Day 5- Juphur

So today was the last day of our Golden Triangle tour it has gone so quickly! In the morning we went to see a Palace which had lots of little windows so the women could look out of the palace but the public couldn't see them. We could only stop for a short while to take pictures then it was back on the bus to our next stop. Our next stop was the Amber fort. This was the biggest fort we had seen so far. It was red in colour and had many rooms, stairs and corridors. We got to see the tunnels underneath the fort where the horses were kept for a quick and discrete exit. This fort had many different rooms as the emperor was a big fan of the ladies and had a few women living with him, he had secret corridors so he could go to see different women without making the others jealous! Don't be getting any ideas lads! On the way back we saw the Water Palace, this palace situated in the middle of a lake but no one was allowed to visit the palace so it was just a photo opportunity, but it was very pretty!

After that we went to see Jaipur City Palace, this place was a smaller place and there was a museum inside also. The inventor of polo lived there. We walked around the rooms and saw the clothes that were worn by the emperor he was a very big chap! We then went on to see the museum which is where all the weapons that were used in those days were kept. We then went to see a place that was similar to a picture gallery and watched the artists draw. They use a brush with one very fine hair that is similar to a pencil and they used a charcoal powder which they mixed with water. It was very interesting to watch. We met a painter that had met Prince Charles (he was very proud to show us the picture) he was also a very famous painter in Jaipur. Myself, Charlotte and a few others of the group bought a picture from him. There was also other little stalls that sold pillow cases and walls hangings etc.

After a busy and hot morning we decided it was time for some lunch. After lunch a few of us headed to the manic market where they sold clothes and various different things. Charlotte bought a very snazzy pair of green Aladdin trousers with elephants on for £1.50 after bartering the man down from £5 which was good work. We then got a tuk tuk back to the hotel.

That evening all of us went to see the festival that took place to remember a Goddess. At the the time if the festival all the women would pray for a long life for their husbands or would pray for a good husband. The ladies would grow wheat 14 days before the festival then present this to their husband on the day of the festival to show their appreciation and love towards them. We went to watch the festival from one of Jai's (our tour guide) friends house who was also a tour guide, as he had a massive roof top terrace so we got amazing view of the whole street. The festival was full of loads of bright colours there were women dancing, men playing instruments, camels pulling carts and horses being ridden, all the animals were decorated with loads of sparkly accessories. There was a super cool elephant walking down the street with a man on top, the elephant would collect money from the people in the crowd with his trunk and give it to the man on top of him. In amongst the parade was a statue of the famous Goddess made of flowers. We all really enjoyed watching the festival. After the festival all the tour guides had got beer for everyone so we all had a drink and a chat at his house before heading out for dinner.

We went to dinner in a roof top restaurant where there were men playing bongos and women were dancing. One women was dancing with clay bowls on her head, after a few minutes she would add another clay bowl until she had a tower on her head and she was still dancing. A couple of the girls went up to join her dancing. The meal was lovely.