My Thoughts on Jaipur

Jaipur is the most juxtaposed place that I have ever seen. Its both beautiful and disgusting, clean and filthy. There are modern malls next to traditional shrines. The vast differences throughout the city are striking. I've encountered everything from a man pissing at me on the street, a woman charming a large Cobra snake out of a basket to a monkey inhabited desert fort from the 17th century protruding from the cliffs.

At any given moment, all five of my senese were fully engaged and overwhelmed...

Unlike Hyderabad, Jaipur feels much less modern. English is much less prevalent - all of the signage is in Hindi. The dress is more tradition. The oldest part of the city, which lies within the original walls, is painted pink and the architecture and buildings are antiquated. Some of the buildings date as far back as 1727 AD when Jaipur was established by the Rajputs, a warrior class in India. The old city is really just one enormous, filthy market that overwhelms the senses. Cows, goats, pigs, and sheep run amok. The roads are jam-packed with traffic. Once you step off the main street, in only a few minutes, an unfamiliar traveller can find himself lost in a labrynth of tiny pathways that are lined with craftsmen, artisans, and metalworkers. We encountered one interesting scene in which a young man was casting gold jewelry. His workspace was about 9 square feet, basically a little nook carved into the wall. He used old-fashioned tools, a small coal burning fire, sand, and a few utensils to create basic gold jewelry. His output was then sold to local vendors who walked nearby to purchase a gem or stone to complete the product.This typical street scene is not uncommon in everyday life in Jaipur - a city known for its bustling markets, colorful sarees, and desert style architecture. Religion permeates the city. Hindu shrines and symbols are everywhere and the traditional rules are often strictly enforced. Upon entering homes and holy places, shoes must always be removed. Most of the restaurants and residents in the city are "Pure Veg" - meaning they don't eat meat, eggs, or even drink alcohol.Tonight, we have been invited for dinner at a local's home. She will be preparing a Pure-Veg meal in classic Rajasthani style. I can't wait. Eating at someone's home while sharing stories and asking questions is always the best conditions for learning about a foreign culture.Tomorrow (Thursday), we have booked a 5 am train to Delhi. There we are staying with a female friend of mine from Penn. A weekend in Delhi is a guaranteed goodtime.