Udaipur, Rajasthan

Greetings friends,

i have greatly enjoyed my stay here in Udaipur. the last 48 hours have been a step back in time where palaces, cobblestone streets, forts and detailed artwork have ruled.

upon arrival, Mel and i found ourselves a lovely guesthouse that faces the famous Lake Pichola. known as possibly one of the most romantic cities in India, Udaipur is home to two distinct palace islands (no joke...there is no other land than the palace itself...and you can only get there by boat) known as Jagmandir and Jagniwas palace. the water is rather murky, but along this body of water are a series of ghats, where you'll find people washing laundry, children swimming, and ducks lazing.

as we peeked our way thru the back alleys of our neighbourhood, Lal Ghat, it seemed like there was some sort of activity going on in every doorway. once, i saw a man eating his lunch. another time, i saw a man was holding incense and praying to Ganesh. just outside another doorway, i saw what appeared to be some sort of psychadelic medicine man with a painted face...i walked quickly after seeing him. ..!

one of the most prominent features here in Udaipur is the City Palace, where Kings ruled for hundreds of years. Walking thru the palace halls reminded me of Aladdin. i really felt like i have a better sense of the Disney cartoon after seeing the palace...all i needed was a Genie. i even recalled singing Aladdin songs to my nephew with my sister-in-law...what fun we have! the palaces and buildings here are very ornate. there is much detail in the design of the building and the people take pride in the details of their work. Rajasthani art consists of hand-made embroidery, patch work and mini paintings of minute detail. Mel and i were chatting over dinner that the vibe of Udaipur is one of a healthy pride. the people seem to take pride in their work, and this attitude is also reflected in its care for the land, the use of green space, the cleanliness of the streets, and the consistent restoration of the palaces. preservation instead of deterioration. i believe the word Mel used was "magical". i would agree and further add that it is a charming city, and i would certainly return.

sightseeing aside, Mel and i have gotten into a routine of having our siesta. for those who may not be familiar with that term, it is a spanish word that we've both experiened in our travels...it is a break period, usually during the hottest time of the day where everyone naps, breaks, and businesses shut down. so...during the hottest time of the day, we've gotten into the habit of lounging. in Arambol it was on the beach. in Mumbai, we strategically took the boat ride ensuring us shade and an ocean breeze, and in Udaipur, we prop ourselves atop a rooftop couch, overlooking the two palace islands, under some shade. siestas have been nice for us...Mel usually reads...and i usually nap, haha.

friends, my tastebuds have been LOVING the treats here. curries and rotis aside, we have finally found sugar cane juice! i treated myself to a cup of freshly squeezed juice in Mumbai on the side of a busy street (yes, i am eating/drinking street food against all others advice...but as Mel says...i seem to have a stomach of iron!), then was pleasantly surprised to find another vendor here... did i mention that we found pomegranate juice as well? oh my goodness...im so happy. it only takes a couple of hours for me to begin feeling thirsty again with the heat and all...but knowing that my steady gait will carry me to a cup full of delicious natural goodness makes all that waiting, walking and heat-annoyance worth it :)

we are grabbing out train this evening to Jaipur...our first train of four for this next leg of the trip. we'll see what adventure awaits us!

much love,
dL