The City of Lakes

Udaipur is magnificent , and probably one of the best cities I have visited in India. It has a magical feeling about it created by the surrounding mountains and lakes. It is often referred to as the Venice of the East, and it is easy to see why.

I was eager to get up and explore on my first morning of feeling close to 100%. I met with Ross and Angy for breakfast and then we decided to take a walk around Swaroop Sagar a lake in Udaipur that has two islands on it.

Feeling energetic we set off and started our walk. Halfway through we decided to turn back and try to find the Shilpa culture farm. About 6kms later, after walking in the baking sun we found it, and decided to have lunch and walk back! The scenery is so beautiful. You can actually take mountain hikes which I would have loved to do had I had more energy! It was a great walk and we got into some deep conversations about family, work, life.

We were staying in main tourist hub where most of the little haveli hotels are placed. This area has a wonderful, lively atmosphere about it. It is quite hilly and for some reason reminded me of San Franscisco!

It was great to hang out again with Ross and Ange. They are a great couple and we all got on so well. Ross made me laugh hysterically for most of the day, and Angy is just lovely. I did my own thing that night, but we met for dinner later in the evening. An Israeli couple joined us, and it was interesting to listen to their take on the war, and their experiences in the compulsory army service. They view the Israeli army as the "people's army". Because Israel has such a small population its citizens have to serve at least 2-3 years. During their service they get paid about $200. On completion a lot of these young people either head off to India for a year or go directly to University.


Ross, Angy and I had breakfast the next morning where we met with an English guy - who has a strong American accent - called Martin. It was good to meet up with him as they were leaving that evening. Martin has just finished studying and is on a 6 month break before he starts as a graduate placement at a big London accounting firm. It's refreshing to be around someone who has yet to experience the real working world. He is ambitious and excited!

Martin and I hung out that day. I also had some alone time and got caught up in having a beautiful dress made for me! I wandered off from the main tourist drag into the town and came across the textile street. Thousands of little shops selling the most exquisite mixture of colourful saris and fabrics. Here you can buy absolutely anything. I really enjoyed walking through this street just feeling the fabrics and observing the salesmen selling their finest cloths. I found an old style sari - yes, there is a fashion involved in Indian Sari's. The print is really beautiful so I decided to take the material up to a tailor who made it into a dress for me. Not sure how long the dress will last for as the fabric is a thin silk, but it is beautiful!

On my way back to the tailor, I was passing numerous stalls when one of the guys called me inside. I usually ignore any salesman who says, "medem inside- looking is free!", but this guy seemed pretty calm. I scanned lazily over his jewels and then as I was turning around to leave I looked into his eyes.
"You have incredible eyes," I said.
And they were. A piercing green with a dark hazel rim around the pupil.

He looked at me and pulled me to sit down. For some reason I was calm.
He looked into my eyes, and then closed his. Looked into my eyes, closed his.

"You have a good aura about you but something is not right. It is not right here" - and he pushed his finger right into my stomach!
"YES! I have been ill for the past couple of days right there"

He repeated. Looked into my eyes, closed his.

"You are feeling pressure. Why are you so worried all the time? All the time worrying? What are you worried about?"

This was a little too personal. He had managed to push a button, and I just started crying. He let my tears roll down my face and said to me "You need to be calm. You need to take time and relax. Not worrying about nothing you hear. Relaxing is good for mind."

"Thank you" I felt a little embarrassed at my outburst.

I left feeling a bit weird. But a good wired. He was a nice man, obviously very intuitive. I walked away promising to make "relax time".

That evening Martin and I met up for a traditional Rajesthan dance and music show one evening which was incredible. I love the music! A drummer beats rhythmically on a long drum whilst a man who plays a weird instrument called a Suarngi and sings - almost like wailing, but it is beautiful. Women in bright saris twirl around and move their hands graciously. Each hand movement means something. In one of the dances, two women are adorned with brass bells. They sit on the floor and using strings with iron balls attached at they end, they work through each of the bells attached to their body, not missing a single one. It is fascinating. The grand finale begins and a women dances with 9 matkas carefully balanced on her head. These are large water pots. Water is a scarce resource in Rajhestan so the dance is dedicated to saving water. It is incredible.

After the show Martin and I met up with Mike and Jan - a couple from California. They are getting married in Thailand in March - she is Thai - they have invited me to their wedding which I will definitely attend!

I am really enjoying meeting so many interesting people from all over. Everyone has a different story to tell and comes from a different place. We all share one thing though - a passion for exploring and adventure, and the urge to learn more about this fascinating country, India.

On my last day in Udaipur I visited the City Palace. This was awesome! The palace is really grand and a part of it is still occupied by the current maharaja. You walk through narrow corridors and each leads to either a magnificent, ornate room decorated in glass enamel, coloured paintings. The corridors also lead onto serene court yards. I loved this experience. The most exciting are the views of the lake from the palace. These are framed by the Islamic style stone window frames. It is too beautiful. Apparently Liz Hurley will wed in Udaipur at the Palace this year in March!

I was sad to leave Udaipur. It is really a special part of India, and I hope to be back one day!

Next stop - Jodphur