The journey to/in India part III

Hi! It has been a while now(again), but let's move on. There are so many days left to write about!

On the 30th March, we started our sightseeing at the morning(I believe it was about 9-10am). We got another guide that day, which our guide hired him on his own will and without our agreement. The guide was nice and knew a lot of history about the places we went, but all of us would definately like to know about this in advance. We did not get mad or anything, but before doing something our guide should have asked us for our agreement.

First of all we went outside the Wind Palace to take some pictures before we continued the trip to Amber Fort. As we were standing there among the morning trafic, the Indian people and  the tourists, that woman who tried to sell postcards the last day was there too! And she tried to make us buy her postcards. We should have bought postcards from her, because we did not find postcards any other places in India. I regret A LOT, because I collect postcards from wherever I go. If you want postcards from India, please do not do the same mistake as what I did! The history of the Wind Palace is interesting. You can read the history >HERE<.

Outside the Wind Palace in Jaipur.

The Amber Fort, just about 11km from Jaipur. The Palace was incredibly big! I think I have not seen anything like this in my entire life. It was breathtaking when I saw how detailed everything were build up. If that kind of art had been made in this century, I would not have paid any attention on it. But it was build and decorated in 1592, which made me speechless... I thought about the great work for making this, and all the details on the wall, the roof, the floor... It is hard set a word how wonderful this place is. No wonder why Amber Fort is the major tourist attraction. You will hear many languages; Hindi, German, English, Spanish, French... You will see people from every corner of the world there! It is pretty awesome just sitting outside the palace in the shadow enjoying the view and listening to which languages you can understand(well, maybe not that awesome for eveyone, but for me it was nice- because I am special. Gags for that, guys!) You can whether rent a jeep or ride on an elephant to get up to this fort. We would like to ride on the elephants, but it was the middle of the day and the temperature have become really hot. So we rent a jeep instead. I think that was a clever decision, and the best one too, because if we wanted to ride on the elephants we had to start earlier in the morning and make sure that we are there really early! As we arrived there the queue has already become huge. By jeeps: it goes faster, you will see some part of the town near by this fort, which I find is good. And you do not have to stand in any queue in the heat(if it is a sunny day, of course). By elephants: you will get the experience how it is like to ride on an elephant. You get tan, if it is a sunny day, because it will take pretty long time. You do not polute the air. If you are in rush, I recommend renting a jeep. But if you like standing in the sun for at least 20min and get tan, you may rent an elephant. Read more about the Amber Fort >HERE<.

The first view of the Amber Fort. As you can see on the bottom of the picture, there is just sand. It used to be water there, but in the last few years they had less rain than usual, so the water dried out.

The view of the city below the Amber Fort.

Inside the entrance. There were big doors with big lock. The size of the lock could be almost as big as my head... Haha.

The Amber Fort.

The Amber Fort, zoomed in. If you click on the picture you will see a bigger version of this picture, then you can see the details on the wall much better!

My BFF's father who was filming my BFF. She was really ill that day, so she decided to sit in the shadow and wait for us. I you mention the wall, there are designed holes, just like in the Wind Palace. Those holes are made for the rich people to watch out without being seen. So they probably spied on people in the old days.

The view out of the hole. And down there among the crowd you can find my BFF. Can you find her?

The garden inside. Pretty cool, right?

The elephants on their way up.

Just beside the garden you will see a wall full of small pieces of stones and mirrors in the most incredibly design! The roof is mozaik designed. Breathtaking! I remember this security guy, he has blue eyes. Hehe!

Look at the roof!

After the Amber Fort we went to the City Palace. I cannot remember that much from this palace, because all of us lost concentration for listening to the guide(the one who just showed up that day). I remembered that we saw the Kings, the clothes that the kings used and season doors... Oh, yes, you have to go through the security check before entering into the palace. In front of the palace there are many beggars and sellers. So be careful of your belongings! More about the City Palace>HERE<

First shot of the City Palace.

The walls are also detailed.

 If I am not wrong, this door is one of the season doors..

But this is one of the season doors for sure!

I did not remember if the King was there or not, but the flag was there.

