Udaipur

sunset over Lake Pichola

supper at Lake Pichola Hotel over looking the

lake and the City Palace

preparing diya lights to float on the lake

thank you for reading my blog over the year

Happy New Year, wishing for a peaceful and creative 2016

Tiggy

retail therapy

Back at Lake Pichola Hotel, early morning the fisherman are busy

                                                ©kr

Breakfast done - vegetable cutlets, stuffed pakora and curd, yum, we are all set up for a little shopping. 

Samshu arrives in his tuk tuk and we are off.   Whilst Keith and Samshu arrange train tickets from Ahmedabad to Mumbai, I popped into the Majestic Emporium, great name!

This is a very overdue visit.   I've known the owner for years, and since he has had this shop

I have been invited to step inside.  Well, you know how it is.    Arriving, leaving, meeting people, no time.    So, I made time, and purchased this rather fine wrap.

a beautifully soft silk with an outrageous patterned piece

on the other side.   Rows and rows of running stitch, it drapes

nicely and is a delight to wear.  Made by ladies from Pakistan.

a small tin trunk - I simply cannot come home without

some kind of metal item.    I am working up to a 

really large trunk one day.  However, this little one

was a perfect container for something special.

Keith and Samshu went gentleman shopping, so I relaxed

in the tuk tuk and watched the world go by.

I love this window, and with a little adjustment, I managed

to get rid of most of the electric wires all over the wall.

They looked like massed spiders' nests.

Just down the lane is the vegetable market - this lady asked me to take a 

photo of her and her baby.  I will give her a copy when I return in the Autumn.

Meanwhile, I spied this magnificent Sadhu.  He was not a small man!

©kr

My man bought me a plain silver chain and another silver bracelet,

this one has camels on it.   Those who know me will not be surprised,

though I am thinking I need a longer arm!

Oh look, more wood blocks!  

who could resist?

and Ileyas made a gift of my very own block

we had lunch in between shopping with Samshu's family

and finished up watching the sun set over Lake Pichola

nice day

view from my charpoy

We're back in Udaipur after a interesting few days upcountry.   Far away from everything, which was very nice.

We travelled up Abu Road, which cuts through the Aravelli Hills.   All is lush and green.  Only a few villages to be seen. The road is fantastic, no lumps or bumps and even the lorries seem to know which side to drive on.   Apparently it is not advisable to travel this way after dark, the tribals might get you!!!  Mind you, I wouldn't advise driving on any Indian road after dark.

So, we arrive at a small town called Silori, turn right, and eventually to the farm where we stayed for three days.   The aim to find leopards up in the hills.   Our host is a charming man, and we were introduced to his 'missus'.

Our accommodation could best be described as basic.   A cottage with two Army beds and nothing else.  Fine, we didn't plan to spend much time inside.

Into the jungle in search of leopards.   Bumpty, bump.   Into a hole.  My foot went down, then up and down again with a bang.   One tyre punctured. However, two leopards (I have so say it) spotted.  Quite a wonderful experience.

In the morning my foot was in agony.  Nothing broken, just a bad sprain.   Best remedy was to put my foot up and rest.   A bowl of hot sand was brought for 'treatment'.   I guess the equivalent of our wheaty bags.

looking out over a field of chillies and aubergines

a lady bringing home carrots, with shy goat

the porch where we had hilarious suppers ending up with magic tricks

Watching the world slowly go by was not a bad thing.    I had many 'doctors'

offering their advice, in unusual circumstances.  More of that later!

last day in the sun

So we have one day left to have a wander around town before we fly home

There is always something new to see.   Udaipur is known for it's Art Schools, painting miniatures in the Mugal style.  We found one artist who has been employed by a very rich man to paint the outside wall of his house.

I just love these trees

I was snapped purchasing a pot for dyeing

I can't resist the pots and pans shop

as for the shop selling tin trunks!

A delicious meal on the roof restaurant, savouring the food, the view,

and the warmth of the evening.   

We have seen the weather forecast for UK and I think I would

rather be in India!

Time line - 31 March 2013

I've been busy since my return

more on my next blog!

back streets of Udaipur

Oh, we do like a little wander.

Life goes on, much as it has always done.   A world away from
the tourist areas of Udaipur, where you are constantly being
invited to 'just come in and look'.   

In this small street we are greeted with genuine smiles, 
and no hassle.  

Blue house, blue  cart, with scales.   Later it will be trundled 
through the lanes, perhaps with vegetables for sale.

A goldsmith with his crucible balanced on a metal plate.
He is sitting on the steps outside his home.   
Such concentration.                                                        

k

The Musician.   Diwali.  A very simple melody!  Everyone happy
give a few rupees.          I had bought a box of delicious Indian
sweeties to share, they went down well!              

k

The Potter.  There were an amazing amount of small potteries.  Beautiful water
pots.  I would love to bring one home.   Would it survive the journey?  Perhaps I 
should at least try next time!    
                                         
k

Decorating the water pots.  Behind a mound of diya dishes.   Much in demand for
Diwali.   The little oil filled diya decorate the houses, in windows and along walls 
and roofs.     
                            
k

A young mother with her child, and a 'friend'.     As Mark Tully says "you are never
alone in India".  The baby is well wrapped up, despite the temperature being 
around 28c.    Doesn't she look happy?   

the big blip

Hello, namaste - we're back!     When we left Udaipur on 15 November, 
for roads less travelled in Gujarat, there was a distinct lack of Internet access, 
in fact, none at all. Even at the end of the trip in Mumbai, there was a short 
burst of wifi, like ten minutes!   Apparently trouble with the satellite.    Well, 
we just had to accept  that information.

This was a good thing!   After twitchy fingers, and needing to know what was
going on in the world, the laptop also had a holiday.

This year was a difficult one, for many reasons.   We really needed down time
to let the brain empty, file and/or delete.   It took about a week to recuperate,
then just to relax and enjoy the journey.  

A bit of a shock landing at Heathrow.   Not only pouring rain, a temperature
drop of 30c, followed by a cold frosty spell.  Hibernation time!    Out with the
Blue Moon quilt   Spent a few days quilting, which was great.  No stitching
for a whole month!!!!

brrrr ..............

I started this blog in 2008 as a journal of my Indian travels mainly for 
family and friends, and Keith who joined me two weeks later, just
so they knew where I was and what I was up to.  I had an invitation to 
a Mela in Bhuj, which I could not refuse.   Previously I had sent group
e mails. Time for techno Tig to join the 21st century.  That was a huge 
learning curve, especially since I only set up the blog days before
my departure!

That's almost five years ago!  The blog goes on.  Thank you friends and 
followers for visiting, and for your comments which are always welcomed.

So I have a lot of catching up to do!

When in India you have to expect the unexpected around every corner.
You also experience 'breakdown' with everyday objects.   Take my new
sandals for instance 

very comfortable for wandering around Udaipur

and then the glue on the straps failed to do it's job.   Step up the street cobbler.

What a good job!   Glue applied to both shoe straps, and for added stability, 

saddle stitching to the sole.    You might notice they are a light cherry red.

Oops, to late.  They were polished within an inch of their life, very nice and

smart, however, I've lost the red and now have a sort of military brown!

Keith's binoculars went wonky, I lost mine!   I also think I need a new camera!

I am 'borrowing' some of Keith's photos for my blog which I will mark as his.

For a real treat, do visit his website.   He is still in the process of sorting his

pix.   They are brilliant.