This is the one day I never got to write about at the time. I can't remember why perhaps it was the Internet connection or maybe I was just too tired. So, it is good to see I took some notes about our trip from Agra to the pink city Jaipur.
Our first stop was the summer palace. This is where we spent a few hours wandering around the rooms where the king played hide and seek with his 16 concubines. He had 3 wives one Hindu, one Christian from Portugal and one Moslem. Each had rooms in the palace and much of the marble carving included symbols of all 3 religions. It sort of explains why India appears quite tolerant of religions.
In the court yard was a large game of ludo. Concubines of which there are 16 of course the exact number of counters required for the game. When they were required to move they also had to entertain the king with dance or song. My cynicism said if they didn't entertain at ludo perhaps hide and seek wouldn't be that much fun.
Moving on you say. Some interesting architectural insights. The rooms had hollow walls. In summer cold water was poured into the cavities and in winter fires were lit for heating. Hooks still graced the walls where curtains were hung for shade and warmth. Beds were high above the floor to avoid floods and for warmth.
The palace also had many carvings of Gods and Goddesses and also pretty sparsely dressed woman. However during invasions women were abused which is why burkas and full length clothing came about ie for protection. In Nepal woman were tattooed to make them ugly to avoid abuse.
We went to another step well, very different from the one in Delhi. Square in shape with steep steps zig zagging in a herringbone pattern down to the water.
We stopped at a small country village and watched beautiful bangles being made from wax.
The drive to Jaipur was through country side and little villages. Shepherds watched their flocks, gently guiding them with staff in hand. Camels, cows, goats, peacocks and chooks roamed freely around. Every one seemed well fed and clothed, government assistance having stepped in.
Jaipur is known as the pink city due to a comment on the colour of the building materials by a Prince of Wales. The kite festival was in full swing and children were flying brightly coloured squares from roof tops and side walks. It's a city of extremes. We saw a lot of poverty. In particular a family had hidden their bedding over a concrete fence. We saw them pulling it over the fence using an attached rope and then walking with their three children (possibly all under 4) to the park to sleep. I wondered what they did in the monsoon season and my heart went out to them. Just along the road are expensive clothes shops and car sales yards.
I rather think now that I thought about the family a lot thay night - perhaps that is why I didn't update the blog.
Our first stop was the summer palace. This is where we spent a few hours wandering around the rooms where the king played hide and seek with his 16 concubines. He had 3 wives one Hindu, one Christian from Portugal and one Moslem. Each had rooms in the palace and much of the marble carving included symbols of all 3 religions. It sort of explains why India appears quite tolerant of religions.
In the court yard was a large game of ludo. Concubines of which there are 16 of course the exact number of counters required for the game. When they were required to move they also had to entertain the king with dance or song. My cynicism said if they didn't entertain at ludo perhaps hide and seek wouldn't be that much fun.
Moving on you say. Some interesting architectural insights. The rooms had hollow walls. In summer cold water was poured into the cavities and in winter fires were lit for heating. Hooks still graced the walls where curtains were hung for shade and warmth. Beds were high above the floor to avoid floods and for warmth.
The palace also had many carvings of Gods and Goddesses and also pretty sparsely dressed woman. However during invasions women were abused which is why burkas and full length clothing came about ie for protection. In Nepal woman were tattooed to make them ugly to avoid abuse.
We went to another step well, very different from the one in Delhi. Square in shape with steep steps zig zagging in a herringbone pattern down to the water.
We stopped at a small country village and watched beautiful bangles being made from wax.
The drive to Jaipur was through country side and little villages. Shepherds watched their flocks, gently guiding them with staff in hand. Camels, cows, goats, peacocks and chooks roamed freely around. Every one seemed well fed and clothed, government assistance having stepped in.
Jaipur is known as the pink city due to a comment on the colour of the building materials by a Prince of Wales. The kite festival was in full swing and children were flying brightly coloured squares from roof tops and side walks. It's a city of extremes. We saw a lot of poverty. In particular a family had hidden their bedding over a concrete fence. We saw them pulling it over the fence using an attached rope and then walking with their three children (possibly all under 4) to the park to sleep. I wondered what they did in the monsoon season and my heart went out to them. Just along the road are expensive clothes shops and car sales yards.
I rather think now that I thought about the family a lot thay night - perhaps that is why I didn't update the blog.
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