India - Jaipur

Jaipur is known as the Pink City. I always wonder why it is so and being there make me understand the nickname given to this historical city. The bus drive from New Delhi airport to Jaipur was long and tedious. Indian traffic was atrocious full with madness, unsystematic with incessant horning. There seemed no road rules and laws governing driving in India. You are your own master on the road and if you are bold enough you'll get through the traffic. I thank God fI was born a Malay and a Malaysian even though I griped over KL traffic jam. Those ungrateful so called Malaysian Indians who think India is their greatest world should abandon Malaysia and go back live in India!! Along the way from New Delhi airport to Jaipur, every time we turn our heads, we would see men urinating anywhere and everywhere. I felt like puking!! This is a common scene in India and it's filthy!

Once we were in Jaipur visiting the palaces, it was a delight. The Hawa Mahal where the special section was for women in those days. It was with windows with veil to enable the royal ladies to see the outside world without being seen. That was the Malay culture I lived in as a very young girl in Malacc.a. Girls were not supposed to be seen. The whole complex of palace is made of pink sandstone making it very attractive. There is still some restoration going on.







With the Azhar family, Azizan and Nor Akmar at the hawa Mahal, Jaipur.














The Amber Fort was huge befitting the fighting and warring at that time to keep off the enemies. Situated on a hill, it overlooks the valley below with winding road going up by jeep. The interior of the whole fort with palaces was massive. One special attraction is aroom with millions of small mirrors.








Elephant ride in Amber Fort.












One of the beautifully carved and etched palace door in Amber Fort.














The garden in Amber Fort.













The view from Amber Fort overlooking the valley.












Janthar Manthar is an obsevatory complex housing different old instruments to measure accurately time, lattitude etc. It was amazing at the accuracy without looking at a clock or watch. Science has made is simple from huge complex like this to small instruments which can be carried everywhere.











On the way back we stopped at a summer palace built in the middle of the lake.









I remember Jaipur for here I bought an emerald ring and emerald bracelet. I am very poor at bargaining, so I chose to buy in a shop where guarantee card was given and the price is fixed with flexibility in discount. I am happy but Jaipur is not a place I want to do a repeat visit.