Our arrival in Rajasthan marked a new phase in our journey. I felt like we could have been in a completely different country. As the vegetation changed there was a distinct sensation that we had entered the desert. I began to spot women adorned in colours so bright they were fluorescent. Even those women toiling in the fields were draped in iridescent yellows and pinks. Our vehicle sped past carts pulled by camels nonchalantly running along the side of the road. And as we neared Jaipur, elephants, with their trunks decorated with coloured chalk, became part of the passing scenery.
Jaipur is known as the pink city. There wasn't as much pink around as I'd been hoping for but it wasn't the same let down I'd experienced as a child when I discovered that Rainbow Beach did not in fact have green or indigo coloured sands....
Anyway, I did experience life as a princess in Jaipur. Staying with some friends of the Aman's family in their home gave me an insight into how the 'other half' in India live. The house, palatial by Australian standards, surrounded by gardens, lawns and was serviced by an army of servants and guarded by two dogs. The most overwhelming thing again has been the complete contrasts. My head constantly spins with the extremes. The sights of the splendour of the palaces contrasted against the image of a small girl begging for food at an intersection whilst nursing her naked and dirty baby sister.
1 comment:
Sounds like the disappointment I felt after discovering that there were no clowns or elephants at Oxford Circus.
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