Day 3 Jaipur - Rajasthan

Sounds like there's a few people joining me on this journey - thanks for letting me know its very sweet to hear and really nice to hear from so many long lost friends. So early yesterday I flew "Spicejet" from Chennai to Jaipur via Hyperbad. I shared my row and kindly donated my window seat (needing some good Karma in India) to a cute old man who started our flight with a Hindu chant for the first 45min. He then out of a crusty old plastic bag (at least he recycles) and wrapped in news paper was a cardboard box containing a "tapas" of Indian vegetarian cuisine. As I continued to read my "Indian Summer" book he offers me a yellow ball and I politely decline - it appears though that Indians too dont understand what no means when it comes to you not eating food. So I took it and ate this sweet crumbly yellow ball - it was ok, not bad....

The flight was around 4 hours - it seems that all of India is on the same timezone which is impressive considering the size. Whilst I remember flying in India is interesting in more ways than one - not sure if I mentioned before but it appears alot of people dont quiet get the concept of locking the toilet door on the plane, so I get my thrills watching this routine take place on flights where someone goes in and dosent lock and an unsuspecting passenger goes up to open thinking its vacant as the sign is still green and... suprise! Ha ha ha cracks me up everytime.

So anyways back to Jaipur - the airports just seem to be getting better on my trips - its so deceiving! Jaipur airport has marble everywhere and outside the chaos begins - similar to Sydney airport you are not allowed to stop to pick up passengers you must park. But here instead of security guards just issuing fines they have a HUGE towtruck with a mega phone and this Rajistani is loosing his mind screaming at cars that stop and keeping his hand on the horn.
Thing is no-one cared less so he screamed more until people did eventually move - I made a mental note to send an email to Sydney airport suggesting they employ some big Leb guy to do the same thing doing happy laps in a fully sick tow truck - ha ha (promise im not being rude I would seriously love to see it happen - it would make the taxi queue at Sydney domestic so much more interesting!)

So I had the driver from I-to-I waiting for me - he was in a beat up old white van and off we went. Straight away I started practising my Hindi that I that I have been studying on my i pod. We arrived in the suburbs around 2km from the Pink City which Jaipur is well known for. Apparently when a previous Maharaja or Govenor (I know big difference) took over they painted the whole city Pink the colour means welcome - and it was to welcome King Edward.
So I'm staying at a homestay as part of the program which means a local Indian family whom I have discovered have blood lines with the Brahaman priests so are very strict Hindu's.

Our host is a husband, wife and 7 year old daughter who live in a 3 story concrete home - its very residential and looks quiet safe and probably well off for Indian standards where we are staying. There are another 2 volunteers here at the moment both from the UK - 18 and 19 years - both first trip anywhere in the world! I feel for them but they appear to be coping ok.

I was a little taken aback at first with my accomodation though - homestay invokes images of a room within a room of the family whom you are staying with right? wrong. We are in the basement of the house which seriously is infested with mosquitos, is so dark and gloomy with no windows, a toilet that doesnt flush so you need to use a bucket and fill it with water to flush it (should I mention that some little buggers just keep reappearing? Too far? sorry!)

The place was filthy - I am a germaphobe (yes I know and I come to India for a 2nd time) so thanks mum for the Pine-o-Cleen wipes I was in there cleaning the toilets, basin and area that is supposedly called a shower but are two tap heads in the perfect position for a washing machine connection! There's now shower head or even tiny bucket to sit with the large bucket to pour water over yourself - so the routine for a shower is as follows....
step 1: turn on tiny wall mounted heater 10 min prior to shower,
step 2: thongs on as its just standing in front of the toilet,
step 3: half fill the bucket with warm water and pour it over yourself
step 4: lather up my trusty shower puffy thing with hospital scrub soap
step 5: refill bucket half way and rinse
step 6: dry yourself with a thin excuse of a travel towel as purchased at Kathmandu
step 7: curse when you drop your undies on the wet floor
step 8: remind yourself its all part of the experience, smile and exit

So the plan is to brighten the room up with some pics and i bought a toxic tin of mozzie spray which nearly killed us, plus we mummify ourselves in the mosquito nets. Dinner with the family is each night at 8pm - she cooked a yummy chaapati and curry dinner last night and I found delicious mango juice at the shop down the street for 25 rupee - after I bought them out of 2lt waters for 15 rupee each. After dinner the family like to go for a walk around the park across the street which is like a super mini Hyde Park for the neighbourhood. It's sweet though that they all value it so very much and it was fun connecting with the little girl as she attempted to teach us to count in Hindi whilst riding her bike.

Breakfast is at 8am as our auto rickshaw driver picks us up to the school at 8.30am - our host has a door bell she has placed downstairs so she presses it in the morning to wake us for breakfast - it's super annoyingly loud and the tackiest tune! Plus there's no need for an alarm here as the street sellers are hawking their phones with horns, bells and megaphones around the neighbourhood by 6am - and I was complaining about the construction workers next door back home!
Tomorrow news on our first couple of days teaching at the various schools and the adventures about the Pink City. Namaste!