Palace to tent

My ride!
see all photos »

The day started with public bus, and ended with luxury private Jeep transport to our very own Maharaja's palace! I convinced myself that I had the kings room, and we went about eating lavish buffets, playing a spot of tennis and just general lazing in perfect indian weather!

The palace was stunning, quite small as it was built as a hunting residence, but Sting had stayed there (they had photos on the wall) which I thought was pretty cool. The palace itself has been rebuilt to accomodate guests, but the surrounding fort is in ruins and deserted..........breathtaking! There are not many places in India that you can really be alone, so wandering around the fort was like heaven!

Even india has Gypsies....
see all photos »

I had a lovely sleep in a room the size of a football field with FOUR of its own private balconies and a secret stairway to the rooftop (I rose early to catch the sunrise and stretch on the roof...I seem to have almost become addicted to sunrises and sets in India) which was really like being in a fairytale, I actually felt like I was five and wandering around a castle I had dreamed about!!!!! They even had fairytale picturebook LIGHTS!!!!!

We set off again the next morning in our private Jeeps to the holy city of Pushkar, which surrounds a lake, and is quite charming although there seemed to be an alarming amount of stoned western hippies. After a relax by the pool and a tour of the city we set out on my second camel safari.......no chaffed bum this time!

Even gypsies need transport.....
see all photos »

The safari was short and sweet, with a stunning sunset, sunrise, and possibly one of the best meals I have had in India! I wish i knew how indians managed to cook so well on just a campfire! I can barely make their chai on our hob at home!

Thankfully this time I managed to miss the storm (it appeared the next night) which was lucky as although we had a tent this time it was definitely more for show!

An early start in the morning left time for Lunch in town and a spot of shopping! Puskar is famous for silver, and I went a little mad! The silver was insanely cheap, and I only wish I had purchased more as my sensitive skin is telling me it is ACTUAL silver! The jewellers are facinating to watch, and deal with...they definitely have the selling technique down. I like to think that I managed to bargain hard.........but when someone asks $5 for a lovely stirling silver ring that your watched them craft you can hardly say no!!!

A spot of surveying.........
see all photos »

The following day after another little relax by the pool, the most fantastic breakfast on the street where the lovely pancake maker went especially to the organic and much more expensive cafe next door (that was full) to find the mueslie I so wanted........and charged me 1/2 what they would have (only in India) and some power shopping as "oh my god I am almost on the plane out of here" panic started to set in, a final lunch with the crew, and group photos we boarded our train back to Delhi...........man I love train food!!!!