Step well & Jaipur City Palace

Just around the corner from the fort at Amer we encountered some locals

Note the horns, Nicole!

We were completely blown away by the Panna Meena step well... 

...looking like a real-life Escher print

Back to Jaipur and the City Palace

Home to the 16-year old maharajah

Musicians playing in the shade...

...and old carriages on display.

Tine & Shan wasted no time!

The cool in the shade was delicious

Amer Amber Fort

The Amber Fort at Amer is a short car journey from Jaipur and a real treat for the eyes...

...which is more than can be said for these two!

The old town walls can be seen climbing the hill

Just a random monkey strutting his stuff!

It's a long way down

Brightly coloured visitors queuing for food...

...thankfully eaten in the shade.

Next day the view wasn't as clear but I love the hazy tones.

Jaipur: hotel, meal out, the Palace of Wind & the Water Palace

If we returned to Jaipur we would definitely stop there longer as we felt we didn't really 'do it justice'. It's difficult when being organised by your driver!

Monsieur & Madame ready to go!

Swimming pools were a necessity when booking hotels

Meal out with the Essex Gang and Ram...

...look at this amazing presentation!

Hawa Mahal, the Palace of Winds...

...where 'royal ladies' could look out without being seen.

Next day, snake charmers,

elephants with make-up...

...and a rushed view of the Water Palace...

I'd love to have returned

The journey from Agra to Jaipur and Uncle's shop

Ram drove us on the very long car journey from Agra to Jaipur but with plenty to see along the way (and air conditioning thankfully).

Monkeys came to say goodbye...

...as did several cows.

Whole groups of people travelling from A to B

A demonstration before reaching Jaipur meant we had to take a massive diversion through villages where the locals were astonished to see a car with white faces.

Meanwhile we enjoyed seeing their modes of transport

First stop in Jaipur: Ram's uncle's shop

We were given a demonstration of how the material is printed by hand...

...and left to dry in the sun, where it sometimes changes colour.

So much choice, with every shade you could imagine

Ram, his uncle and one of the staff

Fatehpur Sikri

Happy New Year!
Sorry for the long gap between posts: it's not easy up on wifi-less Baildon Moor. Now we're safely back in freezing cold La Tranche it's back to work, still catching up on a big backlog of photos to share with you.

Another day, another red fort:  this time Fatehpur Sikri on the long drive from Agra to Jaipur

Our guide Ram chatting to Tine & Shan

Once again, look up is good advice!

Parakeets, easily spotted by their squawks and brilliant green plumage

We had a good game of hide & seek here, but sadly the photos are poor quality... 

The 40ºC heat in these photos seems unreal. Last night it was -6ºC here!