Hanuman tuesday and big decision Wednesday

Hanuman tuesday and big decision wednesday

We bid jaipur adieu by lunching at the samod havelli, a wonderful welcoming cuernavaca reminiscent old royalty family run resort.  Hopefully a futre resting spot for my family.

Trying to apply our new restraining appetites (three gargantous indian meals for the lovely ladies a day are taking its toll), and we succeed kindly declining seconds of the delicious cucumber and pompegrantite raitas, their egplant yogyrt specialty, our daily dose of laal mas (lamb curry, th states specialty), and some other spiced delis Reet picked out for us.  Im beginning to fear what life without reet will be like!  

Delivered to Maharani fit shopping destinations, and altho our pampering and resorts would suggest the contrary, our wallets cannot survive another royalnshopping day.... So before we part we ask Reet to show us some less flashy markets, where i go nuts.... And try to bargain as much as my spicy and agressive latina nature can stomach,  Channeling ravis and bawas suggestions to pretend to leave and not take any of the $ 25-250 overpriced pashinas, cashmeres, shalls, scarves....

In the end i bargained to a satified amount, vendors acting out their most award winning berreaved look, But im sure had inner satisfaction as well.
Lesson leanred: the textile place in jodhpur wws the best in quality and pricing!!  Arg.... So many vendors cry wolf, thats its hard to kniw when to believe them.  Guess ill have to go back! Darn.

Off we go on a 4 hr journey to the foothills of the Amavelli mtns, received by unexpected chilly woods as we arrive to the white and light pink sand stoned dream of amanbagh.  We enter and this time instead of a red dot we receive a red and yellow welcome bracelet and a goosebumping hindu chant by our personal room assistant. A beautiful hindu gal in her bright orange sari uniform, sings channeling the heavens as it echoes on all the lobbies peacocked canvassed walls.

Unquestionably the Buddymoon at its mooonest.  delivered in a double mogle cupulad private pool and monkey enchanting villa, sophia and i are ready to unpack our bags and convert to amanbaghism.  

Luckily Reet, our generous inspiration consultant, felt a similar pinch of lets relax, and for the first time in this luxury nomads trip, he gave us the next morning off to play resort.  And play we did: i tried on very temptin650+ dresses, and razzle dazzles, visited the gym, had my long forgotten very dirty martini, and niw our usual "glorious" dinner where we tried thali for the first time, a dish that by the looks of the confused and slightly scoffing waiter, i was eating completey wrong but so completely better (i like to mix flavors).  Yummy for my never so pampered before tummy.  Nothe rglass of groverla reserve? Why not!

in the morning we joined 3 very kind american urban dwellers on a 3 hr culture and nature hike led by our local bedazzled guide.   surrounded by mustard plantations and water buffalo, we visited a few solar pannels farm huts, where families shared some masala chai and millet bread with gee (family made clarified butter - yum), met a holy one guarding his hindu temple, were chased by some menacing but happy to pose for pics children, and the grand destinatn: maharajas private hunting spot.  To reach we had to climb a steep sand stoned cliff, and as a reward: the throne carved on stone pic while sipping on masala chai the guide magically appeared.  The late maharaji just 50 yrs back wld sit on his throne, riffle in hand and wait for the perfectly placed tiger or leopard. :( in the area there are only 5 tigers left roaming around, one which was seen feeding off an antelope only a week ago!  Fortunately we didnt see one, and also tiger hunting is no longer legal since the 60'Phew!  

Afterwards we hung out and had breakfast on our private heated pool.... And leisurely prepped for our 6-7 hr car ride to delhi.  Before we parted, i made sure to make a quick stop at the hotel shop and buy my amanbagh dress, to match my bracelet of course.  We say our goodbyes, and say we are sure to be back for a longer stay.... When in reality i know this one night oays formmy rent and then some paradise fit for krishna himself isngoing to be one of those hold this one tight memories.  Aaah!

Onto the bumpy roads is where i am now.... Trying to write ignoring my stomach shouting auxilio fromthe bumpy roads and sudden swerving.

Anways, Extremely happy to discover that my afirementioned cultural curiosities will also be nourished contextually by Gayatri Devi's A princess Remebers, a fabulous sophia recommended autobiographical novel about a liberal thinking jaipur maharani (luckily i dined her palace, now the rammbagh hotel i can place her more appriopriately inmy imagined sets...), addressing all community matters such as women customs, education, castes, marriages..... The whys and the how to improve.

Its proving to be a "midnight in india" type of read, where now i will disappear on 2011 delhi streets and reappear on maharani footsteps.  Stay tuned as i uncover fun cultural eureka moment facts....

getting excited to arrive to a non rushed but still deluxe 5 day nonomadic stay at the leela hotel, but even moooooore excited to see one of my dearest college friend and late salsa dancing partner Daman, who i havent seen in 5+ years, as we jump directly into his wedding festivites!