willb

When we were in Jaipur.

We were asked to join in the Holi celebrations. We were not too sure about this, but we did and it was B*****Y fantastic. Complete strangers, both Indians and Westeners chucking coloured powder over each other. took over a hour in the shower to get all the colour off though. If you ever get the chance to do the Holi, just do it. It is great fun.

If not a bit messy.

Funny, there were signs all over the hotel saying. "If you have been Holi'd please do not touch the walls"

noni

We were in Jaipur last Tuesday. It is Holi here this weekend.

willb

Noni.

Did you get to see the Elephant Festival. It is held In a "Football/ Cricket Stadium"

Near the end of the show, they invite the people to come on to the "Football/Cricket Pitch" and mingle among the elephants. Believe me there are a lot of elephants there. Amazed to see kids and adults walking under the elephants. Hate to thing if one of the elephants went on the rampage. They had to get the Police in to clear the crowds, off the pitch. Some of the cops were swinging their lathis around and shouting like crazy.

As they say "Incredible India"

noni

We went back to Delhi for a few days and missed it. Never mind had a ride on the elephant (Pinki) up to the Amber Fort.

johnny five

Were they calling her Scarletti by the time you got to the top?


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Bipat

Arrived in Udaipur from Mumbai yesterday (doing some travelling before Goa). Propeller plane landed with a bump! very informal flight with Jet, you buy cans of soft drink etc. cabin staff (2) carry bags down the steep steps to help passengers.
First impressions very beautiful city.

prestonjohn

See if they still do the lunch and dinner at the Lake Palace. WE went there 20 years ago and it was fantastic.However, i think the price will be a little different today.You get the boat out to it and the ambience and view is out of this world.

Bipat

They still do a buffet lunch. we didn't go as didn't want a heavy lunch with visiting other places after.
We did go to the Garden hotel where get a ticket to enter the Royal vintage car collection with guide + thali dinner for 250 rps each. Cars were amazing about 20 on show; 1930s Mercedes, Rolls, Fords etc.

Bipat

Something positive! Jodhpur is a beautiful city with stunning architecture, wide good roads, most buildings are of sandstone; with many ordinary houses having a blue wall or roof ie the 'Blue City' Good restaurants serving Rajasthani food. We are only here a short time would like to stay longer. Can recommend a visit.

Bipat

Jaipur for a short stay; it has changed so much since our last visit 20 years ago inevitable increase in crowds, traffic etc they are building a metro! The Hawa Mahal looked 'tatty'. The elephant working conditions seemed to have improved, they go back to their village as soon as the sun gets hot in the morning about 10.30 am.
Amritsar; a real experience, the first glimpse of the Golden Temple at night quite something; thousands of pilgrims; the queue to enter and pass through the temple took 1 hour. There was a vast kitchen serving meals.
At the 'border ceremony' in the evening,surprised to find it quite 'moving' as well as entertaining; a lot of dancing (on Indian side) and flag waving both sides, the soldiers showing off to amuse the crowd with 'high kicks', but at sunset the gates open and the soldiers from both sides salute and the flags are lowered together. Then gates close and back to the usual separation.

willb

Same in Bangalore. They are building a metro right through the middle of the city. It was a nightmare driving through. Cars buses trucks & Tuc Tucs coming at us from all sides. Crazy.

noni

Cars buses trucks & Tuc Tucs coming at us from all sides. Crazy just like all of Goa

willb

We drove all around Goa for 3+ Years, and never seen anything like it, driving wise, everyday we seen so many near misses, just by sheer stupidnes or just don't care attitude. I made a new years eve promise not to shout a scream at these crazy drivers. I think my resolution lasted about 5 minutes on New Years day. We seen 4 fatal accidents in about the space month.
A Brit friend of ours stopped to help at the scene of a minor scrape with a scooter and a car, in the Colva area, in the end the crowd started to blame him for causing it.

Bipat

You ain't seen nothing Noni we are in Pune leaving tomorrow, traffic unbelievable 3 deaths a day, thousands of 2 wheelers, there are traffic lights but few other rules apparent. Just hope to get to the airport safely!!

johnny five

Suggest you ask to see your pilot's licence? And permission to land.

The callous response to ignoring government safety regs will affect you, as you are flying in, not getting the heck out, so your bhaji-seller turned commercial pilot will need every navigational aid available......such as "Go that side, no the other side, then stay this side. Then do same, same but different"


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