There is always time for chai

Oh, the effort of trying to write a blog post in India! I swear I have tried several times but have (obviously) had little sucess. The Indian Gods are against me, forcing me into a blog-free world. Some advantages of being blog-free? I have nearly finished my book that I have started 3 times and have dragged through 3 countries trying to finish. I think I savour the slow moments when drinking chai. I might otherwise be concerned with writing my next post. I can lead screen-free existence, which is nice because I sometimes think I spend too much time in front of a screen for school. Anyway, India. Today is the first day I feel like the cobwebs from my brain stomach have been cleared. We both arrived in India with the sniffles and a general sense of being overwhelmed at being in India. We must have spend the first 48 hours just 'floating' around, going with the flow, allowing drivers and hotel reception to direct us where they think we should go. I think only now, about a week into our holiday, are we feeling like our senses are sharpened. We somewhat confidentely stroll down the narrow alleyways feeling clever that we so narrowly miss being hit by any number of vehicles. Not that they are going that fast, because they too are narrowly missed. At the moment we are back in the city of Jodphur, home of the Mehrangarth Fort. Alas, I am able to type but can't post photos. Traditionally the city had a large Brahmin caste population. In the past the Brahmin painted their houses an eggshell blue. Now people paint their houses blue because they think it will repell insects. As a result, a significant portion of Jodphur is blue. The city clusters at the bottom of the aforementioned fort. Imagine the coolest sandcastle that you have built, times it by a million and that is sort of what the fort looks like. We are staying in an old boutique guest house, nearly 400 years old. Apparently the great granfather of the owner was the banker for the Maharaja. This family, Brahmin, was also the caretaker of a nearby temple. We are in the old city of Jodhpur, though really to me the whole city seems old. Slightly more removed from the central clock tower there are fewer hotels. People in the markets are just minding their own business, doing what they have done for hundreds of years. There is so much I can say about India, I could sit here for hours and write what we have done. But then I'd be missing out on my sunset. Impressions of India? It has been easier to travel through than we expected. Everyone is so helpful. Yes you are approached on all sides when you step off a bus or a train. But this is no different to any of the other countries we have visited. For the most part, people seem to appreciate a personal exchange, even if a business transactiopn has not transpired. The streets are filthy, to be on the highways at night is actually you putting your life at risk, and in some places people seem to be living a lifestyle that has endured for hundreds of years. No matter what, there is always time for chai. Anyway, I have a few days in Udaipur. Perhaps I will pick up my Indian reflections there. If not, then you know I have been swept up in my holiday. Happy holidays to you all!