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Sunday, January 11, 2015

India Part 3: Jaipur

     The third stop on my Golden Triangle tour took me to Jaipur. 


   Our first stop was a 20 minute elephant ride up the Amber Fort. Now, I am not afraid of a lot, but something about sitting on the back of an elephant looking at the scene below as my foot touched the wall freaked me out a bit.  Just a bit. 



    At the top we ran into some traditional dancers that were filming a commercial, they were kind enough to pose for a picture. 


   The fort was extremely impressive, but the icing on the architectural cake was the 'wall of mirrors'.

   Pictures do not even do this wall justice. Imagine thousands of mirrors cut in geometric shaped that are over hundreds of years old, yet they are sparkling like they were placed their yesterday. 

    
  I also got henna (mendi) done.  Henna is pipped onto hands and feet and is usually done for weddings in India, although here in the UAE it can be done just for fun. The henna is pretty much herbs that are ground up into a paste and pipped out onto your skin in various designs. You wait until it is dry and leave it on for about an hour before you wash it off.   The henna usually lasts a week before it starts to fade. 


    One of my favorite pictures from this day was take in front of the 'winter' door. 


    This stunning piece of architecture is know as the Palace of the Winds. Granted it is not a palace but more of a wall that is composed of 953 windows.  This was was created so that women of the royal court could look out at the streets below because they were not allowed to go out in the streets. 

My friend got this for me in Egypt when she went last Decenber. I used it to carry around my rupees. 

Next stop Goa. 













6 comments:

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  2. Hello, your pictures are lovely. I have a serious question to ask you. What has been the general sentiment about the American teacher who was killed there. It made global headlines. Could you please advise? Thank you.

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    1. Excellent question. The initial reaction was shock, this country is so safe and most of us in the teacher community could not believe that something so horrific could happen in a place that feels so safe. I have personally been in the mall in which the woman was killed. Nevertheless, I still feel like it was an isolated incident. As teachers, especially females we are more cautious and tend to look over out shoulders closer than before. Nevertheless, I still feel safer here than at home. One of my friends here made an excellent point, with all the school shootings that have happened in the States, kids are still going to school and teachers and still teaching. We won't let this stop is.

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  3. Have been following your blog lately. Hope you having a good time not just teaching in Abudhabi, but in your Holiday trip to India...Lionel

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  4. Thank you so much for your response. It is correct in that we cannot allow them to control our lives..we have to continue to live and live well. I suppose with it being so far away and unfamiliar...fear set in for many. Thank you! Keep posting I love your blog!

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  5. I have been considering relocating to Abu Dhabi. I love your blog! Thanks for your openness and positivity. Keep enjoying LIFE!

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