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| Temple on Lake Palace Road |
As I sit on the roof top of the Shambhu Vilas Hotel, the brilliant green parrots fly across the sky and alight on the cell tower close by. My sweet dog, Toulouse is at my feet and a cup of chai sits before me. I am quite a ways from my old neighborhood of Hanuman Ghat on the other side of the lake, but right next to a huge park that has not only a lovely rose garden, but a public library in an ornate, old building. I haven't been in it yet, but will have to explore it at some point. There is also a zoo, which was closed yesterday when I walked through with Alexandra, a young woman staying at the same hotel. She trains and owns horses in her homeland of Germany. As is usually the case with the travelers I meet, she is quite a bit younger than I, but we found we have a lot in common.
It is great to be with Himanshu again after 4 months of emails, calls, texts, and Skype...not quite like being able to have someone's arms around you. Due to the tourist police here, we have not been able to go anywhere on the bike together. Since he does not have a guide's license, he cannot be seen traveling with me as they are quite aggressive about stopping you for no other reason than to harass you and in fact, they would take him to jail claiming he was working as a guide without a license. I feel so restricted by this new phenomenon of tourist "protection" that began this year. They actually slap these guys when they stop them! Unbelievable! Consequently, he has been taking my list to the market to pick up the things I need. He has helped me so much by finding me a hotel that will take my dog, to all the little things I would be hard pressed to do on my own.
Although we are in monsoon season, the state of Rajasthan does not get the torrential downpour like other parts of the country - it has only rained once since I arrived on the 20th of this month. However, the season is much cooler and the mornings are breezy with no need for air conditioning.
I am practicing my patience as the laws here are not what I was lead to believe - not by deception, but lack of knowledge. I had hopes of putting in a guesthouse/hotel, but everything here is so convoluted in comparison to the states; not to mention the corruption. It would simplify things if we got married, but the judge doesn't even like it if they marry someone who is not from India! This has put my apartment hunting on hold as well, as I may have to leave the country in 6 months for a 2 month period before I can return...yes, another very different law.
It is great to be with Himanshu again after 4 months of emails, calls, texts, and Skype...not quite like being able to have someone's arms around you. Due to the tourist police here, we have not been able to go anywhere on the bike together. Since he does not have a guide's license, he cannot be seen traveling with me as they are quite aggressive about stopping you for no other reason than to harass you and in fact, they would take him to jail claiming he was working as a guide without a license. I feel so restricted by this new phenomenon of tourist "protection" that began this year. They actually slap these guys when they stop them! Unbelievable! Consequently, he has been taking my list to the market to pick up the things I need. He has helped me so much by finding me a hotel that will take my dog, to all the little things I would be hard pressed to do on my own.
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| Vidya & Alexandra |
I am practicing my patience as the laws here are not what I was lead to believe - not by deception, but lack of knowledge. I had hopes of putting in a guesthouse/hotel, but everything here is so convoluted in comparison to the states; not to mention the corruption. It would simplify things if we got married, but the judge doesn't even like it if they marry someone who is not from India! This has put my apartment hunting on hold as well, as I may have to leave the country in 6 months for a 2 month period before I can return...yes, another very different law.
