FREE CUPS OF TEA FOR ONE AND ALL!!

Well I bet you 'winners' out there were wondering how you were going to get those well-earned cups of tea? Well fear not and read on....

Bloggers, put Saturday, 28th June in your diaries. From 2pm onwards you are all kindly invited to attend a "Claim your free cup of tea" get-together at our house!! (This invitation also applies to all our 'foreign' bloggers although you will have to provide your own transportation!)

Now winners dinnit be getting your knickers in a knot when we have to offer all our bloggers a cup of ya finest, remember YOU are WINNERS, the rest are not. If you play your cards right there could be a scone in it for you too!

We'd LOVE to see you all for a catch up so feel free to call in for as little or as long as you want. (Sissy J is over from America Didge and hoping for some lessons in Mackem!) Don't worry we won't be offering to show you our holiday snaps (we are taking advance weekend bookings for that, bed and breakfast provided at a reduced cost - only kidding!)

Hopefully we'll have a good catch up with you all on the 28th. Address details, phone number and directions etc will be 'blogged' later! SO ..... SEE YOU ALL THERE!!

Rajasthan - Last stop!

This is Elvis and I having a 'splurge'! We had one night staying at Fort Rajwada, Jaisalmer. It's a modern place built to an ancient Indian design. As only fools like us holiday in such heat the hotel was just about empty (hence the 'splurge' as it was cheap!) and we had the place to ourselves.



This is Jaisalmer Fort, a warren of narrow streets carved from sandstone harbouring a palace, temples and many simples havelis (traditional residences often very ornate). The fort was built in 1156 and stands proud on Trikuta Hill. 25% of the old city's population live within the fort walls and it's an extraordinary place to wander round.

Unfortunately ('Environmental hat' on here - the fort is sinking into the hill due to the pressure on the drainage system from increased tourism and its now one of the world's most endangered monuments, shame eh!)
These ladies carry all sorts of things on their heads, the strangest one we've seen is a woman with a full bag of cement on her head!




Me preparing myself for a welcome dip, eeee it was like having your own pool (look carefully, I am there at the far end!)











Another view of the magnificent fort.

Now who is this little Indian beauty I hear you all say! Don't worry she hasn't 'turned' Hindu and been sold to the Maharaja as 'another' wife! She's still mine! This is Elvis sporting her new sari, she got lots of compliments from the locals. It might not be worn on a Friday night in Sun'lun town centre but I'm sure if any of you girls would like to see it, she wouldn't take too much persuading! For a free cup of tea - if you unfurled Elvis's Sari (ooerrr) how long would it be? The nearest guess wins the tea!

This is Tilon-ki-Pol, leading to Gadi Sagar. A good little story about this - it's said to have been built by a prostitute. The maharajah refused her permission on the grounds that he would have to pass under it to get to the lake and he felt this was beneath his dignity. Whilst the king was away she built the gate anyway and added a Krishna temple on the top so he couldn't tear it down, clever eh!

A full length view of the very gorgeous Indian/British girl!

This is the entrance to our hotel. The lovely guy at the gate saluted every time we went past him. Gee, we felt like royalty!

As we left the next day, we were 'treated' to a full sandstorm (from the safety of the car) as you can see the visibility drops dramatically and it looks like a very hostile place.

I wanted to get a picture of a REALLY full truck, but this was the best I could get. Some of the trucks are so overloaded that the wagon looks tiny in the middle. We've seen a few lying overturned on the side of the road a few times to!

Now this scene is commonplace in India. Cows are sacred over here and boy do they know it. There is ALWAYS at least one wandering down the road with the traffic just weaving it's way around it. One morning there was one just sitting in the middle of the road during rush hour traffic, a bit like a cow making it's self comfortable in the middle of Durham Road at 8.30am on a workday!


This is the sun setting over the red fort at Bikaner - last stop before Delhi.

This is our driver Subhash. A man of few words many which were mumbled as he 'chewed' his tobacco. He was a very creative driver. If he had just 'loaded' his gob with baccy, any communication was made by grunts and eyebrow raising that we eventually learned the meaning. Once an unfortunate petrol pump attendant didn't get his drift, so a jet of brown liquid was aimed at his feet - lesson learnt!

Back in Delhi and straight into action! This is me at yet another cooking class! This time I'm learning how to conjure up delights from Northern India - play your cards right and some of you may be able to test my skills!

