Bier-Traveller

Breakfast is becoming a social event. Gone are the days of each couple/trio sitting at their own tables. We now sit as a Group wherever we go. Everyone knows everyone else, it has taken time but we have gelled amazingly despite the age range of 18 – 80. For Hector, Breakfast is still Fruit and Eggs. There is no sign of anyone suffering, all is well.

The Birla Mandir Temple was the first destination in our second day in Jaipur. Nothing, except possibly the Taj Mahal, is going to beat yesterday and the Amber Fort. The Birla Mandir was superficially quite a modest building, and very white. On the hill above was the Moti Dungri Fort which was drawing my attention. Why are we not going up to the Fort?
Built in 1998, this is the most modern building we are likely to visit. Bhupi, our guide, informed us that icons from all religions are represented on the exterior. Perhaps, but not mine. Marg became interested in a group of Ladies in the sumptuous gardens. Were they taking flowers or planting them? A Jaipur Hen Night.

Outside the south side of the Old City, in the largest open area seen in Jaipur, lies the Albert Hall. The building itself initially was the attraction rather than the contents. However, having spent an hour inside there was enough to grab one’s attention. A photo of the largest – Bass – stringed instrument I have ever seen, minus the strings, was sent immediately to John Jowitt (Jadis, IQ, Arena). John even replied – not yet – when I suggested he had never played anything this big. The Egyptian Room brought back memories of Hector and Marg’s best ever holiday. Why do I no longer have a friend who works for Kuoni? Some of the models amused us both given the duplication of the photos taken. I took the Oppperchancity of checking out – The Facilities.

Yesterday we bought a carpet at a showroom, today Lunch was at another venue where spending our hard earned cash was a possibility. A Jewellery Store?

No chance. The Black Rum was declined, the Samosa today had Meat, Excellent, Spicy too.
We watched Chaps polishing stones then were taken into the Shop. Some did buy, the Ladies studied what was on offer, one by one the Chaps joined me at the settees in the middle of the room. We’ve had enough of this, time for some fun.

The Itinerary had suggested an optional Walking Tour of the Bazaar et al in the Walled City. Bhupi suggested instead we take a Rickshaw Ride. We were all up for this. The problem as ever, you cannot take your own photo, so thanks to Marie and Alex for sending the photo of Marg and Hector so quickly.

I had only spotted one Rickshaw with a Chap running on foot. In Jaipur the Rickshaws were all bicycles. Some of the Chaps who would do the work were in advanced years, we had a Young Chap. The gradients did not appear much, however, all the Drivers alighted whenever there was a slope.

Along the mains streets of the Old City, past the Hawa Mahal again, down the side lanes, past the cows, we were quite a convoy. Some lowered the sun canopy, we kept our’s in position, it was Hot today. A bottle of water was shared with Our Chap, he was grateful.

Here is the first chance to see the Group Members close up, as ever if anyone does not want their photo on this Website, tell me. Disaster for Hector! Memory Card Full. Why had I brought only one camera today?

At the end of the Ride we escaped! Time to ourselves, in daylight. Marg wanted to buy presents for her Sisters, Hector needed Quality Curry. With Buffet #4 due this evening, it was decided to eat first. As ever, the detail of the Excellent Curry at Niros Restaurant is in the usual place.
Trousers, Pantaloons, is what The Sisters are having. Bhupi advised that the shops had fixed prices, we could haggle a bit, but the price quoted would be – the price. We made the day for the shop we chose. A Cooperative, the Chaps were Students, returning to their studies soon and they needed cash for their books. No credit cards were accepted, Marg spent her Rupees, her Sterling, my Euros. What are the chances that the Sisters will wear these? Sadly, no photos.

Tuk-Tuk

We had to make our own way back to Shahpura House. On any other holiday we would have walked, a couple of kilometres, for us a stroll. This is India, we would have been harassed the whole way back. Ironically, we had to actually go and find a Tuk-Tuk stand. Rs 120 was the agreed fair. Bhupi had given us our address in Hindi, the Driver knew exactly where Devi Marg is in Bani Park. Sri Lanka was the last time we used a Tuk-Tuk. In Galle we ended up with our Own Chap who took us to the Hinterland, his Village. Then we had the time, not on this Trip.

Marg went for a Dip, Hector did some Blogging. It is going to take an age to Blog this Trip.

The Indian Night
Once again we assembled for a Buffet Dinner, this time at the Rooftop Restaurant at Shahpura House where Musicians and Dancers would entertain. A Glass of Wine was included, my first in India, not too shabby. Some went on to order the Bottle, to their sorrow. When they were later asked for in excess of £30.00 per Bottle they knew they had been had.

