We woke up early to grab breakfast before we got the taxi to the bus station. Despite asking for a large taxi we were a bit disconcerted to find our large taxi was possibly one of the smallest cars we had had for travel whilst in India. On top of this the reason for the request was not comfort but the fact that we needed to bring all our bags with us to Jaipur. After looking at the car for a while and contemplating what would happen to our bags we realised they would be tied to the roof rack. Notice I say tied and not strapped, as string was indeed used.
Only a few km down the road the first bag fell off the roof. I thought we had run someone over when the large hiking sack rebounded on the windshield. The driver took it into his stride and said the remaining bags would be fine. Cl insisted on securing the bags, there was no way we could fit them all on our knees, the car was already crammed with people and smaller bags.
The bus was surprisingly comfortable, well as far as busses go. Ci was out like a light, I on the other had struggled to find a position in which nothing was digging into me or none of my limbs would fall asleep. I was relieved when the bus pulled into the snack stop, after three hours of constant driving. This was actually a really nice pit-stop. The toilets, were for once, clean and agreeable. We were able to purchase food and drink, the boys were delighted they could get pizza. Later they were slightly bewildered that yet again the food, despite its Italian origin was laced in spices.
The roads were, crowded as usual, however the traffic was starting to take on a different persona, as we passed carts drawn by camel and witnessed camels basking in the sun by the roadside. As we got closer to Jaipur there also appeared to be more mountains, and these ones were real, made from rock and earth rather than fermenting refuse.
We called up A, our correspondent in Jaipur and he told us to meet him at the supermarket so after dragging our bags across the six lanes to the mall, nicely avoiding any collisions with oncoming traffic we stood in the early afternoon sun, baking nicely. A arrived after s short while and we piled out bags into the back of a rickshaw. Ch, Ci and I clambered in and the driver started on his route. It was then that we got worried we had left Cl behind, but as a motorbike with A upfront passed us we saw Cl hanging onto the back for dear life.
O.K., that maybe a slight exaggeration, but motorbike riding is not to be taken lightly in India. The speed and weave in and out, with barely any protection. A had just the week previously fallen off his bike and gauged a reasonable chunk out of his arm. He did however comply to Cls wishes and drove carefully and in a relatively sedative manner with his precious cargo on board.
The hostel had much to be desired, in fact it is possible the nastiest place I have ever seen, dirt issues aside. The beds were repulsive. The under sheet was all that was provided and each was covered with a multitude of stains. These stains somehow seemed to multiply after a nights sleep, making me think that the mattresses seep during the night. It doesn’t even bare thinking was could be causing these stains, needless to say I sleep every night trying to ignore the smells and dreaming of the day I can get my night clothes washed. I have actually started wearing my oversized T-Shirt and linen trousers to bed, as they cover me the best and with my hoodie in my arms I am most protected from the cool fan air which becomes very chill in the middle of the night but is most necessary at the start of a slumber.
As we were starving (no surprise there) A brought us to a local restaurant and we celebrated our first meal in Jaipur with a Chinese menu and Kingfishers all round. It was here that we contemplated out fate and tried to find ways to boost our morale. This was especially necessary after the realisation that the person on placement in South Africa, was receiving free accommodation, in a University apartment, with all mod-cons and was able to work in an air-conditioned office during the day. We discussed the subject of how would we possibly be able to complete our projects on time at this rate, everything seemed against us.
Even the weather, as the evening fell and we passed time in the restaurant the rains fell, and fell. To the point that the restaurant owner disclosed the presence of a sleep room in case it was not possible to leave the building. Knowing that the toilets were absolutely revolting (imagine sick and other things clogging areas) sleeping there seemed even worse than sleeping in our hostel. So we waited till the roads slowly drained of water and headed home.
Little did we know home was far off. We wanted to see if there was a post office nearby but Ci had other plans, to meet a family. We let her go off and explore and five minutes later received a concerned phone call from A saying we must all stick together, we had no idea how he knew but followed his wishes immediately and went to find Ci. Some locals pointed us to the stairs which would bring us to the top floor apartment where she has disappeared off to. There we found her holding the most adorable 3-day-old baby in her arms, surrounded by at least twenty other children, boys and girls, of all ages.
