Day 14 - Farewell Rajasthan - Hello Utter Pradesh!

On the road and stop off after half an hour out of Jaipur at what's known locally as Monkey Palace. There are a couple of shrines there as a thank you for the constant water that pours out of a steep valley in otherwise desert-like conditions.

But now over-run with monkeys - so more people go for the monkeys including shallow old me ( c'mon give me a break - I've done some temples...).

Over the border into Utter Pradesh and the first Indian Mughal capital - Fatapurh sikri.

Well - it started as soon as I got out of the car with a "guide" hassling me - and went on for the whole visit - being pestered to buy - and I do mean pestered.

If this is what it's like here - god help me when I get to Agra!

Agra - Pestered Along the road by 3 year olds and everyone is on the make!

Guide - negotiated 2000 rupee "deal" for me to have my room for an additional half a day so I can use it until the train leaves tomorrow evening.

Dinner - men kept coming in and going through or coming out of a back door to the restaurant .... Something's afoot - local mafia run restaurant....?

Hotel - best shower in a fortnight -shame about the doorman in military uniform with the rifle over his arm ...

Even with the Taj Mahal - Ever have that funny feeling that all's not quite right and everyone else is playing a game to which you don't know the rules, not being local....?!

Getting that feeling about Agra...

24 hours and I'm on a train out of here....

Any way - pic of the monkeys in the blessed water, the great gateway at fatapuhr sikri (and it is great) - but if you're reading this with a glass of wine or cup of tea - please raise it and toast Laxshmi, the driver who's made everything run smoothly for me for the last two weeks.

"to Laxshmi!"

Now, As the French say

A demain

Xx