To all our friends and family, we wish you a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Season’s Greetings and 
Namaste.
Our friends Jonathan and Cynthia have joined us and we are continuing to have a wonderful time. Yesterday we explored the magnificent Meherangarh Fort which stands high above the city rising up and chiseled from the red rock face itself. We continued on to the far side of the fort to the heart of the old blue city. Outside of the more touristy central Clock Tower area of Jodhpur things start to move back in time to that sleepy, friendly village feel that we love so much. As we come back around to the main marketplace the buzz returns. The narrow alleys are lined with colorful shops beneath delicately latticed walls. The smells of spices and urine, flowers and cow dung sting our nostrils. Motorized scooters, motorbikes and bicycles intertwine, honking, splashing, somehow managing to avoid each other by mere millimeters. Old men squatting by the road, women in colorful saris smashing rocks and sweeping steps, carrying children whose eyes light up behind long dark lashes. Shops selling pieces of metal, bamboo, artifacts, fabric, sweets, fruit and vegetables, baskets, toys, kites, chai, oil fried snacks, clay pots of all sizes, rugs and dhurries. Barbers and astrologers, temples and havelis, colorful advertisements, movie posters, shrines, and utter chaos. And then, of course, the animals: cows rule, roaming wherever they please. But there are also donkeys carrying broken gravel in sacks, water buffalo, ox-carts, camels, grizzled dogs, monkeys, elephants, goats. The streets are full of life and color. This is the city where Elizabeth Hurley got married and people are quick to tell us of visits by Prince Charles, Richard Gere, Mick Jagger, Bill Murray and Elton John…”Come to my shop, I show you picture of me with Prince Charles.”
We have been eating marvelous food every day. This is truly a vegetarian’s paradise. We have tried writing about the food but it is so excitingly varied that we don’t know where to begin and once we start we can’t stop. The thali is a wonderful buffet on a plate to include several different taste treats often served in a tray of small stainless steel bowls. The breads include naan, chapatti, roti, parantha, puri. These all can be used as tasty utensils to scoop up the saucy, spicy dishes. We enjoy eating with our fingers. Anybody want to buy our silverware?
Today we visited Mandore Gardens in the old capital of the region. Hanuman monkeys ran around freely, babies frolicking and young adults swinging from the trees while other adults climbed the temple walls.
We are staying at Yogi’s Guest House. A truly delightful place where Yogi takes good care of all his guests. Tonight he is throwing us a Christmas party and he just arrived at our door to bring a gift to Cindy of a beautiful silver bracelet. The rooftop restaurant has a great view of the fort (see previous post) and is a great gathering place for the guests.
Namaste.Our friends Jonathan and Cynthia have joined us and we are continuing to have a wonderful time. Yesterday we explored the magnificent Meherangarh Fort which stands high above the city rising up and chiseled from the red rock face itself. We continued on to the far side of the fort to the heart of the old blue city. Outside of the more touristy central Clock Tower area of Jodhpur things start to move back in time to that sleepy, friendly village feel that we love so much. As we come back around to the main marketplace the buzz returns. The narrow alleys are lined with colorful shops beneath delicately latticed walls. The smells of spices and urine, flowers and cow dung sting our nostrils. Motorized scooters, motorbikes and bicycles intertwine, honking, splashing, somehow managing to avoid each other by mere millimeters. Old men squatting by the road, women in colorful saris smashing rocks and sweeping steps, carrying children whose eyes light up behind long dark lashes. Shops selling pieces of metal, bamboo, artifacts, fabric, sweets, fruit and vegetables, baskets, toys, kites, chai, oil fried snacks, clay pots of all sizes, rugs and dhurries. Barbers and astrologers, temples and havelis, colorful advertisements, movie posters, shrines, and utter chaos. And then, of course, the animals: cows rule, roaming wherever they please. But there are also donkeys carrying broken gravel in sacks, water buffalo, ox-carts, camels, grizzled dogs, monkeys, elephants, goats. The streets are full of life and color. This is the city where Elizabeth Hurley got married and people are quick to tell us of visits by Prince Charles, Richard Gere, Mick Jagger, Bill Murray and Elton John…”Come to my shop, I show you picture of me with Prince Charles.”
We have been eating marvelous food every day. This is truly a vegetarian’s paradise. We have tried writing about the food but it is so excitingly varied that we don’t know where to begin and once we start we can’t stop. The thali is a wonderful buffet on a plate to include several different taste treats often served in a tray of small stainless steel bowls. The breads include naan, chapatti, roti, parantha, puri. These all can be used as tasty utensils to scoop up the saucy, spicy dishes. We enjoy eating with our fingers. Anybody want to buy our silverware?
Today we visited Mandore Gardens in the old capital of the region. Hanuman monkeys ran around freely, babies frolicking and young adults swinging from the trees while other adults climbed the temple walls.
We are staying at Yogi’s Guest House. A truly delightful place where Yogi takes good care of all his guests. Tonight he is throwing us a Christmas party and he just arrived at our door to bring a gift to Cindy of a beautiful silver bracelet. The rooftop restaurant has a great view of the fort (see previous post) and is a great gathering place for the guests.
9 comments:
Hey Martin and Cindy,
Merry Christmas from everyone here at mom's. Hope you're having a great time. We listened to Ella and the Girls cd that Martin made for mom. We had a great dinner and are missing you a lot.
P.S. Don't step in any elephant poo.
From Kenny, Jerry, Mary, Charlie, Mom, Joaquin, Sarah, Andy, Renee, Ken, Michelle,
Martin & Cindy-
Merry Christmas from Madison. We're icy & full of sweets. Bring some of that beautiful food home for everyone here.
Craig & Kay
Merry Christmas. We have a couple of inches of snow on the ground in Buffalo. Keegan is home and Kianna is enjoying the playful jostling with her brother.
After dinner with friends on X-mas Eve, cooked by Keegan, we opened presents. X-mas day was quiet, as we all decompressed.
Your travels sound delightful. May your holidays be filled with happiness.
Martin & Cindy,
Are the many palaces and temples publicly or privately owned? Does the public have free access?
Martin and Cindy
Happy Holidays
The trip seems to be going well. Good to see you have survived your dose of "Delly Belly" The description of the Indian smells were very descriptive. All is well here.
Mike
Hey one real quick question. Why is that city blue?
Mike
Hey:
Namaste and Happy Kwanzaa--today is day one. Tomorrow we do the recording at the local TV station--the Urban show; we're doing originals. More snow next few days. Life is good. Between us Pat and I bought 3 Indian cookbooks for the holidays. Looking forward to some tikka masala. Shalom, Bill
I love the "oxcart in the market place shot". You can just FEEL that street when looking at that picture.
I am posting from a big snowstorm.
From Chuck (and the rest of the Ketterhagens)
Than You All,
We are only getting dial-up internet these days. Slow. Dear Family, Thanks for the message from Christmas. That meant a lot to know that you were thinking of us at that time. Mike, the city of Jodhpur is painted blue as that is the color of the Brahmins. I think they got a good deal on blue paint. It is also said that blue wards off mosquitoes. Chuck P, the temples seem to be open to the public. Forts and Palaces are either government owned or still run by the Maharajas. We love you all
C&M
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