Jeep Safari - Drive to Jaipur the "pink city"

Ranthambhore National Park -

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October 17, 2007 / Ranthambhore – Jaipur This morning is our last safari. We were up at 5:30 to meet our 6am jeep. Our guide was Ajay. We did not see any tigers this morning but we did see a Pond Heron, Partridge, Serpent Eagle, Mongoose, Shikra (bird of prey), Fantail flycatcher, Peahen, antelope, Kestral Bird, Rose ring parakeets, Tree Pie, colored Scopes Owl, Langer Monkey, Eagle and Peacock. Today is Wednesday which is Ganesh Day. There is a Ganesh Festival in September when 300,000 people come to Ranthambhore.

Now we are on our way to Jaipur. Along the road we saw a camel with a cart behind it and a woman loading materials onto the cart with her hands. There is road construction along this road too. The workers work 9am to 9pm. They live in tents and move location as they finish sections of the road. Close to Jaipur we saw a woman hoeing dirt in the road median. We also saw a woman in a pit chopping mud with an ax. When I think of our drive to Jaipur I am reminded of streets filled with cows, dogs, goats, bikes, carts, pedestrians, bus’s, pigs, water buffalo, and carts pulled by camels and donkeys. I was amazed at how many people would fit on a motor scooter. One time, I saw 5 people; man, woman, and 3 children. Somehow the traffic keeps moving. Our driver told us that to drive in India you need 3 things; “a good horn, good brakes and good luck!” TRAFFIC, PEOPLE, DUST, ANIMALS

Drive to Jaipur

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In the afternoon we arrive in Jaipur, - the fabled “pink city” of the desert named after Jai Singh, the former Maharaja of Jaipur. This is the only city in the world symbolizing the nine divisions of the universe through the nine rectangular sectors subdividing it. The palaces and forts of the yesteryears, which were witnesses to the royal processions and splendors are now living monuments. We shopped for a couple souvenirs and then had dinner in the hotel. Trident Hilton : Delux garden view room. www1.hilton.com/en_US/hi /hotel/JAITRHI-Trident -Hilton-Jaipur-hotel /index.do