India Day 10 - Jaipur

A 6.15 wakeup at Hotel Utsav Niwas this morning and a not very hot shower this morning as the hot water had not been turned on. A simple continental breakfast with cornflakes, toast and coffee before jumping into the tuktuk's for a 45 minute ride to the Amber fort on one of the hills just outside  of Jaipur.
We got there in good time with the early morning sun on the forts amber walls, which was quite a sight. We met our guide Mr Akram out the front and then walked up the hill to the entrance passing many of the elephants taking paying guests up and down the path. Though looking quite spectacular decked out in costume etc, one can't help but think of the miserable life they have and how this only contributes to their misery and continuing mistreatment.
We then had an excellent two and a half hours guided tour through this massive fort with excellent explanation by Mr Akram. At the completion we ambled back down to our tuktuk's, passing many hawkers on the way. I almost got a tablecloth after bargaining from 4000 down to 500 rupees all the way along the path, but once agreeing to the price he disappeared. Priyanka said this was because we were too close to the police by then. Oh well saved some money.
From here we headed back into Jaipur, stopping on the way to look at the Water Palace ( no longer accessible) before arriving at a tourist jewellery shop, not my thing. Then went to fabric store where given a demonstration of hand block fabric printing which was excellent. Up to seven colours printed, very skillful. It was then onto lunch, finally at a reasonable hour, 1pm. Funny place and the worst meal we've all had. I have cooked stuffed olives with cottage cheese and ended up being 12 olives , stuffed and coated and deep-fried with chips. Isabel and Liz had pasta with a tomato sauce which ended up being dry overcooked pasta with sweet and sour sauce from a bottle, horrible. The girls got their money back and not a good experience for anyone, Priyanka won't be taking people there again.
It was then on to look at the wind palace and a bit of market grazing before the observatory. Even though only about 15 minutes from the restaurant, it suddenly hit me for the first time in days. OMG find me a loo quick ;-). Public one just down the street up a laneway, and wasn't this an experience! Western style, about 1m square, floor covered in water and what else I don't want to know and worst of all, bowl full of excrement to within 10cm of the top of the bowl and the stench. It's only in these situations when you realise that when you really have to go, you have to go!!!! Think I used half a bottle of hand sanitizer on hands, arms and any uncovered skin, still traumatized.
Then onto the Muntar Juntar astronomy and astrology observatory where we met Mr Akram again who took us around with explanation till we were kicked out at closing time 5pm, excellent experience.
Tuktuk's back to the hotel, with me lying down in the back, for a relaxing shower followed by a kingfisher in the lobby with some  others before heading out for dinner at 8pm.
Tonight was a dinner and show at Diggers Hotel ? in a lovely garden with firepits. Met by a drummer on arrival and then a lovely meal with music and traditional dancing. Not real kitsch at all and very entertaining, finishing with a puppet show and the chance to buy  some handmade puppets.
Home to the hotel at 10.30 ready for our 4.15 wakeup for the 6am train to Dehli, love Jaipur even with the toilet experience.