Good luck customer is the first customer of the day and I'll have my drink in a dirty glass

Since I don't want to tease too much about my trip, I will not spend too much time on the fact that I am writing this blog on the roof on a very classy hotel, drinking a Kingfisher beer, in my shorts and tee-shirt. Yes, I know that October can be short weather for me, but I am warm, and the breeze is just enough to cool off the 35 plus day, and keep the pollution at bay. Of course this may be because I have been here 12 days, and I have forgotten what clean air smells like, BUT, I know what 34 degrees feel like, and it is Vacation, :-).

Well today, was a good day, I managed to find some cereal, so I started my day off right, but I had to use vanilla milk instead of cold milk, well maybe tomorrow. On this note, I have to say I discovered that if you take plain yogurt and sprinkle it with pepper, you have a very tasty treat. Of course, the consistency of the yogurt we have in Canada is different from that in India, but Ruby, says that adding buttermilk to it back in Canada will get the right consistency.

In any case, before I start on how great the food has been let me get onto today. Today we started at the observatory, where I got an accurate description of how a sundial works, and now maybe the guide as looking at my watch, but he was able to tell me exactly what time it was, down to the minute. This is nothing, with the big sundial (Guinness book of World records) they are accurate to within 2 seconds. In addition to the sundials, (three of them)' you could determine in which sign of the Zodiac the sun was currently, and what your horoscope would be for that day. What is amazing is that there were constructed over 300 years ago, without modern measuring tools or super-computers to get correct positioning and angles. Forget, traveling back to see the construction of the pyramids, the number guy in me, says "lets go back to the construction and calculation of this place".

Next we went to the City palace, which from a historical view is way more important than the Observatory, but from a picture taking perspective, not so good. In fact, all the places you would want to take pictures, (i.e., the textile museum, the weapons museum, the hall of the maharaja's) you could not take any. HOWEVER' you had to pay for your camera, but I did receive an audio tour of the exhibits, so I think it all evened out in the wash. Aside from paying to have my picture taken with some royal guards, (after the fact, maybe the RCMP could look into this as a source of income on Parliament hill, although I don't think the money I gave made it to the central fund), and getting into another tourists vacation picture, only two things really stood out. The weapons armoury, (I am a guy what can you say), and the two giant silver water jugs, (another Guinness record, I think), which were used to carry water from the Ganges to London during the visit by the Maharaja of Jaipur, a long time ago. Yes, I know, a history buff, will say I am playing fast and loose with the facts, but hey, I am an economist.

After this, what visit to Jaipur would be complete without a visit to their market. I know I don't have room, and many miles to go before I get home, but I had to try my hand at bargaining. After the first shop, where the guys were opening up and tossing out stuff by the handful, I realized that I would not go into a shop, to "LOOK" at something again. So in typical "Cim" style I set a couple of ground rules, "first, don't start ripping stuff-out, because I will walk", after this I entered a couple of shops and did purchase a few items after haggling with the guys. While I may not have gotten the best deal, there were a few rounds, and I managed to pick the stuff up for less than the starting price, so it was all good, even though their starting price was less than I would have paid in Canadian dollars. Besides, the driver Harnek, may not have gotten that much better a deal, but who knows. It was my first foray into the Jaipur bazaar, and I did not pay first price, so all is good.

At this point,we decided to get some food. I was ok, but Harnek who slept in the car, had not eaten, so we found this little diner. I suspect Ruby would have felt safe eating here, since it was a super busy place and locals were coming by taxi to eat here, so the food was probably fresh and good. While I am sure I could have eaten here and had no problems, I did not want to risk it, but Harnek did have lunch. I had, fresh pineapple juice, a Lhaso (served in a clay pot), and some ice cream.

After this lunch, we had to cross the street for a fourth time. (I have to remember that they drive on the other side of the road, so traffic is coming from the other direction). I am not sure where these skills came from, especially since I grew up in Dauphin, where people obeyed traffic laws, but more important, I think the park across street from this hotel has more people than the entire population of Dauphin. But I digress, I MADE IT, note I missed at least one crossing opportunity while filming this video.



Now onto the really challenging part, the inner gate. While I am sure two people holding hands could have brushed their shoulders on the opposite walls, if they were brave enough to do this. We had to get through this portal with Cars, tuk-tuks, bicycles, rickshaws and other pedestrians heading in both directions. This was doable, all you had to do was wait for an opportunity and take it. What was more difficult was doing this in the car, with no-one acting as a traffic marshal. I think they were all trying to catch tourist cabs making wrong turns. Although, I am not sure if they could have organized this chaos into something that any North American would recognize as movement of traffic.

While, I could have gotten a computerized astrology sign made for me if I knew the exact time of my birth, I decided to find this little out of the way artisan's gallery. It was difficult to find, since it was in his home, but we did manage to find it, and would you believe I could probably see his house from my hotel room. Finally, a quick stop for some banana's and back to the hotel and writing this entry, (on the rooftop, where there is a breeze, and it is a nice and warm 31 degrees Celsius, and I have finished my beer).

I noticed there is a western style mall, across the street, and I may or may not go and check it out once the traffic dies down, but I think I may have had enough of crowds, and "just look, you don't have to buy" for one day, besides, I have no room in my bags. I might have to pare down the stuff I am carrying onto Taiwan. Do you think the, "Sorry Dave, it is amazing, I could only find the Hot Tamales, and nothing else on the list" excuse would work. Ahh, who am I kidding, I would have to add, AND, security had to open and check to make sure they were not illegal, so here is your Red Hot Tamale", :-).

Next: You mean, Bird sanctuary was not code for a bunch of British girls seeking refugee in Bharatpur?, (I am so PC, it hurts, ;-)) or 6th floor view is great, sleeping under an Indian Dance club not so much.