A final weekend trip
March 14
It’s sad that it wasn’t until now that I truly felt like an expert of the rail system. I woke up at four in the morning in order to get ready to leave for my final weekend trip. I would be spending all of Saturday and Sunday in the capital of Rajasthan, Jaipur. When I arrived at the train station I found my train and before I knew it I was off. I got in Jaipur to the normal horde of taxi drivers looking for hire. These kinds of crowds I hate, but Jaipur would make up for it by providing a good fill of the crowds I do enjoy.
I dropped my stuff off at the guest house and tried to catch a rickshaw to the Anokhi museum where Jaipur’s famous block printing was done. As I rode I was exposed to other things Jaipur is known for, camels and elephants. I saw camels pulling carts and elephants returning from a hard day of transportation to and from hilltop forts. I awed and stared when all the sudden the rickshaw stopped. I looked to my right and I was at the Central Museum. “No no! Anokhi museum not Central.”
“Not Central?” he said.
“No Anokhi.” It was then he got off and started searching for someone who knew the directions.
In the courtyard of the museum I saw a school of boys and girls in spotless white uniforms playing I decided to say a quick “hello” while I waited. I first shook a girl named Rema’s hand, but that is all I got to know about this girl. I looked around and I was surrounded by children out stretching their hands for a shake. They shouted out their names and then asked mine. “JAKE!” I has to shout.
“Jake?” the group replied.
“Yes, Jake!”
“Oh, very nice name.” many of the girls said.
I smiled and the loud conversation continued. I thought it was over when their teacher came to move the child, but after apologizing to the teacher and saying “bye” I was approached by another group of hands. It was a large family along with some older men from the area. I was so touched to see these elder men shoving their hands past shoulders just to smile and shake the hand of this random twenty year old. We talked about India and photos with the children were taken before my driver returned.
Jaipur is known as the Pink City and is located on old Mogul territory, so first thing Sunday morning I was greeted by my driver and driven through the sea of pink buildings towards the old Amber Fort. We passed the Water Palace, which is located on a man made lake and actually has floors under water despite the fact that it was built during Mogul rule.
When I arrived at the base of the fort I was put in a line. A line full of white foreigners, something I had never seen since I left the States. I was instantly reminded, by the scenes and people of a national park, such as Yosemite. I finally reached the front of the line and was put on top of an elephant that was to take me to the top of this hill where the fort was. Of course the journey was amazing, but the treatment of these beautiful creatures made me very uncomfortable. The day before I had taken a walk in a small part of town that housed some of the elephants. I was happy to actually see they were fed here, because they definitely weren’t at the fort. The fort was absolutely booked full with tourist and I could see why. It’s size and view almost made it impossible to leave. Luckily, the crowds and sun helped me say goodbye.
When I left I drove through some villages to get to various museums and temples. I was blown away by the differences of each of these small villages. Anokhi was in a rural village filled with animals and people bathing in the dirt roads. It had a very Middle Eastern feel with its Muslim men and sand looking buildings. A five-minute drive from this small village was another that was the stereotypical Indian town. It housed elephants and the women all wore saris. The children ran to shake my hands after I had introduced myself to one little boy. The children here really did want to meet people they often just needed the ice broken for them. After that you will be fighting then off when you want to leave.
Being a major tourist location I could tell a lot of people were really out to rip me off. I have never had to fight with so many drivers to get what I wanted. Though I have had a great time in Jaipur I am excited to return to Delhi where I can manage transportation easier.
The Window Palace
The Amber Fort
Amber Fort
The Water Palace