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Hector’s long distance vision spotted a familiar label in the fridge. Stella Artois. So far, my only non-Indian Bier has been Belgian. A change from Kingfisher.
Brian had seen me use the Replacement Samsung on the Bus. Hector likes to know where he is, and where he is headed. Those lovely people at Vodafone only take £5.00 per day to Roam. I helped Brian set up the World Traveller on his phone, same network. Apparently I am a – Clever Chap.
Buffet #4 impressed, however, I did not do it justice, the Outstanding Fish Curry at Niros was still being digested.

Bier o’Clock
The 20-20 Cricket has reached the semi-finals, India were playing again this evening. Adrian had found another Source of Bier, even better he claimed than last night’s RDB Palace.
A couple of blocks away in our Bani Park Compound lies the Shakuntalam Bar & Restaurant. Why did we not find this two nights ago?  Why did our Guides not know of this place?

The Group of Revellers included Adrian, Karen and Karina (wife and daughter), Alex, and Marie, Gail and Simon, Allison and Allan, Gio and Avril, Hector and Marg, plus Bhupi. A below ground venue, the place was stowed. The Locals were excited, India had a chance. We squeezed ourselves in. Fitting The Fourteen was not simple, some Locals moved to accommodate us.
Smoking!

Bhupi had – explained to us – how India came to ban smoking in all public places. Being fined for smoking on the street has basically made the disgusting habit disappear. To date, I had seen a handful of people smoking in all the thousands we have encountered. Ashtrays were on the table, four people near us were smoking. Fortunately the combination of fans and aircon kept the air clean.
The Menu

An impressive array of Curry Dishes were on offer. We were here for the Bier. The Prices were right. 650ml Bottles of Kingfisher Blue! It had to be ordered. A 6.0% Lager, this Bier has more body than the Super Strong at 8.0%. At last, a Swally. Here I am in Jaipur and no sign of this IPA, or any other.
Suffice to say, the Group had bonded even more by the time we departed. Bhupi watched, he was on duty.
India lost the Cricket, the place emptied. A Great Night, tomorrow we have an early train to catch. Where next?

The Hotel and Restaurants visited today:

Shahpura House Hotel  –  Devi Marg, Bani Park, Jaipur, India

Niros Restaurant – Shop N.80, Mirza Ismail Road, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India

Shakuntalam Bar & Restaurant – D157, Kabir Marg, Bani Park, Jaipur

India Trip 2016 – Day 6 – Jaipur-Bharatpur – The Train to Bharatpur, for Breakfast-Heute #3

Arriving in Jaipur mid-afternoon yesterday, our Group of Intrepid Travellers caught a first glimpse of the Splendour that is  – The Pink City.  Terra Cotta is more accurate.
Having failed to discover any out-of-hotel Hostelry, it was back to the Shahpura House Hotel for a Bier, but not before Hector and Marg went Vegetarian at the surprisingly good Chit Chat Restaurant.

The Bar was not staffed, to sit in  this room would have been naff, there is a pool-side garden where some had chosen to eat their evening meal. Erdinger Weizen was available vom Fass, however the price was laughable, even more-so when the Chap held up the glass. Hoegarden it was, tastier and hopefully not such a rip-off. Allan and Allison joined us after they had dined. An early night was called for after our rather lengthy journey from New Delhi via Patan.

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Amber Fort
Stunning! The 11km drive from Jaipur to Amer did not take long. Jaipur is much smaller than New Delhi thus traffic is less hectic. Still, every driver has to – Toot-Toot – at every Opperchancity. We stopped off at Man Sagar, the Jaipur Lake, to pick up three of The Company who had left at dawn to take a Balloon Ride. Last night we had speculated who – The Three – were. We were stunned when Brian and Chris , a couple in their 80’s, boarded the Bus. Brian, like Hector, has a fear of heights. They were amused that the third Balloonist, Avril, had to pay extra for insurance, the octogenarians were too old to be insured!

As we reached the edge the town of Amer, the Bus was parked at the edge of the Maota Lake. Amber Fort dates back to the sixteenth century, not content with one hilltop fort, there appeared to be fortifications everywhere. This was going to be a visit of many photos.
Some ascend directly to the courtyard of the Amber Fort by Elephant. Rosemary, our

British Guide explained that due to insurance, we would be driven by a fleet of Jeeps. Yesterday Camel-pulled carts, today Jeeps, what next?

One is learning that as with Egyptian Temples, one enters through an elaborate gateway to a courtyard, one then progresses through another gateway to yet another courtyard, and so on. The architecture speaks for itself.

The highest areas afford views of the town of Amer, the surrounding hills with both fortifications and a wall which inevitably makes one think of China. Amber Fort, the highlight of The Trip.  As we left the Amber Fort   we encountered the largest of Cooking Pots, imagine the Curry-Heute.
We stopped once again at Man Sagar this time to take photos of Jah Mahal, – The Floating Palace. So, we were not taking the boat out then? We have not been in a boat. We would only ever see the Hawa Mahal in passing also. A return trip to Jaipur required?

