Scream if you want to go faster

I haven’t been on a fairground ride for years, and as we headed out to the night market in Jalore and spotted a huge swinging ship ... of course our initial  thoughts were an absolute no to go on, but if Kamlesh’s nine year old cousin was prepared to go, then so should we. So on the opposite side of the boat was a large group of women, one holding a baby. Even on the first swing I clung on tight, and quickly clamped my eyes shut and screamed as the swung back and forth reaching 180 degree swings, leaving our seats as we descended. For what felt like an eternity, with a bruise forming on my inner arm I clung on .... a girl opposite was standing at the back squealing with joy, countering my squealing with fear, at last it stopped and we stepped off the rickety stairs and laughed with relief, as even the boys admitted their fear.  Never again, but we were proud to have successfully fired three shots each on a rifle at the entrance, bursting the tiny coloured balloons. Much to the onlookers amazement we both hit 3 out of 3 targets each, sadly no prize other than our pride! 

We’ve broken the bed

Staying with Kamlesh is such a fantastic experience and one big parts of the trip this time is to visit relatives along the way. At every town there’s a maternal uncle or cousin, and staying in Jalore we visited family and after chai and a lot of chatter the phones came out for a group shot. As often happens we perch on the bed in the main reception room, which is bereft of sofas. So we all politely arrange ourselves in rows for the photos and suddenly there’s a loud crack ... of the metal bed frame buckling under our combined weight. How many English and Indian folk does it take to break a bed? 14!!! 

Oh no Madam I am a child!

You’re a captive audience as you wait patiently on the train platform, only to see your train eta edge nearer dusk, to rob you of your view of the Rajasthani landscape. As always you are surrounded by staring eyes, as you standout as foreign women on the platform, it’s impossible to be invisible.  A trio of lads start talking to us, the taller one with the best English taking the conversation lead. Again more questions in order of importance. ‘Are you married?’, how old are you?’ And ‘how can you afford to travel?’ I laughed and asked him if he was married, to which he replied ‘oh no Madam, I am a child’ ..... aaarrgghh his manly moustache covered his tender age of 17!!!