On our way to Jaipur, the pink city. So called because all the old town is built with red sandstone.

This time we are on one of the two major routes in India. Delhi to Mombai. So many lorries. We were weaving in and out of the lanes avoiding the brightly painted lorries, individually painted with bright typically Indian art decorated with flowers, plain tassels, glitzy tassels, flags all along the sides, front and back bunches of flowers.

We are in a homestay, the Dera Mandawa. It has been in the family for 8 generations and it was a town house when their ancestors, who were members of Parliament,  visited the Maharaja. They use solar energy (including cooking), bio-fuel ( oven) and filter their own water. It only has eight rooms. Our "room" has a entrance hall and seating area, large bed and dressing area with a double height ceiling and bathroom downstairs measuring 6m x 6mx 6m. Upstairs it has a large galleried area with a study and library. 

Wandered into Jaipur for a walk and came home by tuk-tuk. Our driver was very concerned that we would not get back safely. We had a card written in Hindu to say where the homestay was. Tuk-tuk  man delivered us to where he thought we should be but we didn't recognise it!. There was then a discussion between a group of tuk-tuk dtivers as to where it was. We eventually got another tuk-tuk to take us there. It was about 100 yds down the road!

We were treated to a Kathputli ("puppet"show), a skill that has been in Rajasthan for over a thousand years. The "master" animates the puppets using strings whilst making a shrill noise with a reed and another person drumming and singing. They are taken around villages to teach about issues such as the dowry system, poverty, cleanliness etc. A bit like our Punch and Judy shows - newly married husband returns late one night and gets beaten up by his Mrs. though probably these days is is non P.C.!