It is really hard for me to remember when we did what. And if would be impossible for me to remember everything if I did not wrote diary or made notes. Anyways, I do not remember if we went shopping after the City Palace or before. I believe it was before, because my BFF was still with us, she did not went to the city Palace because she got really ill. Well, the first place we went was to "Molto Bellp Gems Enterprises" -House of  Precious& Semi Precios Stones& Jewellery. Where we got guided of how they shape stones, how they make bracelets, necklaces, earrings, rings and much more! It was interesting, but as I understood our guides' point of bringing us there was that we could have a look, maybe buy something then they will give our guide some prosent for bringing them costumers. I bought two pairs of eardrops; a pair made of rubies and another pair made of precious stones. Well, the sellers are really clever in this store. Do not touch anything if you do not want to buy. As soon as you touch a thing there, there will be a seller who will "nag" on you who makes sure that you have to buy something before you leave the building! As you are discusting with yourself if you shall buy it or not, they will not give you time to think.. So that is why you should not touch a thing! After that we went to a shoe store. There were hundreds, thousands pairs of shoes in that shop! I found a pair of normal-looking flip-flops and a pair of slippers made of camel skin. Actually I was trying to beat down the price for those shoes, from 1700rupies to 1100rupies. They disagreed, so I took just the flip-flops. Then the cashier(I guess he was he owner of the store) said to me that I should have taking that pair too. I replied him nicely that I do not want them, because I could not get that price that I wanted. That man really freaked out, he slamed my flip-flops on the table as he was packing them into the newspaper! I was shocked by then and found his behavior very immature and rude. I think that is a trickt of how they act to their costumers, when they do not get their will. As I walked out the door he was shouting at me for coming back and get the other pair for the price that I wanted. But he was then even more mad at me than the first time. He did slammed the shoes harder and louder on the table and gave me an unexptable look, like if I was unwelcomed. I am a nice girl, but since that he treat a costumer that bad I acted bad to him as well. I throw the money on the table as I paid with no smiling face, and as I walked out I made sure to turn my face upwards! Too bad that I did not remember the name of this store, if I did I would write in BIG and FAT letters "DO NOT WALK IN THAT SHOP!". If you are in Jaipur and are going to a shoe store, when you get in and you see two walls with lots of shoes, only men workers, a cashier who is sitting towards the entrance... GET OUT FROM THAT PLACE BEFORE YOU REGRET! Maybe you already got an impression of my opion of this shop, but here are some more: BAD service, rude cashier, bad-mood-sellers, sellers do not really pay attention to you(if you are not real European or American looking like! That was a merit for me, but I still would like some help though), too many shoes, shopping press from the sellers and many shoes were covered of dust! But the cashier I met that day ruined so much... After that we went to a shop where we got our name writing on a rice corn. It was pretty crazy to hear that the first time, but as I saw it with my own eyes, I guess I can be able to do that as well. Haha! The others' name were easy to write, because their name had just 4-6 letters. My name has 9 letters, so the painter did get a challenge then. The first rice corn he made an A was missing in the end, but the second one was perfect!

The painter.

My name on a rice corn! 9 letters. It might look big, but this picture is macroed- do not forget that.

Ok, let's stop there. I need sleep, you need break from reading this looooooooong entry!

See you in the next entry really soon(I will try to keep this promise!)

