Life in Jaipur, Rajasthan, India - October 13, 2012

I have one more month left of my five month stay in Jaipur, the capital and largest
city of Rajasthan, India.  Jaipur is well known to tourists as part of the Golden
Triangle ( which includes Delhi and Agra - home of the Taj Mahal ).  It is often 
called "The Pink City"  and "the Paris of India."  Maharajah Jai Singh II left Amber
Fort in 1727 and laid out the city.  The old city was painted pink in 1876 to welcome
the Prince of Wales who later became King Edward VII,  It continues pink to the
day.  

Jaipur is a city of beautiful palaces, temples, Rajasthani and Moghul architecture.
It has five star hotels, budget properties,  guest houses, autorickshaws, elephants, camel carts, cows roaming loose in the streets, a great variety of restaurants, centers of 
higher education, bazaars, festivals. monkeys here and there, and beautiful fabrics
and jewelry stores.

I have loved my time here except for the blistering summer heat and the distance from
any ocean.  Having spent the last thirty-five years with the Pacific Ocean at my
feet, I've had trouble adjusting to the desert climate.  Even monsoon season failed 
to provide adequate rainfall.

Here are some pictures I've taken of my temporary home, Jaipur.

Out grocery shopping.  People carry amazing weights on their heads!

The beautiful Hawa Mahal, or Palace of the Winds, built by by Maharaja Sawaj Pratap 

Singh in 1799.  This five story building allowed the ladies of the royal family to 

observe their city without being seen. 

Kathputli wood puppets of Rajasthan - an art tradition believed to be over a  

tousand years old. 

The bicycle rickshaw - one of many forms of transportation

Pepper and lemon talsiman are used to bring good luck - this hangs from a car bumper.

Beautiful architecture in the Old City of Jaipur

Colorful sari

Street vendors

"Fast Food"

Three little pigs ( well, adolescents ) - cows and pigs wander the streets freely.

Sweet children

Cooking chapatis outdoors

At a wedding celebration