I keep getting the feeling that the trip hasn’t really started. Jaisalmer was pleasant enough and as for Jodhpur, it was pretty unimpressive for me. I arrived on the train before 6 in the morning which means that daybreak is just stirring the inhabitants into action. Being still cool it wasn’t such a labour to walk the few kms out to a hotel where city tours originate. The news wasn’t very inspiring as I was told that these tours didn’t actually happen unless there were at least 4 people. Its low season in India so the likelihood of anyone turning up was not a prospect. In the end, in a moment of indecision, I accepted an offer of a taxi for 150Rs (2.25 Euro) instead. Being recommended by a very reputable hotel, I didn’t expect that driver to try all the usual ploys to extract more money that I wanted to spend. One was a 25Rs parking fee that as far as the tour was concerned couldn’t exist. He could see that I wasn’t about to pay him that and also gave up trying to take me to his brother’s shop. To add to that, most of the hot Indian tourist spots have jumped on the bandwagon and charge extremely disproportionate prices for foreigners against the Indian’s price. (750Rs/20Rs Taj Mahal). The immense fort has gone the same way so I didn’t enter it. Not too disappointed as I was there many years ago when prices were sensible. But the city of Jodhpur is a vibrant crowded place with a fascinating market square. Very hot for serious tourism and was exhausted when I lay down in the train to Agra Fort.
As you can imagine, the chances of making blogs on the move are quite rare. Like now, I am sitting in the first class waiting room at Allahabad railway station at 6.30 in the morning, having recently stumbled off the train from Agra. Made a small movie of Jodhpur and that’s about all I can do at the moment. Hopefully in Calcutta tomorrow I should be able to do a lot better with the luxury of a room and a bed for the night. (note. Not a luxury room)
Cheers Derek
