A Very Long Ride with Stops along the Way -- September 30

A Very Long Ride with Stops along the Way

We left Delhi at 7:30 for the drive to Jaipur. On the map it didn’t look too far away but that has nothing to do with the reality of car travel in India. Even at the early time, we saw lots of traffic and had to be a part of it. Our bus driver is very good, always moving along and often getting ahead of many of the vehicles. We stopped at to view the huge statues. Used the toilet there, not knowing how long it would be until the next stop. I don’t mind the Eastern style squat toilet, especially when I have to go!

We traveled on the Delhi Gurgaon Expressway. It took a LONG TIME until our next stop at a McDonald’s. Interesting menu including Veggie McMuffin and a Veggie Pizza. Too bad they don’t have those choices at home. I’d actually consider a stop at our local McD’s. We were told it would take a couple of hours to get to our next toilet stop. Limited acceptable stops along the way.

Two more hours until lunch, according to Sanjay. Time is an “estimate” in India most of the time.

The roads are bumpy and in constant need of improvement. There is a parallel road being constructed, probably with a target date for the Commonwealth Games to be held in Delhi in October 2010. I managed to take pictures from the moving bus showing the amount of work that is being done. I wonder if they’ll actually complete the roadwork and other projects in time. Probably the pressure of the event will be the incentive that’s needed.

Saw herds of cattle and cows along the way. As we passed through villages/towns, many people waved and smiled at us. They seem to be as interested in us as we are with them. A highlight along the way was a group of many monkeys. The scampered alongside the bus, running over to the bus assistant as he gave them some bananas. I took some video in addition to the photos. There was an Indian antelope, not often seen, nearby, too.
We passed through another tollbooth of the National Highways Authority of India

Lunch was at the Chomu Palace, a former palace that was sold by the owners to a developer who has restored and renovated it as a hotel with restaurant. Lunch was a delicious buffet. Following the buffet, we were given a tour of a guest room (beautiful with huge shower) and the bar, which had another use at the time of its status as a palace. We took a walk through the nearby Rajasthani market, looking at the vendors’ offerings. As a cow passed by, Steve took of picture of me next to it. I also got a picture of a Mommy Pig and her three attentive piglets.

Back on the bus with about an hour until we arrived at our hotel, Park Prime, in Jaipur. As we entered the lobby, we were given a refreshing blue drink. Our room is nice, but not as large as the one in Delhi.

Sanjay invited us to join him in his room for a pre-dinner drink of local Indian Rum. Excellent and very strong. We mixed in some Coke and filtered ice cubes. Reminded me of my college days when I drank rum & coke, though that wasn’t as good as the Indian one.

Dinner was in the hotel restaurant. We were served family style, but the waiters did serve many of the items. Very tasty.