Jaipur

So our trip didn't really include much of Delhi and we left first thing the next morning. I actually thought Delhi was a grand place. Very modern, big streets with actual pavements and traffic lights, and a good bit cleaner than the rest of India.

We had our own private air conditioned bus for the tour and we all hopped in it for our 6 hour trip to Jaipur. It felt a bit weird and familiar heading back into Rajhastan. The a/c was a bit annoying after a while, especially as I knew hopping in and out of it was just going to bring my cold back on but what can ye do. I stuck my ipod in my ears, looked out the window and had a bit of a snooze.
Just 2km from our hotel, the bus broke down. HA! I've been on public transport the whole past two months and nothings gone wrong. Get our own bus and BAM! it breaks down. So we tuk tuk'd it the rest of the way to our most amazing hotel, which was actually a palace! It was gorgeous and had lots of nice couches, plants and fancy pictures of short Sultans about the place. A member of the Royal family actually still lived there. And it had a swimming pool! Well HOT DOG! It was kits off and straight to the pool with us for the afternoon. Delightful! The pool was so clear and cool and super refreshing.

Later Dushyant brought us round the town and through the markets, testing our knowledge of spices.

Then we went to a super posh restaurant for dinner and had a great lol listening to one of our group reprimand Dushyant for the way the Indian people where treated when India was divided up after it got it's Independence. Joe, was from the Phillippines and he was giving out about how the politicians had made this decision for Indians without an election or vote. Dushyant explained that in 1947 a lot of Indian people could not read or write. Joe maintained that that type of thing never would have happened in his country. It's a pity he wasn't around then to ensure such things didn't take place. Poor auld Dushyant wasn't around and wasn't responsible for decisions made then. :D

Later we discovered Princess Diana had stayed in our hotel! Well if it was good enough for Lady Di...

:D

Poor Kat began to feel a bit ill and to be honest she never fully recovered from what was 'buggin' her for the whole trip.

The next day we hopped on our bus to see the Amber Fort - which was very impressive. We saw a guy on the ground outside rolling up the stairs in all his clothes! Apparently his wish had come true and to thank the gods, he had to roll up the stone steps to the fort. Naturally!

We had a local guide for the Fort (palace) and he filled us in on all the history and interesting info on the gaff. It was fierce interesting. The Raj that built it, was overthrown by his third son who was a power hungry maniac. This son also killed his three other brothers just to be sure he could become Top Dog. He imprisoned his own father in the fort! Although his pop was imprisoned there, he was still brought a constant stream of consorts well into his old age and apparently he died from an overdose of Viagra. :D

(All of the above information may be wrong or factually incorrect. I'm writing this two weeks later and I'm not sure if I've muddled up the Red fort and the Amber fort info) . :D

After another afternoon of beer and swimming back at our own palace swimming pool, we were brought to this awesome Cinema to see the Bollywood movie Himmatwala (Brave Man).

Well I never! This was probably thee best movie I have ever seen and I didn't understand a word of it! (It was in Hindi). It was a bout a Brave Man who could punch a tiger in the face and knock him out, beat up a vanful of men in 5 seconds flat, dance amazingly and still manage 8 changes of clothes in 1 song, and obviously make the leading lady fall in love with him. It was awesome.
Here is the trailer...

Your text to link here...

The cinema was packed with westerners (most of whom ceremoniously left after half an hour) and Indians alike. The Indians and our group (most of them) really enjoyed the movie and were going bonkers and laughing, whistling, hooting and dancing in the aisles (mostly the Indian lads) when the dance numbers came on. The cinema had cheap delicious popcorn, samosas and an interval! Best movie Ever.
Kat had to leave early due to being sick, but I filled her in on the whole dramatic outcome when I returned! Took me about half an hour to explain the whole 3 hours of it!