Dancerwithourshoes

The journey to/in India part II

All right, let's continue from the last entry. On the 2nd day in New Delhi, we woke up at about 5am in the morning, because we were going to leave the city at 6am. Why so early? It is because we do not want to be stick for hours in the morning rush. That was very wise. I just to think about the heat and the traเfic jam, that would bring me even more headache! Anyway, we were heading to Jaipur, also known as the Pink City. During the trip we stopped at a restaurant for breakfast. The name of the restaurant is Taj Mathimahal. I am not sure where this restaurant is located, because that was just a fast stop. It was pretty dark inside there too. The windows were very colourful, but cause to the colours it sort of blocked the light from the outside. I guess this restaurant is not made for tourists.. And on the way we stopped to take pictures of monkeys beside the road. We arrived at the Hotel Rockland almost at 12pm. Click >HERE< to see the hotel's website. I find this hotel quite nice, two of us had bad luck, they got a room with uncomfortable smell, and luckily they could change the room. The lift in the hotel was the most funniest lift I have ever seen! If I remember right, there is a voice which tells you which floor you are going to and during the lift was going up&down(and the other way around) you can hear Indian music(eventhough it is just some seconds between each floor)! We were in the ending of the tourist season, that is why the hotel's restaurant was not open. It was anyways very nice to have dinner outside the hotel. After we have checked in and relaxed a little bit, we went out for luch in a restaurant which located some minutes from the hotel. I did unfortunately wrote down the restaurant's name, but I guess this is one of the most famous place for tourists to go. We did see many tourist there. The location is too little for as many costumers as that day. It was really hot, bad air and dark inside. But the food was delicious! Everyone was full and satisfied as we walked out that restaurant. After that we went for a short sightseeing in the Pink City and then we went to a place where they produce carpets and print texture. The prices were sky high, so I had to bargain. We were back at the hotel at 7pm. So before we went out for having dinner we got a bit time to relax and take a shower. We went to another hotel just 5 minutes by foot, where they only serve vegitarian dishes. The location is huge and luxury look like, and it is the first restaurant which is light inside. The waitress were nicely dressed, but they were really annoying, esspecially the oldest one who asked us too often if there was anything else we wanted. I liked the location very much, but I am dissapointed. I understand that the waitress wanted to do their best, but there is actually something that calls limit as well. I feel a bit bad, because they were doing their best to make us happy...

Sunrise in New Delhi and my BFF(lol teenager's language!)

The minibus we travelled around with.

Monkeys beside the road.

Oh, look at this shot. Nice one, isn't it?!

Nearby Jaipur, out of the tourist area.

In front of the Hotel Rockland.

In the hotel's lobby, where Ganesha welcomed us.

A donkey in the middle of the traffic.

 

This is the traffic circle in Jaipur, the left side view.

This is the traffic circle in Jaipur. The middle view.

This is the traffic circle in Jaipur, the right side view.

Over there you see many shops painted in "pink" colour on the outer wall. Scroll down to read my explaination.

 Some curry?

The man who presses sugar canes to get juice. I am afraid, the press machine is a little rusted..

Wild pigs in the streets. These two were having an after-dinner-nap.

At the place where they produce carpets and print texture. Here is a man who shows us how to print a motive on the texture. They make colour out of natural products.

And of course I could try. It is easy; just place the stamper on the texture and then hit it once before you remove the stamper.

Great art. Almost done now.

Usually they hang the clothes outside to dry. But to make it fast for us, they put the piece of clothes into some chemical liquid, and then in the water.

And voila, it is done!

Then we moved to the other side of the hall, where we got introduce of how they make a carpet. Here is a man knighting the thread.

After the capet is done, you turn the upper side down and you will burn it like this.

Then brush off the burned area. This methode makes that you want slip when you walk uppon the carpet.

Then the carpet needs to be cleaned.

 Two ladies were cutting the cotton thread.

And the last thing that has to be done is cutting the unclear area, that makes the motives become clearer. It takes about 3-4 month to make a little/nomal size carpet, and 6 month the biggest ones.

Then we went upstairs where they showed us 4 types of carpets in different sizes.

And then we went to the 3rd floor where we can buy clothes, scarves, saris, texture and much more.

Here you see my BF who is about to make a decision.

Jaipur the capital of the Rajastan State. This city is one of the most attractive place for tourists. In the city of Jaipur you will find long streets with a lot of shops, and the streets are of course quite crowded. You will meet old and young beggars, mad postcard sellers(we met one, who we also met on the next day), fresh vegetable markets, lots of people who stare at you and the way you wear your clothes(I found that really uncomfortable). The outer wall of those shops is painted in pink as background and the name of the shops in black color. This is very special for Jaipur. I think they believe that the black colour will keep away the bad spirit from their shops and homes.

I will soon be back with more pictures and story from the 2nd day in Jaipur!
To be continued....

Dancerwithoutshoes