I am now in Rasthajan; our hotel is even better than the last one, my jaw just dropped open when I saw my enormous room; mahogany furniture, light blue voile drapes, ornate lamps, stain glassed windows and marble floor... pah! No probs.
We went to Fatehpur Sikri on the way here. Deserted hundreds of years ago by the Mughal Emperor Akbar (they are not sure why, maybe through lack of water) it was rediscovered and perfectly preserved with the help of Viceroy Curzon in Victorian days. The walled city is virtually as it was when it was the capital city of Rasthanjan. Made of red sandstone and spread out over many acres.... but it is not a fort. It is now an very eerie, very empty shell of what was once a magnificent residence and palace and must have heaved with court life well before our Henry VIII was alive. The history here is so different, so eye-opening.
Driving (again on toll road) is noisy and interesting. Anuj told us "only three things you must have on roads in India: good brakes, good horn and good luck!" There seem to be few rules, overtake anywhere, weave in and out. Pedestrians cross the roads (as we have learned to do) by just walking out and expecting cars to stop. Our driver constantly sounds his musical claxen/horn as we go along, few of the big lorries have adequate rear view mirrors apparently. It is noisy fun!! We had to stop and make way for an elephant crossing today...
The agricultural scenery has not changed. The industrious nature of ordinary Indian life is everywhere.
I have just had a coffee delivered on tray by a moustached gentleman in traditional raj servant dress. Oh, I could get used to this...
We went to Fatehpur Sikri on the way here. Deserted hundreds of years ago by the Mughal Emperor Akbar (they are not sure why, maybe through lack of water) it was rediscovered and perfectly preserved with the help of Viceroy Curzon in Victorian days. The walled city is virtually as it was when it was the capital city of Rasthanjan. Made of red sandstone and spread out over many acres.... but it is not a fort. It is now an very eerie, very empty shell of what was once a magnificent residence and palace and must have heaved with court life well before our Henry VIII was alive. The history here is so different, so eye-opening.
Driving (again on toll road) is noisy and interesting. Anuj told us "only three things you must have on roads in India: good brakes, good horn and good luck!" There seem to be few rules, overtake anywhere, weave in and out. Pedestrians cross the roads (as we have learned to do) by just walking out and expecting cars to stop. Our driver constantly sounds his musical claxen/horn as we go along, few of the big lorries have adequate rear view mirrors apparently. It is noisy fun!! We had to stop and make way for an elephant crossing today...
The agricultural scenery has not changed. The industrious nature of ordinary Indian life is everywhere.
I have just had a coffee delivered on tray by a moustached gentleman in traditional raj servant dress. Oh, I could get used to this...
Good that you're getting used to the life of relative luxury while surrounded in all that history. Don't envy the driving, though.
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