Which stop off  cannot be avoided on a tour?

Shree Carpet & Textile Mahal
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Lunch today was at a Carpet and Textile Workshop. Before going indoors, we were shown the skills of dye printing, Tina volunteered to have a go. We marvelled at the Chaps and Chapattisworking away weaving carpets, then we were taken inside.

Black Rum had been mentioned. Black Rum at Lunchtime? Why not. A Vegetable Samosa was well received, the banana declined. That’s no longer a Banana.

The carpets were rolled out across the floor in the time honoured fashion we have all witnessed in Turkey, Egypt, Tunisia and Maroc. Wonderful carpets, the years taken to create them appreciated by all. If only we had a mansion with laminate floors, and unlimited funds. In a group of twenty, you might expect one couple to buy a carpet.
Something happened
What would have been described as a – Fireside Rug – in bygone days was announced as affordable, but still there’s getting it home. They knew what they were doing. The rug was folded into little more than an – LP – sized bundle then put in a cloth carrier, hand luggage! Better still, having travelled to India with a half-full bag, Hector knew this would fit, sorted. Somehow Marg declared this to be a Birthday Present. Just what I always wanted. About half of The Group bought a carpet, one couple a serious one.
They weren’t finished
Another room housed the Textiles. Whilst Marg studied various uninteresting items, Hector spotted – The Indian Shirt.

The one I purchased in Sri Lanka no longer fits. Off the shelf? No chance. Made to measure. We shall deliver it to your hotel at 9pm this evening. This was a Birthday Present.

The City Palace

We had seen the wonder that is the Amber Fort, we had been Shopping, we had been plied with alcohol, another Temple? It became apparent just how compact the sights of Jaipur are. A – Snake Charmer – was encountered at the entrance to the City Palace, Rs 100.
Impressive as the City Palace may be, after the Amber Fort  was maybe one too many today. The temperature was now 39°C, we were spending an increasing amount of time meeting Bhupi – in the shade.  The City Palace also houses the Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II Museum, but Marg and Hector have done a Museum this year in Athena.   There’s two of them?

Jantar Mantar Observatory
We needed something completely different, this was it. We have all seen – Sundials – but not on this scale. Before the Digital Age were analogue instruments, the larger the instrument the greater the degree of accuracy. We had a – Special Guide – ‘to explain how’ the clocks and calendars worked. A cold drink, at for once a realistic price – Everyone back on the Bus.

Back at the Shahpura House, Marg took the Opperchancity to have a swim in the small pool. Hector considered the pool to be too small to get wet in. A rare chance to get some Blogging done.

A Big Bier
Tonight we were driven a few blocks to a Family Home where we given an Indian Cookery Demonstration. Hector, sitting beside Simon and Gail from Leeds, was one of the – Fortunate Five – to be offered a Bier. A red tin of Kingfisher, 500ml too! It was only half chilled, still.
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Super Strong (Kingfisher, India) is an 8% Lager. This is a serious Bier, it went down far too easily for a Bier of this strength. Posting a photo online led Mr. Snax to come back with a suggestion, I should look for Kingfisher Blue.

Dinner was a Buffet following the Cookery Demonstration.  My Indian Shirt arrived at 21.00! Driven back to the Hotel,  we were let loose. Adrian had been successful in finding an affordable source of Cold Bier last evening. Adrian led Allan, Allison, Hector, Marg and now Alex and Maria to the rooftop of a nearby hotel.

The RDB Palace is a much more modest establishment than where we are residing. Last night, Adrian had apparently asked someone at the Wine Shop where he could get a Cold Bier, and was shown here. A good tactic. Behold, 660ml Bottles of the Kingfisher Super Strong. Mein Host had to go out for more. Marg and Maria kept to Soft Drinks, Allison ordered Sprite such that a Shandy could be created. The Chaps were sharing, still not a – Swally. The Cargo arrived, this is better. The price? Rs 150, a half to a third of what we have been paying in Hotels, but twice the volume.
Good night.

Food, Rum and Bier today:

Shahpura House  –  D 257 Devi Marg, Bani Park, Jaipur, Rajahstan, 302016, India

Shree Carpet & Textile Mahal  – Zorowar Amber, Jorowar Singh Gate, Amer Rd., Brahmpuri, Jaipur, Rajahstan, 302002, India

An Unknown House – Sawai Jai Singh Highway, Bani Park, Jaipur, Rajahstan, India

RDB Palace – 4 Kabir Marg, Subash Nagar, Sen Colony, Bani Park, Jaipur, Rajahstan, 302016, India

India Trip 2016 – Day 5, Jaipur – Disclocated Day: Another Temple, Another Bier