28 February. Udaipur The Markets and Hindu Temple.

After yesterday's relaxing but busy day we have a quieter start and a less taxing day. 

We Rise early and after a beautiful breakfast we have some spare time to research the resort before we depart at 10.30am for a visit to the famous markets.  We begin this with a frantic tuk tuk ride where a convoy of 17 tuk tuk vehicles assemble taking our group of 30 plus, 2 local guides and our tour director , Peter Pappas, who is a very big man.  Jeanette has slept well for the first time in several nights and fells much better.  She made a wise decision yesterday to skip the Hindu Temple with the many stairs.

The tuk tuk trip is chaotic, but amazing as we swing in and out of traffic before stopping 20 minutes later outside the Delhi Gate , the symbol of the commencement  of the market areas.

for the next 95 minutes we walk slowly through and in a variety of vegetable and every other food store.  Interspersed among the food store is a combination of stores selling every other implement, fabric, cooking spices and several retailers selling shoes.  There are bustling crowds everywhere selling, buying and cleaning food items for sale.

in all honesty, it was interesting but went on for too long.  The men then returned to the Hotel for a pizza and beer lunch and Jeanette and 4 other women then went on to other stores. 

Ken returned for lunch ,but also his shirts are being delivered this afternoon for further trying and refining.  Jeanette continued shopping with Jean and other ladies and purchased a beautiful bed spread but failed re table clothes and napkins.

The shirt store person arrived at 2.05pm, but after trying them on, we decided that there was a need for alterations.  These will be completed and returned by 6.00pm this evening. 

Ken is going swimming now before we need to repackage our gear and clothes for shopping to Kockin.

These have bee an excellent 3 nights here at the Oberoi , Udaivilas, Udaipur.  Wonderful weather of 27 degrees, with a cooling breeze, trying to sort out the itinerary and the shopping, but enjoying this clean well educated city which continues to grow in fame for food, tourism education, weddings etc. 

This evening we are packing because we have a 4.45am wake up call and we then fly to Mumbai prior to a lengthy stopover before we fly to Kerrali and Kochi.