Day 248, Udaipur, India

Looking over the lake 

Today we explored some of Udaipur. First up was the beautiful City Palace.

The city Palace was built concurrently with establishment of the Udaipur city by Maharana Udaipur Singh, in 1553 and his successor Maharanas over a period of the next 300 years. It is considered the largest royal complex in Rajasthan and is full with history. It provided lovely views over the city and we spent a happy hour and a bit there. Next we were on a mission as I needed a white singlet for under my dress and Shanna also needed an undergarment. So we found a wee place that sold what I needed. And I mean wee. It can't have been more than a metre wide and about 4 metres deep, stay full with boxes. I came armed with a photo of what I needed and he straight away found the box revealing my simple white singlet. Bless his socks, I bought two as he was so genuinely helpful.

View from the Palace

Next he pointed Shanna in the right direction for her bra. A shop two doors down of very much the same dimensions, and another helpful man. Yes, he found one for her, again in a box ( no luxurious racks of bras to browse through, no pun intended).

62 and proud of it

Simple but cheap, $2.20, yes that one will do. Anyway, that's when he got chatting. 'Guess how old I am!' Shanna and I guessed about mid forties, being a little generous. 'No, 62!' And he was chuckling away, then had to show us pictures of his daughters and grandson. I asked if owning a shop selling bras kept him young, oh yes definitely he said! He was a real flirt, but so much fun, and we had a good laugh with him.

Next we went on a bit if a cruise around the lake on a boat, just 45 minutes but nice to be on the water and seeing the town from the lake.

Part of the Palace 

We had decided we wanted henna done for the wedding and asked our host here if he could recommend a good one. He organised it for us and one of the lads walked us down the road, a wee alleyway and there we were. A young woman, in a simple room, no other furniture than a bed, wardrobe, chair. The room was 2.5 by 2.5 metres and clearly where she and her husband lived. She did the loveliest job while her husband, who spoke English, translated and explained where and how she learned the art. She charged the tiny sum of $3.30 each. At one stage we spotted a cow in the house across the road! And as we came out and stood and admired our painted hands, a little boy called hello from the upstairs window across the alley and his mum complimented us as well. Such lovely warm people.