Bundi - 24th January

After a magical drive through some unspoilt villages where we were treated like celebrities; everyone, both adults and children, waving at us the whole route, we arrived in the small non touristy town of Bundi. Nikki was particularly excited as she had arranged to meet her guide from her previous visit to India six years ago and it was rumoured that he had done rather well for himself.

Our hotel was a beautiful old haveli and we had a super room decorated with wall paintings and interesting artefacts. We walked into town through the market which not only sold everything it also offered services such as dentistry at some stalls. We were 'fortunate' enough to arrive at one stall as a patient was having an extraction; never, never complain about the standard or price of dental care in the UK as this whole experience was not for the faint hearted.

Eventually we came to Bundi palace which is not particularly spectacular on the inside apart from some super paintings in one part, but beautiful from the outside especially when lit up at night. As we came out of the palace JP, Nikki's old guide was waiting for us and whisked us away to his new hotel. It was a restored old haveli with seven beautiful rooms in the walls of the old palace, the perfect boutique hotel.

We sat on the roof terrace watching the sunset over the palace drinking some rather lovely G&Ts, made with Bombay Sapphire rather than the coarse local gin we have been drinking. After Nikki and JP had caught up on all their news we were served a delicious meal with some more drinkies... the perfect evening.