Neemrana and Jaipur

Yesterday we travelled from Delhi to Neemrana, which took just over 3 hours.  We travelled on a divided highway that was crammed with trucks, cars, motor bikes, tractors, cows, camels, people and just about anything else you could find that rolls.  They don't use the lanes on the highway either - you simply honk and the person beside you moves over a bit and then you lane change - easy!  Especially at 50 miles per hour!!

We had lunch at a road side cafe and sat out in the sun.  We were the only people there.  We would never have stopped there if we were on our own.  We had a great meal and the naan was the best so far!  We think they were cooking it in an outdoor tandoor.

We then checked in at the Neemrana Fort Palace.  This was an actual palace that was purchased in 1986 and converted to a hotel.  It is an amazing property!  It is essentially a castle.  We did lots and lots of stairs!!  I felt sorry for the poor fellows carrying our bags.  Our door lock was a padlock on the outside of two doors that swung open like barn doors!

After we had some time to rest, we took a camel ride to see and ancient step well.  It was built hundreds of years ago to help the people of the area survive after years of drought.   The well was 9 stories deep.  It is a national heritage site, but because the heritage ministry is underfunded the well is a very bad state of repair.  Following that, we took a walking tour of Neemrana village.  It is a very rustic village and we encountered many of the locals.  There were lots of kids as well who were happy to say "hello!" and wave at us.

Today, we drove to Jaipur from Neemrana. 

 We only had one heart stopping car moment as we met a car in our lane who was passing on a blind corner.  Our driver just laughed after our collective gasp.  Jaipur makes Delhi look calm.  The density of people is amazing!  The streets are packed all the time and there are small shops as far as the eye can see.  Our driver stopped to let us take a photo of a building built on the lake.  A former king built this building for hunting ducks.  I'd like to see the Duck Dynasty boys top that for a duck blind!

We checked into our hotel which just appeared off a very busy street.  It too is  another heritage property - Naila Bagh Palace.  We have padlock doors again and our rooms are very grand!  There are peacocks roaming the grounds.   It is amazing how quiet it is once you get into the complex.

For supper, a travel guide booked us at a place that featured folk dancing.  The food was ho hum, but the dancing was great!   The ladies balanced fire and many pots on their heads, while the man ate a breathed fire.   Lots of fun!

When we returned to the hotel we were just in time for the puppet show.  We knew because the fellow said "he had been waiting for us"- sure.  We obliged him and he and his son performed their show.  Ajay, the son, is 10 and he played the drum and sang while his father ran the puppets.  Each puppet had 10 strings and he could do amazing things with them!

Tomorrow, we ride elephants to the Amber Fort and see a number of other historical sites.