We traveled by bus from Agra to Jaipur, and then this week we had our first homestay in India!  

The week had a mostly constant schedule, with a few exceptions here and there . In the mornings we usually had Yoga class, followed by Hindi language lessons, and then a lecture. Lectures were about the history, politics, and folk art of India. Chai tea was consumed in between lessons, and now is a group favorite.

In the afternoons we would go out and explore the city. We went to some amazing places. Jaipur Foot is the largest artificial foot, limb and calipers fitting society in the world! We got to see people getting fitted for artificial limbs. All services at Jaipur Foot are free and available to anyone. We also got to go to Kalakar Basti which is a folk artist colony in Jaipur. We split into small groups and got to experience, first hand,  dancing, puppet shows, and beading. One morning we went on an art excursion and learned about block printing, blue pottery, and paper making.

Our local leaders in Jaipur, Rishi-ji and Rekha-ji, took us to delicious restaurants during our stay. We went to a Thali restaurant where each person gets a small serving of many different Indian foods . The group unanimously loves the food in India. It is safe to say no one will be hungry here.

We were extremely lucky to be in India during one of the largest celebrated holidays, which is equivalent to our Christmas. Every night the sky is lit up from lights hung along stores, apartments, and houses, therefore being called the festival of lights (Diwali). It is celebrated for a week, but the big festivities all occurred this year on October 26th. The host families had been incredibly generous and included the group in their Diwali traditions, even though some of their houses were already filled with relatives from out of town. The families loaned the girls saris to wear for the night. The unending amount of fabric and discomfort with walking was completely worth it. On the night of Diwali it seemed as though the entire city of Jaipur was setting off fire crackers! We felt almost as though we were in a war zone, cautiously watching our surroundings and choosing where to walk. A large portion of the group met up at the top of an apartment building at dark and were able to see fireworks being set off all over the city . A view never to be forgotten. 

After our five days and nights in Jaipur were over we took an overnight train to Udaipur. It
was our first overnight train in India and was quite an experience! Three beds were stacked on top of each other so there was an upper bunk, middle bunk, and lower bunk. There was very little private space and it was much darker than the trains we took in Thailand. While we may not
have gotten the best nights sleep, it is an experience we will always remember!

We arrived in Udaipur around 6 AM this morning (Friday). After a bit of rest and breakfast the group took a gondola to the top of a mountain where there was an incredible view of the city. So far Udaipur is the quietest and cleanest city we have been to in India. It is absolutely beautiful, with its four man-made lakes and multiple mountains on the horizon. In the afternoon we got to ride camels! Each individual had their own reaction to the bouncy ride.

Tomorrow (Saturday) afternoon we are bouncing off to Jhadol for a week!

 
Peace, love, and happiness,

 
Em-dog (Emily) and L-shizzle (Lydia)

Remember... keep bouncing!