Having witnessed one wonder of the world we struck out for the 3rd (and final) point on our cultural tour of India's golden triangle.
One of our few ventures into the city centre took us to one of Rajasthan's famous textile outlets. Here it was to our fortune/misfortune (I still can't decide which) to encounter one of slickest salesmen in all of India, named none other than...Mohammad Ali. The man truly did float like a butterfly. Fluttering around his factory, spinning tales of how his company provided adults with no previous education a chance to work towards meaningful qualifications. In return they worked 4 hours a day in the textile factory. We were absolutely sold, and it so happened that his sting was less like that of a bee and more that of a sexually frustrated hornet. The damage for Rhys and I was more made to measure clothing that either of us can stuff into already over packed bags. On the upside, as I write this we are both smugly rocking our traditional Indian style dress.
Winning the spending championships, however, was Will. Emerging from the dim textiles shop dazed and confused he explained that he was 80% sure that he had just bought a suit. Next day we returned to find out that he had indeed...a beautiful silk cotton mix which is currently traversing the Jaipur-Northampton cargo route.
(The following paragraph is going to make me sound like a gapp yahh tool...but here goes)
Enjoy as we did the days, nothing could have prepared us for the two evenings we spent in Jaipur. To our great excitement Aamir (now more of a friend and big brother figure than a driver) had invited us to have dinner with his uncle and brothers at his house just outside the city. The experience gave us an insight into family life in India unlike I have ever seen before (or likely to see again). Some of the most delicious food of the trip was prepared for us by his brothers wife (whilst simultaneously keeping her three unbelievably cute kids in control). We later were informed that she was just 17 years old, and gave birth to her first child at 13. The revelation succeeded in bringing back the dazed, confused expression that Mr. Ali had first induced.
The second night was even better than the first. We got to experience the very thing I had dreamt of when imagining a trip around India. Street cricket. Needless to say I was in my element, Will to a lesser extent and Rhys...well the poor Welshman doesn't understand games involving spherical balls. After a good hour of fun, it's safe to say that the three of us struggled to make a good impression. On a turning track, facing up to a whole host of 'doosras' and 'carrom' balls, the dazed, confused look was spread across our face for the third time in as many days.
Shaan
For the most part, our days in Jaipur were spent in the impressive and well preserved forts high above the city. The blue skies and great views meant we went slightly crazy with the photos (which later led to hours of clean up work to free up space on alarmingly full SD cards).
One of our few ventures into the city centre took us to one of Rajasthan's famous textile outlets. Here it was to our fortune/misfortune (I still can't decide which) to encounter one of slickest salesmen in all of India, named none other than...Mohammad Ali. The man truly did float like a butterfly. Fluttering around his factory, spinning tales of how his company provided adults with no previous education a chance to work towards meaningful qualifications. In return they worked 4 hours a day in the textile factory. We were absolutely sold, and it so happened that his sting was less like that of a bee and more that of a sexually frustrated hornet. The damage for Rhys and I was more made to measure clothing that either of us can stuff into already over packed bags. On the upside, as I write this we are both smugly rocking our traditional Indian style dress.
Winning the spending championships, however, was Will. Emerging from the dim textiles shop dazed and confused he explained that he was 80% sure that he had just bought a suit. Next day we returned to find out that he had indeed...a beautiful silk cotton mix which is currently traversing the Jaipur-Northampton cargo route.
(The following paragraph is going to make me sound like a gapp yahh tool...but here goes)
Enjoy as we did the days, nothing could have prepared us for the two evenings we spent in Jaipur. To our great excitement Aamir (now more of a friend and big brother figure than a driver) had invited us to have dinner with his uncle and brothers at his house just outside the city. The experience gave us an insight into family life in India unlike I have ever seen before (or likely to see again). Some of the most delicious food of the trip was prepared for us by his brothers wife (whilst simultaneously keeping her three unbelievably cute kids in control). We later were informed that she was just 17 years old, and gave birth to her first child at 13. The revelation succeeded in bringing back the dazed, confused expression that Mr. Ali had first induced.
The second night was even better than the first. We got to experience the very thing I had dreamt of when imagining a trip around India. Street cricket. Needless to say I was in my element, Will to a lesser extent and Rhys...well the poor Welshman doesn't understand games involving spherical balls. After a good hour of fun, it's safe to say that the three of us struggled to make a good impression. On a turning track, facing up to a whole host of 'doosras' and 'carrom' balls, the dazed, confused look was spread across our face for the third time in as many days.
Shaan
OMG it all sounds amazing, did even Will think the kids were cute? If so that's afirst. Keep this amazing blog up boys, we are loving it and printing out for the Grandparents to read :)
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