{"id":93,"date":"2023-12-04T17:48:38","date_gmt":"2023-12-04T17:48:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/scottysblog.com\/rajasthan-what-a-blast\/"},"modified":"2023-12-04T17:48:38","modified_gmt":"2023-12-04T17:48:38","slug":"rajasthan-what-a-blast","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/scottysblog.com\/home\/rajasthan-what-a-blast\/","title":{"rendered":"Rajasthan – What A Blast!"},"content":{"rendered":"

We are back from India and I have finally whittled the 500 photos down to a mere 400 and then to a random selection to pop in here. So many sights, experiences, people, colours, festivals, odd moments – and quite a few smells, which luckily don't translate into a blog..<\/p>\n

We kicked off in Jaisalmer, in the NW corner of Rajasthan, arriving in time for a monumental Diwali dinner at the one posh hotel we stayed at. Went to the charming ceremony before the dinner, the Poona, everything festooned with flowers and of course candfkles, this being the Festival of Light.<\/p>\n

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A very different experience the following few eves as we dined on local rooftops, watching the endless fireworks and trying to avoid being blown up by the Indian kids, all lighting huge bangers in the streets. Health & Safety begorrah.<\/p>\n

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Then on to Jodhpur – with our best experience being the ziplines outside the main fort, giving a very different perspective on its immensity. Thanks to Lucy Rich for the top tip. I of course managed to bash my head on one landing (giving rise to 'Lum' as H insisted it wasn't big enough to be a Lump) and two huge shoulder bruises, which the massage lady a couple of days later took a bizarre shine to rubbing vigourously..<\/p>\n

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Then on to Pushkar, as our trip coincided with the Annual Camel & Cattle Fair – hilarious! Camels everywhere, men racing wild horses up and down the roads, Gujaratis in camel carts having rides, cows with incredibly long dangly ears (rather sweet), stalls selling every decorative animal accoutrement you can imagine, lots more chances to sit and drink masala chai from filthy roadside kiosks and watch the vibrant world go by..<\/p>\n

Including some of these beauties – ah you've just got to love the spice of life in all its forms..<\/p>\n

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Had a fab eve at the huge bathing ghat, watching and listening to the nightly ritual of fire, the clinking of little cymbals, the chanting and again, people watching for hours on end..<\/p>\n

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Of course many a fort was visited and climbed, many a temple was explored – god I do love a really crumbly old temple. I've still no idea what does it for me about them, but I can happily wander a temple complex for a good old while.. preferably ancient stone, not painted, sagging around the edges – maybe I see myself in them?!<\/p>\n

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And it was great to see so many of the local peeps also visiting the sights – apparently the Indian middle class is now enormous. And we were VERY popular – the shy whisper of 'selfie?' was heard many a time, with use being given babies to hold and all the family being squeezed in for multiple shots – and H even appearing in a video for TikTok with one new 'friend'! Just one of the many we posed for here..<\/p>\n

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A final few pix to go – and just to say that for all India's filthiness (litter, sanitation, social equality etc remain a huge problem), it is still a country that has the unexpected, colour and interest around every corner. Warm nights on rooftops eating (ok a bit too much) mostly veg curry and the obligatory Kingfisher beer – what's not to like?<\/p>\n

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And with thanks to our lovely driver, Mr Suresh, who drove 15 hours to collect us, 11 hours home and took us the whole way round – including the wrong way down a dual carriageway because our side was blocked – without a scratch to the car or us.<\/p>\n

\"IMG_3220\"<\/a>Hurrah! See you next time India x<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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