Rajasthan - Udaipur

The Venice of India for its lakes and the Switzerland of North India for its hills surrounding the town. At least that is how Indians (who have never visited Europe) call it. 

Yes, the sunsets are breathtaking. The water turns pink, the handrails of the bridges and windows of the water palaces shine gold, horizons soften.
Yes, the sunrises are refreshing. People bathing in the lake, women doing their laundry, cows wandering through the vegetable stands and harassing the sellers by stealing their products.

Oh and not to forget, this time Kate is sick.

Just in case the postman could get confused... Standard Indian address...

This is how your package will look once the post office is done with it. Professionally sown in and stitches sealed with wax. ...

Indian traffic rules

Ha ha ha ha! Ho ho ho ho! India does NOT have these words in their vocabulary!

Ok, ok there are rules. Let’s look at them:
-       Cows are what rule the traffic. And you can’t touch them!
-       Street lines are just as a decoration.
-       So are any types of sidewalks for pedestrians.
-       And so are traffic lights.
-       Your priority depends on your size. And your bravery.
-       First come first go.
-       No mirrors – they wouldn’t survive in the tight traffic anyway.
-       No side indicating except for your arm – sometimes.
-       BEEP YOU HORN. Always! Everywhere! To let other know that you are on the road, taking over, behind you, in front of you, turning, making a U-turn (optimally over two lines without indicating...), braking or simply just making sure that the horn works. (warning – if you are hungry and tired and in the middle of a narrow street where there is a space for only one you may get REALLY annoyed at the rickshaw driver non-stop beeping the horn behind you in hope that you will evaporate and disappear. In exchange the
rickshaw driver may learn few new hand gestures of verbal expressions...)
-       Oh, and did we mention that lights are a luxury...?
-       Helmets. Ha ha ha ho ho ho.
-       You would never believe how many people can fit on scooter or in rickshaw!
-       PS: Sooner or later EVERYBODY steps into the cow shit...

Rajasthan - Jaisalmer

The gate to the desert. Most of the people come to Jaisalmer to experience the sand dunes, camel ride, another face of India. So we did. We stayed at our recommended couch surfing host in the master suite with view over the desert in the middle of the Jaisalmer fort. Jaisalmer fort is very special as it is still inhabited by about three thousand people. It makes you feel as waking up few centuries back, living in the middle of old ages. Walking through the very narrow streets, listening to the echo of your own steps, all the temples that

you can nearly touch from your window or roof top terrace, all the small shops, cafes and restaurant. Making your way among the people, rickshaws, scooters, cows, dogs and pigeons. Unfortunately this has its negative side as the water usage in the fort damages the foundation of the fort...

Here we experienced first desert, a mix between Australian desert with the few bushes and shrubs and beautifully soft sand dunes. We slept in the dunes, watched the sunset and the sunrise, made chowpati on a
fire, drank chai, watched the night sky and shooting stars. And yes, if you want to know camel riding is not the most comfortable thing one could imagine...

PS: Guess who is sick again?

 Jaisalmer fort

 Local delicacy. Special lassi. 

With Jamin and Hayes. 

Local village gangsters. 

 Sure you can take a photo. But it will cost you... Small but smart. Sad.

Jaisalmer roof tops

Rajasthan - Jodhpur. Wedding day. Sorry you missed it.

Our second couch surfing place and a town of completely unexpected experience. 

Jodhpur - the blue city - is (again) completely different. Hike up to Meherangarh Fort and our guided tour, short walk to the marble palace/temple Jaswant Thanda and visit to the impressive and still occupied by maharajah Umaid Bhawan Palace, stroll through the streets with blue painted houses... 

And then - suddenly - being cheated at the fruit market as usually a young Indian couple approached us and after some time chatting invited us to a wedding in their family. First we didn't know whether to accept or reject - let's admit that it is not very common for Europeans to invite complete strangers to a wedding... In the end we decided that we have nothing to loose except for a complete embarrassment of ourselves and/or the family. And we didn't regret for a second. 

Indian wedding is something different than we are used to. It is MASSIVE. And very expensive. It is one of the major moments of their life. And full of colors, gold, singing, dancing, food and of course traditions.  We can only say that the family took a wonderful care of us and for one evening we felt as maharajahs. To describe all the traditions, proceedings, etiquette would take pages and pages. Pictures talk better than words.

Clock tower

Blue color typical for Jodhpur

 

  Umaid Bhawan Palace

The best guide ever - doesn't talk too much :-) Audio guide...

 

 View over the blue town

 

 The famous Omelette shop at the Old Gate. 

 Queuing for our omelets.

 The... ehm... beer...

WATCH OUT - INDIAN WEDDING IS COMING!

 

 

 Our hosts. Wondeful people. Thank you SO much again!

 Aren't they beautiful?

 Backstage

 Groom is coming to get his bride