Rajasthan- Jhunjhunu/Bikaner/On the road!

Rajasthan has been simply amazing. We departed for our tour in our little Metropolitan a really old school cute car. Driving through India has been half the adventure. The roads are sometimes paved, sometimes not, sometimes they are half paved with people working on the side of the 'street.' There are no road laws here, or at least it seems like it. When someones going too slow our driver simply honks and drives on the other side of the road to past them. A couple of times we were so close to a head on collision (or at least it seemed like it) I could hear all three of us collectively gasp in astonishment. Our driver, 'Hookum' of course just laughs. (Its somewhat frightening). Yesterday we stayed in Jhunjhunu and went to an amazing Hindu temple where the 'sati' was often performed. (This is the suicide of a bride who must kill herself after her husband has died). We were the only foreigners walking around a sea of people chanting and paying their respects to their Gods. It was fascinating. Today we drove some more and stopped in a city called Mandawa where they have lots of 'Haveli's" beautifully painted homes. It was really nice to walk around the city- but also a bit stressful at times. As foreigners we attract a lot of attention with little children following us around, and people constantly staring. Some of them are quite sweet just smiling, and looking, but some of them are quite annoying as well. Afterwards we continued driving (which like I said earlier is always an interesting experience) and arrived in Bikaner. We checked out a cemetary which was quite beautiful and than checked into our hotel. All of our accomodation has been lovely, we always get two rooms between the three of us and the place where we are staying at now has a lovely open air courtyard where you can eat and where traditional Indian music is playing. Us girls took a Rickshaw into Bikaner today to try and find some Sari's. Some creepy boy jumped on our Rickshaw with us and what started off as a friendly chat turned into him downright stalking us. Me being the more aggressive outspoken one had to tell him at least three or four times to "Split." I hate being rude to people but when you ask them nice they really don't listen it seems. India is definitely a male dominated society. Especially in the rural areas you can tell who the 'boss' is. The way the men speak to us sometimes (very bossy and almost telling us what is right and what to do) is pretty aggravating. Overall though I really have found the people to be quite nice. In the tourist areas everyone wants to make a penny off of you, but this is what I expected...its quite similar to Egypt in this way. Our driver is quite nice, and is always worried about us girls which is nice that he is looking out for us. Tomorrow we will go to the 'Rat Temple.' Hindu devotees go here to worship the thousands of rats that inhabit this temple because they believe they are the reincarnation of some deity. We will also check out the Jain Temples, and the Fort in Bikaner. The day after that its off to Jaisalmer where we will spend one day in the city and in a hotel, and the other day sleeping in the desert!

Hope all is well at home, I miss everyone a lot and enjoy seeing all of your comments!

Love Krista

In Delhi

A common sight, this bus isn't even that full by Indian standards! Usually there are lots of people on the roof!

Cemetery in Bikaner

A Haveli in Rajasthan

Myself and two gypsy ladies

Us three!

Two new friends and I 

Man selling vegetables (Photo taken from car)

Cows own the roads. They are constantly in the way and we constantly are swerving around them trying not to hit them!