Today saw us getting up and out of the hotel by 9am again! From here we took a tuk tuk to the city palace where we did a tour and learned all about the royal family of Udaipur. The royal family no longer have any power except for the money kind. They still live on site but in a small portion of the palace these days. This palace is the second largest in India.
From the palace we walked into the old city and did some looking around and of course some shopping. Toot came across a little silver shop with a lovely man in it and I think we spent close to 45mins choosing pieces to buy. The shop owner warned us that there was about to be a big Muslim festival in the streets and to try and get out of the streets as soon as possible as it would probably get a little crazy. This was all good in theory. Of course all the streets are blocked off and it is impossible for any traffic of any kind to get from one side of the old city to the other and across the lake back to the hotel We eventually found a tuk tuk, the first driver didn't know where we wanted to go even though we showed him on the map, the second driver didn't speak English and the third driver eventually agreed to take us, knew where we were going and got us there through all the tiny little streets you would never dream of trying to get a tuk tuk down. A drive that should have taken 10 mins with all streets open took about 30 mins through back alleys, mega pot holes and a few close calls with walls, cows and other traffic.
We finally made it back to the hotel to change, have a little rest and a drink and then headed out again. It was back to the palace again to grab a boat and go for a cruise around the lake. This was done at sunset and was really quite nice. Having said that we needed to get a tuk tuk back to the palace again. This might seem simple but the tuk tuk driver of course had no idea where he was going, even though he said no worries, and spoke little to no English. Of course road closures got in the way again and he got us as close as he could (going a different way to this morning) and then had trouble telling us that we needed to walk for a further 5 mins. We eventually figured it out with help from a security man on the side of the road.
After the boat ride we went to meet up with the group again and go for dinner. A few other small purchases were made in this time by both Toot and Gordo. Once we met up with the group we were supposed to walk to the restaurant but of course, street closures. This meant another crazy tuk tuk drive but eventually made it to a lovely restaurant on the lakes edge. The scenery was spectacular and the food was alright too.
After this it was time to return to the hotel for sleep tonight. We are finally able to have a proper sleep in tomorrow as we don't have to be out of the hotel til 11:30am. Unfortunately we have our last overnight train ride tomorrow night so it might be a long day. Nothing planned except a little more shopping and acquiring some snacks for said train journey.
Good news, we now have some clean clothes. Gordo was beginning to wonder if she wasn't getting hassled as much anymore coz she smelled a little funny. Good tactic though!
Thats all for now
Toot and Gordo Xx.
From the palace we walked into the old city and did some looking around and of course some shopping. Toot came across a little silver shop with a lovely man in it and I think we spent close to 45mins choosing pieces to buy. The shop owner warned us that there was about to be a big Muslim festival in the streets and to try and get out of the streets as soon as possible as it would probably get a little crazy. This was all good in theory. Of course all the streets are blocked off and it is impossible for any traffic of any kind to get from one side of the old city to the other and across the lake back to the hotel We eventually found a tuk tuk, the first driver didn't know where we wanted to go even though we showed him on the map, the second driver didn't speak English and the third driver eventually agreed to take us, knew where we were going and got us there through all the tiny little streets you would never dream of trying to get a tuk tuk down. A drive that should have taken 10 mins with all streets open took about 30 mins through back alleys, mega pot holes and a few close calls with walls, cows and other traffic.
We finally made it back to the hotel to change, have a little rest and a drink and then headed out again. It was back to the palace again to grab a boat and go for a cruise around the lake. This was done at sunset and was really quite nice. Having said that we needed to get a tuk tuk back to the palace again. This might seem simple but the tuk tuk driver of course had no idea where he was going, even though he said no worries, and spoke little to no English. Of course road closures got in the way again and he got us as close as he could (going a different way to this morning) and then had trouble telling us that we needed to walk for a further 5 mins. We eventually figured it out with help from a security man on the side of the road.
After the boat ride we went to meet up with the group again and go for dinner. A few other small purchases were made in this time by both Toot and Gordo. Once we met up with the group we were supposed to walk to the restaurant but of course, street closures. This meant another crazy tuk tuk drive but eventually made it to a lovely restaurant on the lakes edge. The scenery was spectacular and the food was alright too.
After this it was time to return to the hotel for sleep tonight. We are finally able to have a proper sleep in tomorrow as we don't have to be out of the hotel til 11:30am. Unfortunately we have our last overnight train ride tomorrow night so it might be a long day. Nothing planned except a little more shopping and acquiring some snacks for said train journey.
Good news, we now have some clean clothes. Gordo was beginning to wonder if she wasn't getting hassled as much anymore coz she smelled a little funny. Good tactic though!
Thats all for now
Toot and Gordo Xx.
Sounds like a fabulous trip with all sorts of adventures!!! Keep up the excellent blog!!
ReplyDeleteSue
xoxox
Hi my girls, glad to hear that you finally got a proper sleep in and exciting adventures through the city streets, should have taken a video, would have been so funny to have watched. Looking forward to seeing you both in two more nights sleep. Can't wait to see you. love you
ReplyDeleteMummy Hoppo xoxoxoxoxoxoxox