February 18

We awoke and readied, had breakfast in our room – Jeff had Masala Omelette and Buttered Toast with a pot of tea; I had two Sunny Side Up Eggs and Buttered Toast with a pot of coffee. Then Jeff went and rented a scooter!! We are going to some last sites here in Jaipur.

The first place we went to was the Wind Palace to get a better picture in sunshine not shadow. It is an amazing piece of architecture. While we were taking our pictures, a guy looked at us incredulous and exclaimed, “Are you driving!?” (Jeff is holding my helmet because only one helmet fits in the scooter.) Jeff said, “Yes.” I think he was impressed, and he actually said, “If you can drive in India, you can drive anywhere in the world!” We chuckled, but scarily, it is sooo true!

We get back on our scooter and go to our next place, passing through a couple more beautifully painted gates on the road. We arrive at Nahargarh Fort. Again, from the outside it is a fort, but inside a palace. We paid the entrance fee and scooter parking and go through an arched entry that opens to a courtyard with some painted walls of a double storied building, Shri Madhavendra Bhawan. It is supposedly ten apartments: one for the Maharaja- Sawai Madho Singh II; the other nine apartments were for his concubines. (We only counted nine total.) The apartments are all in different stages of repair with some open and a couple painted/restored nicely. Each apartment has a bedroom, verandah, kitchen/fireplace, and toilet. There is an inner passageway/corridor- Raja ka Galiyara, that connects all the apartments to the Maharaja's apartment. Some of these apartments are being used by artists and have some of their works displayed behind locked window doors. Most were leaning toward modern art expressionism, not necessarily our thing. There was also a “Tank” here, which is the water collection pool for the palace; and also a neatly designed step-well, which was a water collection place, too. But the stepwell was built into and out of the mountain, unique design!

Now we went to Jaigarh Fort, again it is a fort/palace. This one was just above the Amber Fort/Palace we went to yesterday. So we went up some windy roads to get to it. The views from here would have been breath-taking, if it weren't for the smog and heavy air pollution. (It is bad enough today, we can taste the air). Anyway, we enter the fort and immediately notice they were setting up the main square here for an event. One guard guy took it upon himself to be our guide. I tried to give him the slip a couple of times but he stuck like glue. He did get us to around better than we would have probably done by ourselves. Anyway, the other squares in this fort have planted Mango trees around the squares' perimeter, which adds some contrast to the reddish/amber walls. We saw the Dining Hall, the Royal Ladies' Dining Hall, and the Kitchen rooms. These all had mannequins dressed in period costume (1800's), with likenesses of Indian food. It was the first time this was attempted in any of the palaces we have been to here. This added a component to make it more real. Next we were 'guided' to a square that is an English-manicured garden, with again viewing places. It was here I leaned out and my hat flew off my head due to gust of wind! It landed just over the railing on a wide ledge. Jeff showed the guard-guide and told him he was going over to get it. The guard-guide held on to him. I had told Jeff not to worry about it, but he… I just stepped back. Ummm, I can't watch when he does stuff like that. Jeff gave me my hat. I hugged him, well because he came back, not necessarily for the hat!! Anyway, the walls of this garden area are beautifully symmetrical and enhance the views from them. We do see the water-dam area for the palace. Our self-appointed guide said that camels would be loaded up with the water and driven along a ramp to bring the water up. Also we view the sprawling town of Jaipur; looked down on the Amber Palace/Fort; and can make out the Water Palace, too. Our 'guide' finished here with us. Jeff gave him 20 Rupees (25 cents). The guy just looked at Jeff. Jeff told him we did not ask for him to guide us, and he never said he was a guide or wanted money. Anyway, we left.

We went to a restaurant in the fort for a snack. We had a Honey Chilli Potato, and a Paneer Pakoda, a Coke, and a Lime Juice Water. The 'Potato' order was glaze-coated french fries and the 'Pakoda' was thickly battered and deep fried. So they were good, but not necessarily good for us. Jeff asked for the bill. The guy brought a bill for double the amount it should have been. Jeff told him not right bill and wanted the menu. The waiter returned with the menu, a new bill with the right amount, but a mysterious tax of 50 Rupees (60 cents). Whatever, Jeff gave him money but needed change. This same waiter brought back the change in a bill holder. The money was loose in the holder with the bill, except for one 100 Rupee, that had been folded and tucked in the pocket. Jeff found it and said “Really!!” to the waiter. That waiter, was something else. Jeff thinks he pocketed the 50 Rupees. Jeff definitely Google reviewed that restaurant!! Anyway, we loaded back up on the scooter and left. Wow, that was the first time that we blatantly noticed trying to be scammed!

From here we drive a ways to our last place. As we are driving on a faster freeway type road, the traffic is all swerving and diverting around something. It came into view – an elephant! It is loaded with goods and being 'driven', 'steered', or 'rode' (don't know the correct phrasing here) on the freeway!! It was just plodding/lumbering along, taking up a whole lane. It was pretty wild, and well, crazy to witness!!

Lastly, we arrived at Mandir Thikana Galta, commonly referred to as Monkey Temple. It is situated in a narrow crevice of two hills. We paid the entrance fee and entered a complex of temples. The first temple was dedicated to the monkey god, but it was closed and locked. A man was laying on a ledge at the entry. When he saw us, he sat up explaining it to be the monkey temple… we went on. Next was a sacred water tank area that some 'pilgrims' were bathing in. Further on down, were more temples and, of course, monkeys. There are two kinds here – the red faced ones; and the black faced, lankier ones that we saw so many of in Hampi. The monkeys are more numerous and everywhere because there is food laid out for them everywhere. They were skittering all about. We descended further down into the other temple area and went into one of them. I took a few pictures. A Hindu Priest sitting there saw me and wanted to bless me with some paint for my forehead. I respectfully declined. We went out and decided we were finished exploring. We trekked back up, past all the cheeky monkeys, to our scooter.

Now we went to a filling station and replaced the little gas we had used. We head back and returned our day use rented scooter. We had a good day. We ordered a light supper of a potato dish and a “spinach” salad with paneer (cheese), potatoes, red onions, and tomatoes. The potato dish was great; the salad was not spinach and did not have any dressing, very bland. After we ate we talked with my mom. I blogged/Jeff read. Then we joined our church service and caught up with some of the brethren. Bed by 11:30 pm. Tomorrow we move on.