With the hotel being across the road from Lake Sagar, we decided to get up early and try to take some sunrise photos. This was partially successfully in that the sun did eventually come up over the hills, but not until about 6:30. There was also quite a breeze blowing, so the idea of reflections off a glass-like lake were not to be. Some clouds around the horizon also conspired against us.
At breakfast this morning, I decided to depart from the usual omelette and had a Marsala Dosa instead. Dosas are a South Indian breakfast that come with a lightly spiced curry sauce. We got picked up at 9 AM and went to Jantar Mantar, an observatory that was built in 1765, by the royal family. It houses the world’s largest sundial (according to the Guinness book) that can tell the local time to within 2 seconds. The interesting thing was that all the instruments were built to support Astrology rather than science, but the angles and measurements are so accurate that they actually validate the science of latitude and sun position.
Then we drove past the Wind Palace, which to me was one of those things that wasn’t what it seemed. It is simply a facade rather than a palace to be experienced like some of the others. Nonetheless, here’s a photo.
While we were driving to the Wind Palace, our driver got pulled aside by a policeman, because he didn’t have a sticker on the side of the car, which is required even if your car is from another state. Our guide managed to come to an ‘arrangement’ with the policeman not to write a ticket at a cost of 300 rupees ($6). They dropped us off near a Hindu Temple while they went to sort out getting the correct sticker made. A lot of the roads are blocked off today and the queues to get into the Ganesh Temple were long. This photo is from about a kilometre from the temple and we could not see the end of the queue.
The procession for the Ganesh festival had to be postponed as it was realised by the local authorities that part of the route is closed, due to a Metro construction site. Government approval is required to either change the route or remove the obstacles, so the parade was delayed until tomorrow… photo’s in tomorrow’s blog (hopefully)
After all that action we had some lunch and went back to the hotel for a little relaxation, prior to being picked up again to visit a local elephant village. In fact, it was more than a just elephants… We also sighted monkeys, ducks, geese, pigs and horses. We met Jacky (not his real name.. I suspect) who told us some facts about the elephants in his care, before he got distracted and talked about the day Shane Warne came to visit. Interestingly, Australian cricket players are held much higher regard here than in their home country. Apparently, the whole country stopped to watch the funeral of Phillip Hughes.
Anyway, so we opted for the ‘Paint and Feed’ package and were able to get ‘up close and personal’ with an elephant. She seemed a very gentle and patient beast while we painted. This is our work… meaning I did the high ones.
Then we got to feed her some cane off cuts which she did seem to like. She certainly knew where the food was.
It was a fantastic experience, especially as it would be considered too unsafe to do at Australia Zoo, so I don’t think we’d get this opportunity at home.It was an experience we both thoroughly enjoyed.
We have one more day in Jaipur and will be visiting another palace tomorrow and hopefully the Ganesh parade will occur tomorrow night… government willing!
Until tomorrow!
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