Village Safari

After a night free of mosquitoes thanks to our mosquito repellent lamps, we set off at 9 AM for the village safari. The trip was a bit pricey by Indian standards, costing 500 rupees per person. We were joined by a Chinese couple, which gave us a chance to ask them a ton of questions about China since we hope to visit there one day. Like many other Chinese tourists, they had massive cameras with all the latest technology. If there was a word they couldn’t quite find in English, they would type it into their phones, which would then provide the correct English term. :) The village safari took us to a Jain village, where the Jain religion only allows for pure vegetarian food, meaning no meat or eggs. Additionally, they aren’t allowed to kill animals or trees, so their houses were made of mud, cow dung, and stones. The Jain people also have a tradition of consuming opium, which helps them relax after a long day in the fields. The Indian government permits the cultivation of opium for medicinal purposes, but otherwise, it’s illegal to consume it. The village safari continued to small workshops where they made pots and carpets. We had lunch with a local family who was in the process of building a new mud and cow dung staircase up to their house. The meal consisted of chapati, vegetables, and water—very spicy! :) Back in the city, we visited a fort, which is the largest palace in Rajasthan. There were halls where various Maharajas had hosted English kings during the colonial period. There were clay impressions made by all the king's wives after his death, as tradition dictated. There were so many fascinating things to look at, all reflecting the past. Our last evening in Jodhpur was to be celebrated at Umaid Bhawan Palace, which has been converted into a hotel—the most expensive in the city—as well as a museum, with part of the palace still housing the family that has lived there for generations. The palace was lavish. Huge, high halls adorned with beautiful decorations and stuffed tigers. The restaurant was also stunning, with well-dressed and attentive waitstaff. The menu featured many expensive items that could easily be found elsewhere for much cheaper, but we wanted to experience dining in the palace, so we ordered a very pricey menu—1200 rupees. The night was still young, so we took a tuk-tuk to On the Rocks, where we had eaten the night before. The place was once again packed with guests—it’s very popular, which is understandable given how cozy it is. We struck up a conversation with a group of English people who were in India to participate in a project building benches and tables for a school outside Jodhpur. It was hard work, and on top of that, they had to cycle 10 miles back and forth between the school and their accommodation every day.