Day 14 - Homeward Bound

That's it another early start, another holiday done. Up at six again today in order to visit Qutob Minar, an ancient Muslim site dating back to the 12th century. We are so in the swing of things now that we were awake before the alarm, showered, bags packed and down to breakfast by 6:45. The food in this hotel, the Hyatt has been the best on the trip and we have to admit to making piggies of ourselves, especially himself and the chocolate fountain. 

The minaret at Qutob Minar is still standing but the rest of the site, although a World Heritage Site, is in various stages of decay. It was still beautiful though. 

This was going to be the original minaret

This is the actual minaret

These are random photos of the site. The carvings were beautiful and amazing that without our modern tools they could be so accurate. As you can see we're ahead of the crowds today!!

So there you are folks, India has now been done and we are currently sat in Delhi airport waiting for our flight to be called, just a pity we've got no wifi here! See you all soon. 

Arrived home safely, now it's time for a decent cuppa and bed. xxxx

Day 13 - Dinner

Had our last meal tonight with our fellow travellers, who have been a great bunch. I think this has been the first tour we've done were everybody has got on well, no misfits like on the China tour or the US one.  The buffet tonight was superb but the following made me laugh. 

You'd love this Georgia, we dipped strawberries and marshmallows. Mmmmm 

Day 13 - Delhi

Our last full day has arrived and is all a bit of a waste really. We left our hotel at 10:45 after a leisurely breakfast.  

Hotel gardens in Udaipur

Front entrance of Udaipur hotel

The drive to the airport was about 30 mins so we had 2 hours to wait for our flight. Check in was very easy and in no time we were 'ready to board'.  Unfortunately we didn't have a plane and we were eventually told it was delayed until 2pm instead of 1:20. Still we waited and at last our plane landed at 2pm. Admittedly it was a fast turn around but it still meant we didn't get to Delhi until 4pm and it was 4:30 before we left the airport. We were told that the city tour was still going ahead but after the Delhi traffic we drove to our hotel and checked in at 7!!!!! 

Roundabout with a fountain 

India gate

Parliament building

What a waste of a day. Now we are faced with leaving the hotel at 8am so that we can see Delhi before getting to the airport for 11am. Not sure what we'll get to see but this last day has been a bit of a shambles. 

Day 12 - Udaipur again

Udaipur is probably the cleanest city in India and is the only place that we have seen water. The city has seven lakes and driving along the lakes gives it a nice feel. All other cities we have visited have lots of water features but they have always been dry, even at the Taj Mahal. 

We did have the opportunity of upgrading our accommodation to the five star Taj Lake Palace Hotel, which has been voted as being the most romantic hotel in the world, but I declined. The upgrade cost wasabi eye watering £349 each. It is located in the middle of lake Pichola but it wouldn't be very romantic when the lake has dried up, as it sometimes does. Two of our group have upgraded so it'll be interesting to see what they have to say about it. 

Our first stop this morning was to a temple, quickly followed by a tour of the City Palace which took the rest of the morning. 

The Temple, which whilst elaborately carved was not in the same league as the Jain Temple yesterday. 

Impressive gates to the City Palace. This is where the last elephant fight took place in 1952. 

The palace was elaborately decorated with lots of mirrors. 

Wheelchair belonging to the last King. 

A carved ivory door 

A golden sun, could do with bringing that back with us. 

Elaborate facade

After the palace we took a boat ride on the lake and sailed around the posh place and then it was on to lunch, some gardens and back to our hotel. 

Doing the washing in the lake

Some of our group dressing up 

Feeling a little jaded right now but at least our flight back to Delhi tomorrow has been changed and we no longer have to be up at 4:30. The flight is now 1pm hooray.  

Can't believe that we are almost done with this holiday. We are glad that we have been to India and seen the all that we have but it's a dirty place that we have no wish to return to. 

Day 11 - Udaipur

Our trip is rapidly coming to an end now and today we make our way to our final destination before heading back to Delhi for one night and then it'll be homeward bound. 

