Where the mozzies love Danny

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  Ranakpur and Udaipur, India
Sunday, October 9, 2005

After leaving Jodhpur we landed at Ranakpur - a much greener lush place down in a valley. There were signs everywhere warning of leopards and I (Kate) admit to staring intently at the horizon just in case! The room we stayed in was pretty good apart from the two gekkos in the bathroom which took all three of us to shoo out (great pictures of us balancing precariously on chairs!) Till we got to this place the mozzies loved me but here Danny gets a taste - felt good to share them! Boris still only has one bite! Udaipur is the next stop with an amazing drive through the mountains with the speakers blaring. The best temple yet in my view was the Jain temple just outside Ranakpur. With 1444 individually carved marble pillars all with different designs - was incredible. Forts and temples are becoming an everyday occurance for us but this was something special.
Although the temple was free there was a hidden fee. I was taking a picture of the view when a man behind says he is the high priest of the temple and welcomes me. He askes where I'm from and then whilst putting a large quantity of yellow powder on my forehead wishes me happiness and luck for the future. Nice I think untill a cleverly conceilled tip tray appears full of 100 and 500 rupees and I am asked to make my donation! After I see Boris has been got too but Danny is weaving his way behind him trying to hide behind the pillars! While telling him what happened to me the man sneaks up behind us and 180 rupees later we leave the temple (not too bad as is only 2.50!)Danny gave him 40p (tight).
From the temple we also took lots and lots of pictures of the large black faced monkeys which were leaping in the trees. So glad we are not buying rolls of film!


Arrived in Udaipur, a couple of hours south of ranakpur, udaipur is the city where octopussy was shot, and the lake is full for the first time in 15 years, so the people are celebrating. our hotel was overlooking a different part of the lake to the famous part, but provided beutiful views, and we all got up for sunrise at 6, with across the lake, to the moutains, with mist sitting on top of the city, and monkeys sounds, and the calling to the mosque by the muslims. added bonus of catching the football, and the cricket.
after arriving we went down to local show, which again was with puppets, without the sqeeking, which was a little borring after a while.(there was one good bit, titled 'boy who loves girl, but every time he tries to bed girl, she turns into man, and head butts him ' yes i added the head butt part, but thats what happened). just when i was nodding off, it changed into a tradional dance thing, which was colourful, followed by a lady dancing with lots of potss balancing on her head, whilst doing things like treading on glass. i'm not convinced this was traditional, but impresive (for a girl). just for the record, kate says i shouldn't write that.
around this time there were a few tight tummies (especially mark), but nothing that could keep us down to long, and i'm still asking for everything extra spicy. city palace tour, boat ride, temples, the pictures show you. especially the famous lake palace hotel. beutiful city, which we capped off with a slightly more expensive meal on the lake at night. good service, and food, more fireworks in a very romantic city. expenisve means 10 pounds for 3 meeals.

damm the mozzies, in the south they love me (danny). we moved on early the next morning.

pictures coming when technology allows, the same with spell checking. dreaming of broadband.

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