Only a few km down the road the first bag fell off the roof. I thought we had run someone over when the large hiking sack rebounded on the windshield. The driver took it into his stride and said the remaining bags would be fine. Cl insisted on securing the bags, there was no way we could fit them all on our knees, the car was already crammed with people and smaller bags.
The bus was surprisingly comfortable, well as far as busses go. Ci was out like a light, I on the other had struggled to find a position in which nothing was digging into me or none of my limbs would fall asleep. I was relieved when the bus pulled into the snack stop, after three hours of constant driving. This was actually a really nice pit-stop. The toilets, were for once, clean and agreeable. We were able to purchase food and drink, the boys were delighted they could get pizza. Later they were slightly bewildered that yet again the food, despite its Italian origin was laced in spices.
The roads were, crowded as usual, however the traffic was starting to take on a different persona, as we passed carts drawn by camel and witnessed camels basking in the sun by the roadside. As we got closer to Jaipur there also appeared to be more mountains, and these ones were real, made from rock and earth rather than fermenting refuse.
We called up A, our correspondent in Jaipur and he told us to meet him at the supermarket so after dragging our bags across the six lanes to the mall, nicely avoiding any collisions with oncoming traffic we stood in the early afternoon sun, baking nicely. A arrived after s short while and we piled out bags into the back of a rickshaw. Ch, Ci and I clambered in and the driver started on his route. It was then that we got worried we had left Cl behind, but as a motorbike with A upfront passed us we saw Cl hanging onto the back for dear life.
O.K., that maybe a slight exaggeration, but motorbike riding is not to be taken lightly in India. The speed and weave in and out, with barely any protection. A had just the week previously fallen off his bike and gauged a reasonable chunk out of his arm. He did however comply to Cls wishes and drove carefully and in a relatively sedative manner with his precious cargo on board.
The hostel had much to be desired, in fact it is possible the nastiest place I have ever seen, dirt issues aside. The beds were repulsive. The under sheet was all that was provided and each was covered with a multitude of stains. These stains somehow seemed to multiply after a nights sleep, making me think that the mattresses seep during the night. It doesn’t even bare thinking was could be causing these stains, needless to say I sleep every night trying to ignore the smells and dreaming of the day I can get my night clothes washed. I have actually started wearing my oversized T-Shirt and linen trousers to bed, as they cover me the best and with my hoodie in my arms I am most protected from the cool fan air which becomes very chill in the middle of the night but is most necessary at the start of a slumber.
As we were starving (no surprise there) A brought us to a local restaurant and we celebrated our first meal in Jaipur with a Chinese menu and Kingfishers all round. It was here that we contemplated out fate and tried to find ways to boost our morale. This was especially necessary after the realisation that the person on placement in South Africa, was receiving free accommodation, in a University apartment, with all mod-cons and was able to work in an air-conditioned office during the day. We discussed the subject of how would we possibly be able to complete our projects on time at this rate, everything seemed against us.
Even the weather, as the evening fell and we passed time in the restaurant the rains fell, and fell. To the point that the restaurant owner disclosed the presence of a sleep room in case it was not possible to leave the building. Knowing that the toilets were absolutely revolting (imagine sick and other things clogging areas) sleeping there seemed even worse than sleeping in our hostel. So we waited till the roads slowly drained of water and headed home.
Little did we know home was far off. We wanted to see if there was a post office nearby but Ci had other plans, to meet a family. We let her go off and explore and five minutes later received a concerned phone call from A saying we must all stick together, we had no idea how he knew but followed his wishes immediately and went to find Ci. Some locals pointed us to the stairs which would bring us to the top floor apartment where she has disappeared off to. There we found her holding the most adorable 3-day-old baby in her arms, surrounded by at least twenty other children, boys and girls, of all ages.
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