30 January 2015 - Waltzing all the way to Jaipur

Karl had pre-arranged a taxi for 0700hrs on the proviso, that if it wasn't there by 0710hrs, we'd go elsewhere.  Predictably, we switched to Plan B, a funny parade of hybrid packs and daypacks trundling along the cracked up roads, to a 24 hour Taxi stand we had spotted the other day.  After a bit of shouting down the street, a taxi and driver pulled up and drove us carefully to Bikaner House for the bus for Jaipur.  We had plenty of time but couldn't swap for an earlier bus so we hung around the chilly waiting room and foraged for snacks.  We bought drinks all round except for Luke who is refusing anything but Sprite and naan bread.

All of our gear for a year!

OutsideL-6 Lajpat Nagar

24 Hour taxi stand

We all fitted in with Karl's big pack on the roof!

Bikaner House

Our bus left promptly and was initially quite comfortable.  As the sun rose Annika and I got hot as there were no curtains, only hooks where they had once been!  The heat was horrible and despite requests, the driver didn't oblige with cooler conditions.  It really was an uncomfortable journey made amusing and eyebrow-raising by the driver waltzing across 4 or even 6 lanes (lanes marked on the road) of traffic in a single manoeuvre and beeping all the way.  The noise and the swerves and risks were outstanding.  So many near misses!  And mostly too fast to catch on camera.  Sometimes I laughed out loud!  The tiny spaces he tried to squeeze the big bus in were unfathomable!  It was like he thought he was in charge of a tuk tuk!

Bus to Jaipur

Brothers

We stopped at a magnificent "oasis" for lunch where the kids could run around, the toilets were clean and we could get food.  We only had 20 minutes and got drinks and naan bread and more chips.  Luke wouldn't even try a lassi no matter how much we tried to convince him.  He is so reluctant to try new things and we are worried about his nutrition.

Lunch break at the oasis

Back on the bus, the mad driving continued and the heat worsened and I tried my best not to vomit.  For those who know me well, they will know I can barely last from Blackburn North to Box Hill on a bus without feeling really sick!  5 1/2 hours of this bus nearly did me in!

People of Rajastan

However, despite all of this, the scenery was mind blowing.  As we neared the end of sprawling New Delhi, the number of cows and goats grazing or lazing by the roadside increased.  We saw pigs and sheep, camels and even elephants, and the tents and makeshift dwellings of many.  The architecture became more and more desert friendly with flat roof tops and stone buildings, craggy rocks and rough stone hills.  Luke's eyes were open wide checking out the hill top dwellings and animals.

Street scenes en route

We finally got off the bus at Nayaran Singh Circle as instructed.  I thought to myself: "we are in "real" India now".  We borrowed a mobile phone from a friendly tuk tuk driver and rang our accommodation and shortly our driver came.  

Arrival at Nayaran Singh Circle

We pulled up to Suryaa Villa Hotel, slightly dismayed to notice an Indian Wedding park across the road blaring out the East-meets-West head banging music. From experience, these Indian weddings go on for hours and days so sleep is not looking good tonight!  The kids have a nice room with 4 beds to choose from over looking the courtyard and empty pool (it is winter) and we are across the corridor with a nice big bed but closer to the music.  The Wi-Fi works albeit slowly and we can take a collective breath that we have survived another day and have seen an amazing amount.  The hotel is clean but we are wary of service charges at every turn.

Bus hopefuls

Women hurrying by the road

An elephant charging down the road!

Local traffic

Elephant between two buses!

This elephant was charging along the main road

Cows just off main road.

Pretty ceiling at Suryaa Villa

Setting up Wi-Fi

The pool in winter - empty

Our first step out to orientate ourselves was fruitful in a few ways: We found an orange juice squeezer cart and gulped down the delicious nectar AND we found a vegetable pakora cart run by a smiling couple and bought 250 grams for 50 Rupee.  Their very sweet little boy was sitting quietly, just waiting and watching.  Can't ever imagine Luke doing that!  We even bought some grapes for Luke and some bananas and water.  At least we have a few supplies!  We seem to be the only foreigners around here.  There are very few foreigners in India so far and Luke's blonde hair is a beacon as we walk along!

Vegetable pakoras!

Cute little boy belonging to veggie pakora stall.

We had dinner at the restaurant here and it was lovely!  Aaah, the Palek Paneer - a creamy spinach and home made cheese dish!  and the lassis and the vegetable curry...We are avoiding meat as we have heard so many tales of woe where meat is concerned and many Indians don't eat it, so we'll stick to vegetarian and enjoy it!  Whilst we were waiting for Luke to finish, the waiter brought over a chess game which was a fun way to finish the evening off!

Jaipur neighbourhood

Street barber

Palek paneer