Ok today started with the most uncomfortable and boring 8hour bus journey which meant that we were late in arriving in Udaipur. This meant that we didn't have time to do anything in the afternoon, we only had about 2hours spare which I would've spent in the pool but we weren't brave enough for this one. Instead we sat at the pool side eating a late lunch with the local monkeys : )

In the evening we went into the town centre where our adventures started although I will have to tell you mainly about my friend Rachels adventures moer as they are really funny! This is definately my favourite place in India so far. It all started after dinner at Dandia festival which lasts for 9nights where they all dance with sticks (it sounds more exciting than I am descirbing). Here we oined in with the locals in the centre of town. I only participated in the first dance which was alot of fun but a couple of others including Rachel did both dances. Now our dear Rachel received alot of attention that night especially from one man in particular who refused to leave her side with others pushing in so that they could keep dancing with her. Here is where it all begins.

It started off at the end of me and Janine being side tracked and leaving later than the rest of the group who were already making their way back to the hotel, which was a fair walk but not unmanageable. We were lucky enough at this point that Ravi (the man that had taken great interest in Rachel) showed up on his motorbike and gave us a lift back to our hotel! This was so much fun! Especially as we overtook the rest of the group who's faces wer suddenly green with envy.

When the others got back to the hotel Rachel was livid! Unfortunately jokingly she told us off for stealing her boyfriend, something she would live to regret as this is what we now nicknamed him.

Day2

The morning of our second day started out pretty much like all our other days in India, with a bit of sightseeing to the lake, the city palace and then the Vishnu temple. Here we made another friend who we nicknamed Mr England who we managed to put off going to his art gallery as we were due to go for our cooking lesson. On our way to the temple though it would be good to point out that somehow Rachel's boyfriend managed to find our dear Rachel on his motorbike. On our way to the cookery course we looked into getting some Heena done and we found the loveliest shop, the man gave us all a minuture each at the Heena would only cost IR100 for two hands. Here me and Janine left our dear Rachel to go on with her adventures where we jokingly said that if she got into any trouble her knight in shiny bike would come along to rescue her.

So anyway on with my day and I got learn how to make all sorts of different Indian foods and was then able to feast on all of the food at the end. Needless to say that I was full to bursting at the end of this cooking class that was well worth the money and I will share my recipes when I get home.

To be contued as I have run out of time on the internet ...

Meanwhile whilst Janine and I were cooking Rachel spent the day being recognised by alot of the locals most of whom wanted her to visit their shops. She also magaed to get the best henna done on her hand by a local indian lady, had lunch cooked for her, road on a motorcycle and invited out to play with the sticks in a smaller Dandia festival. On her way to find us she had ro constantly lie to every local she came accross promising them that she'll visit their shops later. Bless her she had become famous.

In the evening we all went to and amazing traditional dance show where they demonstrated several traditional Rajastan dances and also puppetry. This is also where Chris named Rachel, Queen Rohinda the Great of Udaipur.

After the dance show we went for some food and then Rachel and I went to join the family that she had met earlier for the dancing. All in all this was a fantastic couple of days and we were all sad to go.