Jaipur Day Two

 5 AM alarm.

Why did I agree to this? I suppose if I’ve happily stayed up late to ride bikes after sunset, waking up before sunrise for a group ride is probably a good change of pace. Our guide has arranged a cycle tour of Delhi for us. He’s described it as a “cultural experience.” Undersell of the year.

We arrived at the start point and I was pleasantly surprised to see a row of bikes in good shape, maintained and adjusted properly, with clean uncrashed helmets. That’s a good start, most bike rental places won’t even get you that. We started before the sun rose and after a brief cow feeding session, grabbed a chai. Apparently this guy is Modi’s favorite chai walla in Jaipur. Chaipur? I’ll see myself out.

Morning cup

We saw a few sites in the quiet of the morning and got to have them all to ourselves. Once the sun came up, they got us to a market and supplied us with marigold wreaths. Leaving the market we went to a park and did yoga with a few other tour groups as well as a handful of locals. We looked absurd and frankly I’m still not sure if the people who did the laughing yoga with us were laughing with us or at us. All part of the fun. We stopped in a Hindu temple for the morning worshipping and just as I realized I was hungry, samosas appeared. Amazing.

Sundar Yaar

After some more tooling around the city we went back to our hotel. The I was looking forward to riding in traffic for a bit, and only got a small taste in the later part of the tour. Good fun. The streets are cleaner than I’m used to, people aren’t trying to kill me, and the roads are in shockingly good shape. This makes me want to rent an Enfield in Delhi.

After a breif rest in the hotel, we’re off to a palace for a tour. The palace in Jaipur is (yadda yadda yadda) an incredible display of wealth. Can you tell I’m getting bored of these? The cool thing here is that the Raj in Jaipur rolled over for the British and so they didn’t demolish his estate. The palace is in fantastic condition and feels much more like a working place than a museum or ruin. Indeed, the family comes to town now and again.

LOADSAMONEY

After the palace and lunch Binu, our guide, takes us to a jewelry factory. Jaipur is known for its jewels and some people want to buy. I’m getting bored watching the tour and my mind wanders to how cool the palace guards look in their jodhpuri. I asked Binu if he had a guy locally (he does) and before I knew it I was on the back of someone’s motorcycle to a tailor. A cup of chai, some fabric selection, and measurements go by in a flash. I’m back on a bike and get to the jeweler’s before the group even finishes there. The tailors will get to work now and bring their results to my hotel for a test fitting tonight. It’ll be in the mail to the US after that.

For the afternoon we had a Bollywood dance class on the roof of the hotel. Great fun. I’m not posting the photos here. I spent the rest of the day having some well earned relaxing and enjoyed a kati roll for dinner.

Just when I started to get nervous about how late it was getting without hearing from my tailor, there he was in the lobby. Motorcycle helmet in one hand, suit bag in the other. The rest fit was smooth and I can’t believe how lightning fast these guys whipped this up. I’ve spent more time buying black suits off the rack in the US. Just incredible work here.

Call me Jawaharlal

Honor, Kristen, and myself wrapped up the night at a cocktail bar. Being the three youngest in the group it’s our duty to find a drinking establishment after dinner and close it out. Job well done.