Elephants!

We are up early the next day to ride an elephant up to the Amber Fort. We had a great elephant ride in Cambodia so I did not feel a great need to ride one here but there is a logic to enter the Amber Fort in this manner. This is the way visiting dignitaries would arrive and we are staying in the Raja’s palace, even if it is now a hotel. We get in line and ride a line of elephants which are decorated geometric designs and elaborate vestments. Each fort we visit seems to surpass the previous one, the Amber Fort does not disappoint. It is a vast complex on the side of a hill. Outer walls leave a visual image akin to the Great Wall of China. The Rajasthan Rajas were among the richest and most powerful in Indian history. The family still has substantial assets. In Amber Fort we visit the Devi Goddess Temple, Susan received a blessing from the priest and we pray for Sybil’s health.

A little shopping. We visit a jewelry shop and Susan picks up some gold ear rings, can never have too many of them. We visit the spice market and are engulfed in exotic fragrances. We stock up on saffron, for our kitchen and for friends. Multiple varieties of chutney line the walls of one shop but are just too heavy to try to bring back home. We visit the ‘new’ Birla Vishnu temple. Built in 1984 it I fresh yet in the traditional temple design. To get back to the hotel we go for a tuk tuk (three wheeled vehicle) ride that is beyond what is offered in amusement parks. This is authentic, exciting and actually dangerous. Dodging in and out of traffic, through narrow side streets narrowly missing people and vehicles. Exhausting ride. We get back to the hotel and get a report from Henry that Sybil will have her surgery tomorrow and should be released the next day. We will be back in Delhi tomorrow and will visit her then. Hope she heals and