Why are your teeth brown?

Whilst I was crouching in vertigo fear by the steep step well in central Jodhpur, a group of lads stopped to chat. Chat or interrogate .... you get used to the usual questions, where is your husband? How old are you? How many children do you have? But I was left slightly speechless when asked to me explain why are you teeth brown? Perhaps it’s my new Ayurvedic brown tooth paste, or just years of too much red wine? I always thought of my teeth as more yellow. Anyhow I just replied because I am old and that got rid of them! 

The sounds of the city

Sitting on top of the roof terrace at Singhvi Haveli gives you a birds eye view over the blue city. The narrow streets prohibit cars in this oldest part of town, so the lanes are full of rushing motorbikes, and women and children bustling around. The two local temples waft out deep sounds of chanting, and the bikes beep and the dogs bark. This certainly is a city that never sleeps, but on the soft mattress in my 500 year old haveli and a mix of jet lag and sudden nonstop traveller walking means I can sleep like a baby! 

Who’s got the best moustache?

For men in Rajasthan the best way to stand out is having a beautiful colourful turban or a large curly, often comical moustache. Double whammy if you have both. Their pride in these two swells at the prospect of posing for a picture and it’s just pure delight to take pictures of them. At the imposing Fort towering over the blue city all the guards are dressed in beautiful swirling red and yellow turbans, and traditionally white trousers and tunics. To us, the 18 degree heat is sometimes as good as it gets on  a summers day in Cornwall, but here it’s galloping into winter, so thick body warmers are worn. I’m sure they are competitive about their moustaches, as you can catch them out of the corner of your eye preening the curls at the tip of the moustache, to make sure that they are in tip top condition. I was even asked to be in a selfie with a group of them, and I don’t even have a moustache .... 

A knife?

A seasoned traveller yes, but still much improvement is required. With Em’s advice as a fellow traveller ‘don’t over back’ I was determined this time to start off with a light backpack, and not one that would buckle the knees of a coolie in a train station. Mission accomplished but a last minute change of things in the airport queue meant I put my handy bag of things in my hand luggage. 

So it was only at the second round of airport security at Delhi airport that my day back was snatched away by a surly security guard barking instructions of open and knife? at me. My protests of ‘oh no, no knife’ melted away when I realised alongside my two sporks and head torch, washing line and ear plugs was my fabulous Swiss Army knife, which has been with me on many adventure, but mainly opening beer bottles and slicing mangoes. A pressie from a old boyfriend is now in the pocket  of a new owner, so enjoy! 

The planning is done and off to Heathrow later

I used to live ten miles from Heathrow, a hop skip and a jump to fly away. Now living at the end of the country it’s quite an undertaking to get there. Luckily I stop over with a friend and then head to the airport. Just managed to stay ahead of yet another yellow weather warning across Cornwall as I drove up country, but India here I come !!!

Where's my glasses?

How often do you check your bag before you go - camera, wallet, shopping bag and phone - check. However it's unexpected when you loose things along the way, especially when a monkey steals your glasses! Vrindavan is full of monkeys, living mostly in harmony with people. They have however learnt to take things, knowing that they will get fed as a reward for returning them. I was walking along the dusty road by the Yumana River when I felt a heavy clunk on the head and quickly realised that a monkey had swung over and stolen my glasses. I was panic stricken and screamed for help.... and a couple came to my rescue. Luckily a fruit seller was approaching and they got two tomatoes and another guy threw them at the monkey, who thankfully abandoned my glasses and made off with the fruit. What a shock, and what probably only took five minutes felt like such along time .... and the relief afterwards was huge. I'd only spent 20 rupees to get my precious glasses back and they firmly stayed in my bag until I left town!!

Come to the wedding plese

It's definitely wedding season, the most auspicious time to tie the knot is upon us. The streets are full of processions, bands, grooms on horses and drummers. Even in Samdari where Kamlesh was getting married we ended up dancing in someone else's parade! When we stayed by the bird park at Bharatupur our hotel along with all the others long the main highway were all hosting weddings. So after our mega 25km cycle ride round the bird park, when we get back we're invited to the wedding, as it's the sister of one of the guys that works at our hotel. So we spruce up and head to the wedding, escorted by the brides brother. Rapidly we are introduced to all the family (grandma loves touching my hair!), greet a very surprised groom, who is entering the wedding venue on a horse and get taken round the venue. Hilariously when the couple eventually get on the stage to perch on the marriage throne, the brother insists we gallop up the stairs and have our photo taken with the happy couple ... however we are the first to get photos taken, before family and friends and the bemused look of the new bride was priceless!