Cup of tea carry on: Great timing June, first time answering questions and first time a winner - with time running out you've bagged yourself a free cuppa, you must be truly delighted (he he)! Camels are the reason the trees look so straight along the bottom, well done the rest of you with your guesses, although those who didn't win are no doubt going to accuse me of not wording the question right - tough we're the boss and June knew what we meant!!!

After all of this it was off on another flight! But in the words of 'The Credence' - 'Bother me tomorrow, today I'll bag no sorrow' - Next report from Kerala - that's South India to you land lubbers!

Rajasthan's Desert

Jaisalmer - and this is the second largest desert in the world 'The Great Thar Desert'! Could you imagine how hot it is here?



So - riding camels, do you reckon it's easy then? Well we nearly came a cropper a few times, first of all when you get on they are right down on their bellies, then when they get up they don't hang about, back legs first then the front legs. It's like being on one of those 'bucking bronco' things! Also the saddle isn't the most comfortable thing I've sat on either - it was like having your cheeks stretched in opposite directions for a few hours (for those of you with a dark sense of humour - please refrain from commenting regarding the cheek stretching!!!) But it's all worth it because the scenery is amazing.
This is approaching sunset.

All the trees in the desert grow like his with really straight lines at the bottom. For a free cup - can anyone hazard a guess as to why?




This is Elvis waiting for the sun to set. I was busy fulfilling a childhood dream - rolling about in tons of sand!



These are the beautiful dunes that stretch for miles as far as the eye can see - in fact, just behind those trees is the Pakistan border, pity we didn't have time to pop over and give all of our loved ones a heart attack!!

A traditional Indian dance - the lighting wasn't that great - one git big halogen lamp!


Sunrise in the desert. This is where we slept, it's the only way to keep cool. You have to wear thick socks to keep the snakes off your feet. This is about 5:45am, I'm up taking pictures and Elvis is just coming out of her coma!


Our trusty steed ready for action.

If you look carefully in this picture you can just make out the sun through the thick sandy atmosphere. This is the remains of a gerte (quick translation for the foreigners - goat!) that came a cropper in the desert!



Thank the Lord I didn't have to sit on the camel going back - we rode a camel cart instead. They must know the Western person's bot can only take a few hours in a saddle (the camel was probably quite chuffed as well).




















And this is as far West as we can go in Rajasthan (Pakistan is just a few kilom's away) so now we're heading back to Delhi, then a new Indian destination- but there's one more stop en-route.

Cup of tea answers, but first of all, we were laughing our heads off at all your comments, you're all getting really quite good at this! Ann (Mam Elves) Well Done! It is indeed the Royal Enfield motorbike that's still made here in India. For a quick translation to my Brother's (Un Big One) comment - a 'wogger' is a wash house, where I kept my Yamaha 250 for years, cousin Steven then took it to restore and it kind of didn't quite get done! Didge - you got it right too (Royal Enfield), but you have to be first to win the tea!

Things you see and do in Rajasthan!

It's so hot here I can hardly type for the sweat running down my fingers. But it looks like we're getting even less sympathy than before - I don't know you English won't stop talking about the weather (Ha!) Rusty - topsoil is over rated and Pol, if you were here, the heat would have you doing your trick when you talk to imaginary people!!



This is one of the most famous spice shops in all of 'Hindia', even that Llewelyn-Bowen chap has been here. I've bought a nice little selection of curry powders and potions to try out on you all - soon!





This is an Indian family on the way to the temple, look how colourful they are? Suzanne continues to get curious looks from the locals, we can't work out why but we think it may be hair colour! It could also be wearing a bikini in the temple (no - only kidding!). The other reason could be that there's not too many Westerners here because it's too hot (did I mention that?)



This one's for Didge, this is the 'corporation' bin men - or girls in this case. Clock the state-of-the-art equipment! None of your - 'we're not picking up the wheelie bin cos it's not facing the right direction' from these girls. They asked (begged really) for some money from our Indian driver for a cup of tea - his response; a mouthful of 'chewing tobacco' spit directed at their feet. He's like Clint Eastwood in the film 'The Outlaw Josey Wales'. The girls seemed to accept that as 'NO'. You should see him when he tries to talk with a gob full - hilarious!!