We had quite a long trip today but it was a relatively leisurely start. Up at 6:45, breakfast at 7:30, cases out 8:30, on the road at 9. We had a toilet stop  where we bought some tat and then it was back on board to our lunch stop. I'm not sure whether the buffet was geared towards westerners but it was the blandest most tasteless food we've had all trip. Everything was lacking. I suppose it could be that we are now so used to the spices that bland isn't good. 

We then carried on through boring landscape and eventually reached Ranakpur which is one of the finest Jain Temples and is constructed from white marble and 1444 exquisitely carved columns, of which no two are identical. Jain is descended from Hinduism but they're a weird lot. They have three fundamental beliefs. The first is non violence, which means that they can't eat meat because of the violence towards animals. We weren't allowed into the temple if we had anything leather with us. So leather belts, wallets etc had to be taken off. The second belief is meditation and the third is sharing. As we walked around they were keen to pray for us, or impart their wisdom, but at a price. We had been warned to ignore them, which we did. 

A beautiful dome

As is normal we couldn't wear shoes. Thankfully they have always been where we left them.

Thankfully the drums weren't being beaten but there was a party of school kids present and boys being boys they all had to bang them every time they passed. 

After the temple it was back on the bus for the 2 hour drive to our hotel. During this time the landscape changed dramatically and became mountainous and verdant. 

We stopped briefly to take a look at a farmer extracting water from a well to irrigate his fields. This was done via an oxen turning a water wheel. Of course I helped out. 

When we left our last hotel we were all given a camel made from recycled paper. Our tour leader gave a little girl his and as soon as he had turned his back, the farmer had taken it from her and given her 10 rupees for it (10p). We quickly found another for her but I've no doubt that would also have been taken. 

Here's my camel, which is not going to find its way to Fair Oak!

No need for concrete cows on this roundabout, Udaipur has the real thing. 

Forgot to add this photo of a bridegroom arriving at our hotel last night for his wedding. 

It is the wedding season here in India and traditionally the groom arrives on horseback. Weddings are big noisy affairs with drums beating and awful music playing at an ear shattering pitch. Thank goodness our room was well soundproofed as we didn't hear a thing last night. Not like a few nights ago, when it went on and on and we sat wearing our noise cancelling headphones. 

Day 10 - Jodphur

Another early start, this time brekkie at 6:30 and on the road at 7:30. I need a holiday!

We arrived into Jodphur, the blue city, named because lots of the houses are painted blue because it's a cooling colour and Jodphur is a very hot city.  Jodphur, compared with all the other places we've visited is by far the cleanest place we have visited, very little litter and no cows!!! What surprises us is how docile the cows are and how they live side by side with the hundreds of dogs that are around. 

Our first stop was the Jaswant Thada which is a burial ground for the rulers of the Marwar region who wanted to be buried within sight of The Mehrangarh Fort.  The Jaswant Thada was made out of carved white marble and was very beautiful. 

We then carried on to the Mehrangarh Fort which is one of the largest forts in India built around 1469. It was perched high on rocky ground 410 feet above Jodphur and it too was beautifully carved. Canon ball imprints from battles many moons ago, can still be seen on the second gate. 

In one section of the fort there were many palanquins including an elaborate domed one, which were a popular means of travel for the ladies of the nobility.  

There were also many elephant howdahs, a two compartment seat fastened on an elephants back. 

We also watched a guy winding his turban on. Can't imagine having to do that everyday. At least they don't have to shave. 

This is me with opium man. He's 67 and has smoked opium all his life. Seemed a happy enough chap but then who wouldn't be if all he does is sit in the sun smoking all day. 

After lunch in the fort we visited the local Clock Tower market, which was an interesting experience and then we climbed aboard tuk tuks to take us back to our bus so that we could carry on to our hotel. 

The swimming pool at the hotel, just a shame that we don't have time to use it. 

After a quick wash and brush up we were out again to visit a local fabric warehouse where items are made for Liberty, Hermes, etc.  I indulged in an enormous Hermes cashmere shawl which will double as a throw for the sofa. 

Assorted photos

Dancing boy in restaurant

The ghat at Pushkar

How to carry your shopping home, or in this case a basket of stones

Himself checking out his new car

Getting rid of the empties whilst the men gathered up the pool towels!!

No sunrise but not a bad sun set last night