From Padmini to Paradise: Chittorgarh to Bundi

We woke in the misty hellhole of the hotel Padmini, which DID serve us a good breakfast, despite the filthy surroundings, and got straight on the bus, not wishing to linger a moment longer in Chittorgarh. 

It was a little chilly on the bus. The sun didn't emerge from behind the clouds until 11am, when we stopped for chai. I was wearing three layers, plus shoes and socks, and I wasn't warm. On our way to Bundi we passed agricultural land, including protected white.opium.poppies; desert; towns; villages. We saw the  enormous blade of a wind turbine being transported on the back of a lorry, on a road  parallel to ours. A German shepherd dog befriended us at at the chai stop. Children waved shyly at our bus. Road signs informed us that we were getting nearer, and finally we arrived in Bundi and drew up in the old town. Our driver is very skilled to navigate such tiny, winding roads. At first we tried to check in at an Ayurvedic spa, but were directed to the sister hotel, up an unpromising-looking alley to the Kasera Paradise hotel. Camilla wasn't sure what this place would be like, but when we were directed inside, we were greeted warmly by the manager, who garlanded each of us with marigold wreaths, and could not do enough to make us feel welcome. The hotel is a Rajasthani haveli: a balconied house with rooms built around a central courtyard. Most of the rooms face inwards and have stained glass windows and curtains for privacy. My room is on the first floor, and is a family room, with an extra bed on two levels (apparently common in India and Pakistan ). There are many paintings on the walls and a Ganesh image (fibreglass). Outside my door is a shrine. We have an Italian restaurant on the top floor/roof and there is also the Indian veg rooftop restaurant of the Ayurvedic spa, where we later repaired for lunch. We were still feeling very cold, but were given extra blankets for our beds, as well as advice about how to mix the hot and cold water (in a bucket) and a warning that a tiger had been videoed recently, casually strolling around the massive fort on the hill above us. 

Lunch took forever (it's a bad idea to order food for 12, unless there are no other places to go). Afterwards, Annie, Rachel, Tessa and I went out into town for some casual shopping. Annie was disappointed at first they done shops in our street seemed closed, but as we got further towards the centre, everything was open for business, and the bikes were weaving around our ankles, and the cows were strolling around as they do...it's a medieval torwn centre with many gates/archways. Tessa and I bought painted postcards with upcycled tin frames; Annie wanted a handmade 'god box' which Iis very hard to explain, but practically all.oyr group ened up buying one; Rachel bought a silver locket and two wooden elephants. The step well was closed when we got there. Bundii has more than one step well (huge wells with steps into them). We saw a disused one, filled with rubbish. 
We wandered back towards the hotel. Annie wanted to see the artificial lake (kund) we had seen on our way in on the bus. I found a restaurant with great lakeside views, but some were annoyed at the length of time we had to wait for drinks. I had cold coffee and ice cream, which is a thing here. I know everyone says don't eat ice cream in India, but I think holidays are made for ice-cream. Or is it the other way round? The sun set over the lake. Lights came on in the little temple in the middle. Bats skimmed the surface. Music played in the distance: some sounding like calls to prayer. This town is crammed with temples, as gas been every town we have visited so far. 

I'll put some views of the hotel balconies, my bedroom, and the lake (very noisy) in extras. On returning to the hotel, we compared our purchases with the others, then went upstairs to the restaurant. I had hot ginger, lemon and honey. Didn't need supper. Annie had a game she wanted to play. As it involved visual processing at speed, I was very bad at it. Give me words any day! There was talk of organizing everyone into playing a game some time soon.  My inner child shrivelled, and my teenager silently waved the black flag of anarchy.  I shall not be forced. 

Back in the room, I've put my spare duvet on the bed, figured out how to make a primitive hot water bottle, and.wandered around for st least an hour, uncertain of how to make myself  optimally comfortable in a 500- year old building with not too many mod cons. Somewhere close by a tap is dripping; a person coughs on the floor below; and the roar of traffic is silenced. High above ius, on Bundi fort, only the tiger roams abroad.