Ancient carvings, pink turbans and more formidable forts

Whilst staying at a relaxing hotel somewhere between Jodhpur and our final destination - Udaipur - we visited this amazing Jain temple.


Even though the temple is not situated next to anything spectacular, loads of tourists come just to see it. Unlike many other temples we've visited, this one is built in such a tranquil place, amongst trees and mountains, that it does make it that bit easier to really enjoy it and not to worry about hussles around you. Just look at these beyond-this-world carvings!

It's very eerie, isn't it? Almost looks like a long-forgotten ship wrecks crushed deep under water..

Now look at the picture below. What do you think this is?

It's a gigantic ball of wasps! It's hanging off one of the temple's windows. J said that only in such a place we could find something this scary this close to where people live (remember? it's a Jain temple, ie no killing of any living thing). I think though that this is just another beautiful and scary thing in India. The other example of the holy/unholy conundrum in that country.


We then drove through this tiny village that was still celebrating Holi. Quite a different kettle of fish to what we experienced in Jodhpur: lots of dancing, singing and even gambling. The great thing was that we really were the only westerners in that village. So, imagine, hunderds of villagers, all in a very festive mood (some in a very-very festive mood, if you know what I mean;), and us in the middle of it all (with Jonathan being about 3 heads taller that most of the people)

Slowly people gathered around us and we became something of celebrities! People wanted to look at us, touch us, talk to us and even dance with us! Or, to be more precise, with me. We got approached by a small group of women playing on traditional instruments who started lifting my hands and showing me how to wiggle my hips! A pity we didn't take any pictures of that - Katya, a future bolywood dancer!:) *rolled eyes*

It was fun at first, until we realised that we were seriously circled by loads of people, and that we were asked to give money for this improvised dance lesson. Taking the wallet out when being surrouned by hundreds of hungry eyes was scary...We got away eventually, but we had to retreat pretty swiftly...fun though:)

And then to another fort (I'm afraid the Lonely Planet is back at the library, so not all names are recalled;). It was very hot. Just enjoy the views:

I definitely have a thing for small spaces: balconies, towers etc hehe