Despite being the only white face, everyone seemed delighted to see me, demanding I take their photos as they worked holding back the weeds and digging out rubbish.
The beggar culture is disturbing, the sight of tiny children running wild and tugging at me, the grim and filth of their bedding by fires on the roadside, but also a genuine childish delight at demanding their photos-all they want is to see the picture of themselves, rather than demanding monies,
Back to rejoin the group for a cooking lesson on a rooftop in udaiphur, where I apparently am a natural with lentils! Between us we made a sumptuous veggie meal of paneer curries, mixed veg, rotis,chapatitis, and of course, chai.
We roamed the lanes of multi coloured markets until meeting Romi at the central temple to be shown around, make offerings (more monies involving a different coloured ticket to show who was being generous) and be allowed inside for the sunset service, very confusing, very noisy, but overwhelming and very moving
Then to a sunset cruise on the lake, drifting past splendid island palaces (now expensive hotels, alas) a peaceful, serene ride, away from the dust and noise of the city,
Supper at the delightfully cool ‘whistling teal’, a miniature oasis of fountains and flowers.
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