good meal, put the world to rights under the stars. I know I was looking forward to what promised to be a good nights sleep, my room was delightful not as ornate as some of the other group members but it was stunning. I didn't have the room with the Library in the bathroom or the extra lounge suite addition or the secret passage to the Snooker room, but non the less I was more than satisfied . So content with my world, I laid back to settle myself down.. then I awoke I thought I had heard what sounded like a Cockerel crowing its head off in the grounds below my window. With a slight panic I leapt out of bed in fear I had overslept and missed my alarm..I turned on my torch looked at my watch 2am...no way !

What I hadn't realised was that my beautiful room that offered all the decadent promise of a decent nights sleep was directly over the Chicken coup...something or someone had disturbed the chickens woken them up and that was the end of my much needed sleep and also that of the chickens.... they, in blissful ignorance to my plight clucked and crowed away loudly all night long, whilst I laid there in sleepless desperation and wished the property still was a hunting lodge. It was going to be an early start again ..... (not a problem for me after the Chickens had seen to it) and we were going embark on our 5hr Journey to the Pink City Of Jaipur, capital of Rajasthan.

All my Love Christine

Village Elders & Camel carts......

Hello Everyone   Its a 6hr drive from Bharatpur to Karauli. Suman has prepared the bus brilliantly and we have lots of cold bottled water and a clean bus ready for the road less travelled. The view from the windows has changed dramatically as we are now in the deepest rural parts of the majestic Rajasthan. What was continual road chaos is now a lot quieter, the methods of transport have changed too as we are one of a very few motorised vehicles in preference to the Camel and bullock trucks towing just about every commodity known ...... however let me just say one thing and remind everyone that this isn't the M1  ... after about an hour in to the journey, tarmac becomes a rare sight and if it is then its in really bad repair ..our expert Driver  Irshad navigates the best he can but the roads are tough going and arduous for the Bus... we as ever are too busy enjoying the view and each others company to care...busy pointing and commentating on the forever changing canvas around us.  

We take a rest stop and continue until Rafeeq pulls the bus over at an approaching village. When I say village in mean a small enclave area with 3/4 families all living together, in mud & brick huts, bullocks, goats and water buffalo tethered to trees, Wide eyed children in barefoot wonderment at the approaching strangers . Rafeeq has a quick and elaborate conversation with the Elder member of the village and it is approved for us to enter and look around .... this is just an amazing experience the families are all smiles and full of grace, the children shy at first but curious none the less intrigued by everything about us.... our clothes ..our cameras... our voices... our skin... wow what an opportunity this is .  

So it's back on the Road and we eventually arrive in the incredible Town of Karauli. This is different from anything we have been to before and dates back to the 13thC .. Tonight we are staying in a heritage property . A heritage property is a an old palace or lodge that has been transferred into a Hotel or guest house . This Hotel was once an old Maharajah hunting Lodge and has all the furniture and fixtures and fittings to match. Huge stuffed Tigers adorn the antique style lobby and ornate black and white Photographs of Old India with Eyes of times past staring back at you ... doing the check in here is slightly different as each room is entirely different and offers a unique stay ...to make it fair we have decided to register everyone in the usual way but instead of allocating the rooms I will put all of the keys in a bowl and get the team to pull out their own key ...it would be unfair to allocate in such a unique environment..... with all keys distributed and the group on their way to their rooms it was time for Rafeeq and I to sit down, catch up on our game plan and sip some ice lime water, in, lets describe it as the Maharajahs' Snooker room !!  

It was arranged that the group were to meet at 4pm for the afternoon's guided tour of the Palaces and forts of Karauli, with a twist. We weren't going to be doing this with a normal method of transport... but on the back of camel carts no less. 1 camel with like a flat wooden plank attached to wheels on top of the plank was a blanket where 4 people plus the camel driver could sit, so again in convoy 5 individual camel carts pulling our delighted group up through the narrow streets and markets of Karauli ...from the minute we set off we were surrounded by children running after us ...shouting 'Hello Hello' and waving furiously ...the local people bemused to say the least at this spectacle as we climbed camel speed through the hilly town . It felt like the whole town stopped and came and watched like a long awaited carnival was finally arriving into town totally enthralled with us and enjoying our ever so bumpy but memorable journey...again we were surrounded with cars, rickshaws, motorbikes ,cows goats...also were enjoying our long slow busy colourful path to the top .    

All my Love Christine