July 14,  Agra

 

Our India-adventure is now almost one week old, but it has not lost any of its enchantment and wonder.

 

I was met in Delhi by Anne-Sophie where she had already spent a few days in murderous heat with her boyfriend, his friends and family. In Delhi we did a LOT of shopping and some (little) sightseeing. In Agra Anne-Sophie was as enchanted by the Taj Mahal as I had been 27 years ago. We stayed in a spectacular hotel, the luxurios India as described in a glossy magazine. The next day we were driven to Bharatpur, as usual pampered by our driver and the next morning we visited the Keoleoda Bird Sanctuary. A meditative and enchanting experience, followed by a bumpy drive through Monsoon rains out to Jaipur. We had chosen there the very basic only room up in Nahargar Fort were we spent two nights, almost feeling like the Maharajahs personal guard! Today we left the rather scanty Fort and enjoy the hospitality in an old Jaipur trader’s home: to Western eyes this looks more like a rambling palace with innumerable inner courts and shady terraces. We did the compulsory visitors programme: Forts, Palaces, shopping and SHOPPING.....

 

The temperatures are high but not unbearable, still Anne-Sophie collapsed onto the bed for a several hours siesta. So far everything worked out just fine, our Delhi tour operator did a good job, we needed this pampered beginning, as India can be overwhelming at times. Tomorrow we add our first train trip to our adventures, travelling deeper into Rajasthan, land of desert, land of winds, land of the colourful women.

 

 

July 21, Udaipur

 

 

Our travels in Rajasthan led us into Jaipur, place of wonderful palaces and towering forts around the city. We stopped briefly in Pushkar, which I found disappointing; the so-called mystic atmosphere is just another word for pushy moneymaking under spiritual disguise. We then took a very punctual train from Ajmer to Jodhpur, a very beautiful but very hot city and visited the overtowering fort - a grand experience, so close to the desert Thar.

 

I could not resist buying a typical Rajasthani saree in flaming colours, my daughter calls it the "clowns cloth" but I simply love it. On bus we rode to Udaipur and with each kilometre the land got greener and more fertile, likewise the temperatures got more and more agreeable. I love Udaipur with its lovely lake, the lush greenery and the huge palaces. We had to watch the James-Bond movie "Octopussy" as a number of scenes were turned in Udaipur and around. However I was stupid enough to eat a doubtful dish while watching the movie and got myself the "Delhi-belly", but I could also call it the Indian version of fast slimming. So I am not too sad!

 

We stayed in an absolutely lovely hotel directly on the shore of the lake, with a breathtakingly romantic restaurant. For one day we have just moved over into the Lake Palace Hotel in he midst of the Lake.

 

Today we will fly into Delhi and do some last minute shopping there. We will take the night train to Lucknow, which I insisted on visiting due to my historical interests.

 

July 30, Kolkata

 

This is the end of our trip to India. It was pure fun and it will enter history as the ultimate Shopping-Tour! We loved it, the country, the people, the colours, the history .... you name it.

 

We had a great time and very little problems, we loved Kolkata for its mixture of English Raj and Indian Modernity. The only problems we did encounter, was in Lucknow, were we felt literally followed by impertinent men. Still the city is lovely.

 

Today we are off to London, both of us will be attending a course by University Basle on Shakespeare in Stratford. I do admit I fell not very well prepared. We'll see how we'll manage.

 

After London we are due back in Switzerland for a few days, not for long though, as our travels will take us then further. More of this in the next letter.