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Another day,another red Fort

We made an early start for the sightseeing tour of Jaipur. Inevitably our first port of a call was another red fort, the Amber Fort overlooking Jaipur.

elephantTo reach it we we took elephant transportation, an experience I would wish to forget.

Two of us rode side-saddle as the elephant lurched towards the ramparts of the fort and the driver told me to even up the weight by lying supine across its back, which I did with an expression of pure terror. I have never been happier to be back on terra firma as I was when we reached the fort.

This is is a World Heritage site. So you might have thought they would do something to control the hawkers that assault you with turbans, umbrellas, maps of India, trinkets and artefacts and won’t take no for an answer. One fellow boarded our jeep to continue his negotiations. At the fort, we had the inevitable curry buffet lunch and then saw the Royal Palace. By 4pm the group was wilting as we were all “cultured out”.

There are two coaches named celebrity groups A and B. Both have separate guides and do not interact. We had a B on our bus which generated much joshing about visas and being A material. It’s a good fun group. Two got separated in the Amber Fort and one was struck down with Delhi belly but we are all good humoured and now looking forward to the cricket. Coaches A and B are united on one issue: what to tip? Guidance was sought from up above, who suggested  £40 per day, with £5 to the “boy” (as he was was somewhat dismissively titled), £10 to the driver and £25 to the guide.

All have in their  different ways enhanced the trip- especially the guide who is a mine of knowledge on politics, religion, social matters aside from the monuments but one self-styled expert on Indian salaries and wages believes this level of tipping to be excessive. Mini groups gather and discuss in hushed tones but I am inclined to be generous. They deserve a lot more than the gaudy trinkets proffered by hawkers at every destination.

nr-postOver lunch I shared my perceptions so far with an intelligent lady from Crowborough. We have enjoyed and been stimulated by the trip which has come up to aspiration without finding it the mind-changing spiritual experience some have mentioned to me back home.

I did not realise how civilised the Mughal Empire of the 16th and 17th century was and how friendly the people are.

The hawkers are pests but they are honest and polite and not like not the team of gypsy “dippers” that you find or example in Rome at the tourist sites. The general view is that India is ticked off the bucket list. Tomorrow we leave at 5 am for Mumbai and the tour will take a cricket shift.

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About Robert Tickler

A man of financial substance, Robert has a wide range of interests and opinions to match. More Posts