JODHPUR

Jodhpur - We arrived in Jodhpur on February 22nd, which is 294 kms from Jaisalmer and took us about 6 hours.  Along the way we came across a camel and horse sale in the middle of nowhere. All sorts of rock quarries and people making bricks by hand.   We have noticed that a lot of woman do manual labour such as carrying bricks and dirt in bowls on their heads. We were told that women make about 80 rupees for 8 hours of work. That folks works out to $1.60 for eight hours of work. They get paid in cash on a daily basis so that they can buy food. If men do this type of work, they get paid 100 rupees, about $2.00. The amazing thing to see is that women wear their beautiful  saris while working in the fields and in construction.  Often time their young children are in the fields or streets with them, very sad to see. In reading The India Times, we noticed that their inflation rate is 7 1/2%. This country is booming, but their infrastructure simply cannot keep up to their needs....roads, schools,  transportation, regulations, etc.  Chaos seems to be the rule, but the Indians seem to be able to live this way. We are staying at a lovely heritage hotel called the Ranbanka Palace which was once owned  by a Maharajah and converted to a hotel. The nicest hotel to date, probably a four star, rest have been 3 star. Robin and I relaxed by the pool and enjoyed a massage (me) and Robin had a foot reflexology at the spa located on the hotel grounds. Had dinner at the hotel, our most expensive meal to date. The next morning Colin met us for breakfast without Suzanne. She had succumbed to something and spent the day in bed. I complained at the outset of our trip that I had spent a fortune at the Naturopath. Well so far I haven't gotten sick and keeping my fingers crossed so the expense definitely worth it to date! The three of us headed out for a day of touring with a local guide, Michael  (from the Goa area- southern India) and our driver.  We drove to the highest point of the City. Jodhpur is known as the "Blue City" as many of the homes are painted blue, using Indigo. This is done to keep the houses cool in the heat of the summer and to repel mosquitoes. A population of 1.2 million people, about the same size as Calgary.  The second largest City in Rajasthan which is known for its walled fort which has 8 gates.  Our first stop was the Jaswant Thada, a huge cenotaph made of white marble, which is the memorial for the Maharajah of Jodhpur which was commissioned by his wife, the Maharani and built in 1889.  Next stop was the Meharangarh Fort which rises above the City. A very spectacular site. This has been the largest and best preserved of the forts we have seen to date. It is said you can see for 80 kms. The fort was built in 1459, but successive Maharajah's added to it.  Polo was a game that was played in the early days and Jodhpur pants are still worn today in this area by a few of the wealthy people. Men of the Rajasthan area are also known to wear studded earrings in both ears.  Then went to the existing Maharajah's palace. The extensive palace was started in 1929 and took 15 years to build. It is said that the Maharajah decided to build this palace during a famine in this part of  India and 3,000 people each day would come to work at the palace, paid, then the next day a different 3,000. So he provided some assistance to his people. At the present time, the Maharajah and his family only live in 25% of the palace and the remainder has been transformed into a high end Taj hotel ($1,000 per night minimum). We then drove down to see the Clock Tower then on a walking tour of the local market and surrounding streets. Once again, hard to explain the smells, explosive colours of fabrics for sale and women's clothes, the cows walking through the streets, the garbage in the streets, the tuk tuks weaving in and out and the constant honking! We visited a textile manufacturer and we bought a lovely Patchouli  bed spread/wrap (chin hair of the Yak...really).  A great day of sights and sounds. Unfortunately Suzanne still under the weather and she did not join us for dinner.  We are on to Udaipur tomorrow.