This is the type of car we're touring the South in, they're an old design car but made brand new! We love it, it's called an Ambassador and Elvis and I are settling right into the 'Ambassador' role - waving to the locals as we pass through the towns. You have to have the window down all the time though cos this model has no air con. - did I mention how hot it is here?

Speaking of old vehicles made new - for a free cup of tea, tell us the name of the classical old English motorbike that's not made in England anymore, but you can still purchase a brand new one here!

Jenny Schmenny - more tea for you girl, Immolation is the word for setting yersel a'had. Although I think Rusty has a point with 'Idiocy' too.

Rusty and Paula - you may not want to read the next blog, it's in the desert, there's no top soil but plenty of sand, there's no mist but there's sandstorms that turn day to night and yes, you've guessed it - it's the hottest place on H'earth (not as hot as Sunderland in August like!) That's in the next blog - coming soon to a screen near you.

How much further can you go in Rajasthan?

We're moving further towards the desert and it's getting even hotter 48 -50c - but as my calls for sympathy dramatically failed in the last blog, I think we'll suffer in silence in this blog!

Welcome to the next stop in the 'extended' Golden Triangle route through Rajasthan, welcome to Jodhpur, famous in England for introducing a certain garment worn by the elite whilst pursuing the game of polo - Jodhpurs of course also known here as 'the baggy pant brigade'! Most of our trip we visit the sights and then chill out, so here are the main attractions.... another beautiful Jain Temple.
Another beautiful palace, Umaid Bhawan Palace. What's really special about this palace is that it was designed by the British! This immense pink and white sandstone monster was started 1929, took 3,000 workers 15 years to complete (like Sunderland's metro link!) Also, this is the last palace to be built in India.
This is how it looks from the front gate, which is firmly locked to keep the plebs away from the 5 star hotel patrons!

This is the 'sprawl' of Jodhpur - this is the 'polarised' image of India, up on the mountain is a massive palace, then in the city it's nearly all tiny little concrete and lean to shacks. This is the view from the memorial.



This is the glorious Meherangarh Fort, built in 1806, it follows the lines of the hills so well it looks like it has been raised out of the ground. Here's a horrible story for you, inside the main gate there are original hand prints on the wall from the Maharaja widows. They made the prints shortly before hoying themselves on the Maharaja's funeral fire as an act of ultimate devotion to their dead husband, the king. Apparently they sat silently in the flames! A cup of tea if you can tell us what this act is called, your clue is a single word beginning with the letter 'I'?

This is a special part of the fort for the ladies. It keeps the ladies from view while they spy on the goings on below, it's called 'purdah'. In England it's called 'being a peeping Tom' and let me tell you you can go to prison for it!




This is opposite to the picture above - this time from the fort looking back at the memorial. It's called the 'Tomb with a View'!
White marble is a common building material in India and they have some of the best you can get.

What a beautiful little 'palais de-deutche' as Oliver Reed would say. This is one of the special rooms used by the Maharaja to impress his visitors, we were canny impressed like! Again there was some fancy lattice work around this room which unbeknown to visitors the maharina's were crouching behind, again 'cocking' their lugs on the court's goings on and reporting back! (Just in case you think the sun has caused some form of 'growth' - we both have headphones on as we were doing the audiotour!)

Cup of tea answers - As we thought the Outsourcer just couldn't keep from the Google, could you? Be honest Madam cos I know you're too competitive to just take a wild guess - or are we to believe that your first 'wild' guess out of the huge selection of Bond films (over 20 we think) you just happened to pick the correct one! Humm - I'm very suspicious! So... we're giving the benefit of the doubt to our nephew, Lord Farquar for guessing Octopussy.

Rusty - Cup of tea for the name of the wheel - legitimate use of Google on that one!

Even Further into Rajasthan!

27th May - current status - we're now in Kerala, South India back on the coast!

These photos were taken in Udaipur which is known as the Venice of the West. It's a seductive little number with Lake Pichola as its centrepiece and surrounded by the beautiful Aravilli hills.

Have mercy on us poor explorers - temperatures are now reaching 45 degrees on a daily basis.


This is a view from Jagminda island looking back to the mainland. Used to be a palace but now a fancy pants retaurant.


A sneaky little picture I took of someone sitting relaxing, enjoying the view.

Sunset over the lake. Sunsets can be quite odd here, there's so much pollution in the air that just when you think the sun is going to hit the horizon and colour the sky - it totally disappears!



