Have not managed to write for some days due to late arrivals, unpredictable wi fi (although usually good),weariness after a day’s activities and problems with posting photos due to a new update I should never have done just before leaving home as they always change things. So I plan to keep the blog to text only unless I get it sorted and send photos via ICloud sharing. Apologies if you don’t have an I device.
Anyway, a bit of a recap here. In Udaipur, Devali celebrations were in full swing. Lots of fireworks and old fashioned bungers. Not organised event, just people letting them off at random and at all hours. When visiting a nearby village the kids ( same the world over) let one off surprisingly amongst our group and found the reactions hilarious. Marigolds are sold all over the place and worn as garlands or decorate doorways and shrines. Mandalas are chalked at house entrances and in villages, often accompanied by a display of grasses or flowers propped up in nice fresh dung! Cows and oxen have painted horns and dyed decorations on their skin. Traffic is indescribable, especially in the old town and narrow winding streets...tuk tuk-like auto rickshaws (autos) everywhere, including on both sides of the road, pedestrians seemingly taking their life in their hands by completely ignoring the incessant horns and wandering to the little open shopfronts with no footpath. All part of the fun and vibrancy. We went out looking at textiles, handcrafts and miniature painting demonstrations. The latter incredible, done with thin brushes made from camel eyelashes! I bought a quite expensive one which I hope will still look good in my home environment. It’s not miniature, the details are. Dinner overlooking a lake and lit up Palace was a highlight as was a boat cruise on the lake past big old palaces to an open air terrace bar at a palace built in 15th century.It was quite funny as after seeing our group’s physical ability at other sites, the guide decided we were not up to a visit to a fort as there was a lot of climbing involved with no alternate way to get up there. We didn’t care. There are more spectacular ones to come. A visit to a Bhil village was very interesting. Women and girls getting water from the well and carrying it in pots on their heads, glimpses into homes etc. very poor people of a minority ethnic group but very welcoming. We saw a traditional puppet and dance show which mercifully didn’t drag on like a Chinese opera..long enough to keep our interest on a warm night in an open courtyard. There was a 70 year old woman who danced with 10 pots balanced on her head, bending down, lying down, walking on crushed glass or plastic shards or whatever. The next day we set off for Deogargh to break the journey between Udaipur and Jaisalmer but that another story.
Anyway, a bit of a recap here. In Udaipur, Devali celebrations were in full swing. Lots of fireworks and old fashioned bungers. Not organised event, just people letting them off at random and at all hours. When visiting a nearby village the kids ( same the world over) let one off surprisingly amongst our group and found the reactions hilarious. Marigolds are sold all over the place and worn as garlands or decorate doorways and shrines. Mandalas are chalked at house entrances and in villages, often accompanied by a display of grasses or flowers propped up in nice fresh dung! Cows and oxen have painted horns and dyed decorations on their skin. Traffic is indescribable, especially in the old town and narrow winding streets...tuk tuk-like auto rickshaws (autos) everywhere, including on both sides of the road, pedestrians seemingly taking their life in their hands by completely ignoring the incessant horns and wandering to the little open shopfronts with no footpath. All part of the fun and vibrancy. We went out looking at textiles, handcrafts and miniature painting demonstrations. The latter incredible, done with thin brushes made from camel eyelashes! I bought a quite expensive one which I hope will still look good in my home environment. It’s not miniature, the details are. Dinner overlooking a lake and lit up Palace was a highlight as was a boat cruise on the lake past big old palaces to an open air terrace bar at a palace built in 15th century.It was quite funny as after seeing our group’s physical ability at other sites, the guide decided we were not up to a visit to a fort as there was a lot of climbing involved with no alternate way to get up there. We didn’t care. There are more spectacular ones to come. A visit to a Bhil village was very interesting. Women and girls getting water from the well and carrying it in pots on their heads, glimpses into homes etc. very poor people of a minority ethnic group but very welcoming. We saw a traditional puppet and dance show which mercifully didn’t drag on like a Chinese opera..long enough to keep our interest on a warm night in an open courtyard. There was a 70 year old woman who danced with 10 pots balanced on her head, bending down, lying down, walking on crushed glass or plastic shards or whatever. The next day we set off for Deogargh to break the journey between Udaipur and Jaisalmer but that another story.
No comments:
Post a Comment