Pushkar

My dears. I left Jaipur this afternoon. It was all getting a bit too much. I visited the Amber Palace before I departed. The magnificent palace is just outside Jaipur, where tourists go to ride elephants (but I didn't, though I did get very close to one or two). But I feel a bit monumented-out. Plus, my tour was pants. After about five minutes in, I realised that the entire guide was going to be a repetition of comments, mostly pointing to the view: "Old Amber... capital of Jaipur before Jaipur capital". Old Amber, to my uneducated eye, mostly comprised run-down shacks and delapidated facilities. I am sure old Amber town has a sort of rustic charm. Or something. But it was lost on me and my sense of aesthetics. Anyway, I made a speedy retreat from Jaipur (and took the bus to Pushkar).

At the station, I was befriended by some French tourists (whom I am meeting for dinner shortly: so am attaching myself effectively to unsuspecting types).

But on my arrival in Pushkar, all previous invitations to imbibe tea were eclipsed by an offer of marriage from a 4'9'' tout. Fortunately, he didn't seem too offended when I howled with laughter (everyone looked around to see what the noise was).

Apart from that, Pushkar is very pleasant. Well, a nice change from large cities. It is touristy and there are lots of backpackers, so it is easier for me to meet people and spend lots of cash on trinkets.

But the real reason Pushkar is famous and special is that it is very holy, especially in relation to Brahma. Hopefully I shall visit the ghats at sunrise tomorrow morning.

Anyway, must dash.

xxx