Delhi to Jaipur

Saturday, 12 September 2009

Jackie Lallier wrote: "Up at 6:00, breakfast at 7:00 & on the road at 7:30. Three important things to have when riding on a bus are: good heart, good brakes & good luck! Anything that has wheels or legs is on the Indian highways. We drove through areas on flooded highways that used to take 3 hours to get out of Delhi before the toll road was built. We stopped at 9:00 for a break at McDonalds - big veggie menu here. According to our guide, Pakistan and India both are very corrupt. Nehru put an act in the constitution that no one outside Kashmir can own land in Kashmir. We saw many slum areas along the highway.
The start of the Arables Mountains is the line of where India was an island and joined with Asia long ago. In 1,500 BC the Dravidians were living here when the Aryans came from central Asia (first to Europe, secondly to Persia and thirdly to India). They pushed the Dravidians into southern India. There are 21 languages here and each has its own dialect. 15 languages are official. India is "Unity in Diversity". In 50 AD "Doubting Thomas" brought Christianity to India but 82% of people are Hindu. The Rosh Kristi (Farsi) came from Persia in the 8th century. Pakistan warred against India in the 1960's & 1970's but was repulsed. However, India still gave back the taken land (like Kashmir) - that's why there is still trouble there. The sun came out and we noted shops that hang 7 chilies & lemons in front to ward off the "evil eye". They use turmeric to plug leaking radiators. The Aryans brought cows here and their milk is used to feed small children as it is not so high in fat. Buffalo milk has more fat and is used for ice cream. The end of the crop feeds the cows. The people make cooking fuel from dung = "Best Friend".
We had a great lunch at the Chamu Palace Hotel. This hotel belonged to feudal lords. Eighteen kingdoms collected revenue and passed it on to the family maharajah. The "bar" here was a place to meet and dance. Two brothers lived here. The Spice Route came through this area. Many traders took the sea route to avoid robbers. It is said women started wearing head coverings when the Muslims conquered and wanted to take them, so they hid themselves this way and the custom was absorbed into their culture. Indira Gandhi told the maharajas to use all their palaces or close them so they were turned into hotels and they took their wealth out of the country. We observed custard apple trees. This hotel is privately owned and was renovated three years ago. We learnedjodpur pants were designed so that they wouldn't get stuck in the reins when riding hOJ:'ses.
We stopped at a gypsy camp that was most fascinating. Gypsies originated in India and went to Romania. When they couldn't find work, they started to steal so still aren't allowed in towns so they have their own "camp".
On our way to Jaipur, we all had our pictures taken by persons on a double-decker bus traveling alongside us - Interesting! We had nice accommodations at the Country Inn & Suites. "