Chrissy pouring "tea" in a dry restaurant. Actually beer.

Jodphur Oct 2003

One of Jodhpur's main attraction is the Umaid Palace. Built from 1928, it was the last Maharaja's palace to be built. The current maharaja resides in the far right wing. The central part is a hotel. Some of the rooms are excellent but some are still back in the '20's. Stay elsewhere and visit the Palace.

Carolyn enjoying coffee at the Palace.

Of course Jodhpur is famous because of ....

The Maharaja's predecessors managed to decimate a large part of India's wildlife. The Palace walls abounded with far more tigers, leopards etc than probably now abound in the wild.

The other major Jodhpur attraction is the the Menrangar Fort, home of the Maharaja's before the Palace was built

At the bottom of the Fort. A fairly serious attack problem. The fort was never taken by force.

On the death of one of the Maharaja's in 1843, his 15 wives committed sati - being burnt alive on his funeral pyre. these are there hand prints.

This is one of the many rooms in the Fort.

There are many courtyards, surrounded by balconies enclosed with elaborately carved wooden shatters.

One of the Fort attendants.

Away from the opulence of palaces and forts, there are many traditional villages surviving on their craft skills. This one specialises in pottery.

This one in weaving

Cooking in a village house.

One camelpower.

Carolyn's Pondicherry trip.

Pondicherry, ironing with wood heated iron.

Dandeli April 2003

Our Easter was spent here at Dandeli Wilderness Park, 3 and half hours drive to the western Ghatts. Carolyn is relaxing outside our accommodation situated along the Kali River. Too hot to be inside during the day.

Caves

We entered a cave on a jungle walk that had been made a shrine. The huge black stalactite in background represented Shiva with his son, the elephant headed Ganesha on the left. One of the other idols was Shiva's wife, Parvati.

Carolyn cooling off in the Kali River much to the amusement of the monkeys.