Elvis and I sitting in the city palace enjoying - well you're not going to believe this - A FREE CUP OF TEA!! Patrons that pay for the museum get a free beverage and there's only one beverage as far as us English are concerned.

Speaking of tea, for a free cup of tea with a difference, this time it's a guessing game. So without using google (now be honest - especially the Outsourcer and Rusty!) have one guess each at which 'James Bond' film used this location below, the Lake Palace? If you're all wrong, then you can have another guess in the next blog. Now don't guess 'The Spy That Shagged Me' because that's not a James Bond film!!

This is the Lake Palace with the lights on. We were sitting in the city palce having a cup of tea watching the most fantastic sunset.


Now then - what do you reckon is going on here? I remember when I was about 6 years old in school drawing pictures of how the Egyptians used to irrigate fields, I never thought I would actually witness one in use. A free cup of tea if you can tell me the name of this device. I can't contemplate what it must be like to do that job for hours on end! Even computer programming is more interesting than that!



This photo is taken in a famous Jain temple in Ranakpur. It's carved using white marble and has 1444 pillars with no two alike! There's the bell that the bloke in the previous blog hid down the front of his smock!

Happy Birthday to Jayne and hello to Un Big One and Dave checking the blog from Spain - eeh it's amazing isn't it technology! Hope you're all enjoying the Spanish coast.

Rajasthan continued...

Shortly after this man was spotted leaving the Brahma Temple, someone noticed the large golden bell was missing. Police are puzzled as to how he managed to get it past them without them noticing!!!
This sundial is the largest in the world and can be found in the Jantar Mantar (observatory)in Jaipur. It was built in 1728 and houses some bizarre mammoth sculptures which your guide later tells you were used to work out horoscopes, eclipses and a number of other sun-related calculations. Did you know that in India it is just about essential that every newborn child has their horoscope 'read'?

This is one of the courtyards in the City Palace with the private palace, the Chandra Mahal in the background.

This is taken in the courtyard, Pitam Niwas Chowk. Check out the beeeutiful peacocks!

Eeeee just like the old days down at Warwick garage eh boy! This was the locals 're-building' an engine in the middle of the street. They were working on SIX vehicles at the same time, the goal being to make ONE good one! They eventually succeeded as on our last day we noticed the 'finished product' being driven off down the street!

There are TONS of fruit and veg stalls all selling very fresh and appealing looking produce. If only I had access to a kitchen I would have a field day with all these tasty ingredients. Mind you, those green chillies are not for the faint hearted - just one would blow your 'bottom doors' out!

This is a busy temple in Pushkar, loads of colour 'swirling' in and out.

This is the magical little place of Pushkar. Supposedly the Hindu god Brahma dropped a lotus flower on earth and Puskar floated to the surface - bit like how Barnes Park came to be (I think)!

The lake is surrounded by 52 ghats (bathing landings) where pilgrims bathe in the sacred waters (some of them in their thrappers!) - so only one sneaky photo taken!

Kids, well just being kids and cooling off in the 45 degree heat!
Again, what gorgeous kids, they just smile at you all the time and LOVE to have their photo taken and then see themselves. Pity the father was perched on a hot poker at the time - hence the odd smile!
This is the view of the lake from Savitri Temple, a one hour hike up to the hilltop. Now there's an interesting little tale about how this temple came about. Savitri was the wife of Brahma and he wanted to perform a 'yagna', an act of self-mortification at the lake! Now get this, the wife wasn't too happy about this (can't see why can you?) and decided she wasn't going to come along so Brahma feeling a tad miffed decided to marry someone else, who was just hanging around minding her own business! The wife then slightly annoyed said "sod you" (roughly translated) and ensured that Brahma wouldn't be worshipped anywhere else and that is why the story goes, Pushkar is one of the few places that you'll find a Brahma temple. Still with me? So the wife gets her own temple built on one hill and the 'other woman' has her's on the opposite hill, eee domestics eh!


This is Fateh Sagar, a man made lake built in 1678 with Nehru Park garden island in the centre. Supposedly it's a popular place for the 'lovestruck' locals to hang out - we only saw kids cooling off! This was after Pushkar and on the way to Udaipur - but that's to be continued.......



Cups of tea answers, a full cup to Sissy Ginny with the euphemism of Delhi Belly, but no scone to go with it, cos it was poor Elvis that had a little dose NOT me!