More Chapati?

So, Bundi.

We had four glorious days in Bundi and three amazing Thali's cooked by the one and only Mama. The first day was very relaxing, just getting a feel for the place, that sort of thing.

The first morning a sweet talking kid named Romeo sweet talked Emily and I into going on his tour to this spectacular waterfall. We didn't see through all the smoke and mirrors until we were all ready on the road and Romeo gave us the run around on bus and train tickets. Scott was really pissed. Despite the fact that we paid too much for his taxi to the waterfall, it was completely worth it. The drive out there was wonderful. Just us and the open road. We stopped at a random shack and this kid made us chapatis from scratch. All you really need is water and wheat and that's about it. Add in some butter and a few bananas and your picnic is complete. After about 30 minutes we arrived at a block in the road and we had to walk the rest of the way. Around the bend is a huge huge huge waterfall. I didn't believe it. Right in the middle of the dessert. So great. Scott and Emily went swimming, but I stayed ashore. I was into this Milan Kundera book and didn't want to get wet. Anyway, some other Americans were swimming as well and when they all came back ashore one of the guys had this funny look on his face and said "This waterfall looks a lot like Red Rock, huh" I was utterly confused, I thought maybe he was referring to some place in California but was still in the dark. After a few minutes of me confused and him and scott laughing I found out I went to high school with this guy. Julian was his name. We were never close friends but definitly in the extended family if you know what I mean. Once he said his name I recognized him - sort of - you can tell its been four years of college and a year of travelling. He went to prom with one of my close friends Elizabeth Lee. Small small world. Anyway, we ended up hanging out a bit in Bundi and he is also here in Udaipur and going to Goa. Maybe we will see him there too. Funny. Small small world.

So, that was fun. The next day we rented motorcycles and tooled around the city. Since it was so small it was really easy to get around, and man was it fun. You will see some of the pictures. I never drove of course, just sat on the back. But going through the countryside on a sunny day, stopping off for some local thali, then coming home to a sleepy village shadowed by the great goblin palace was just perfect. Could not have imagined a better day. That night we put Emily on a bus to Jaipur where she hopefully would get a bus or train to Delhi where she had an 8 am flight. We were very worried about here. A small cute asian girl who all ready gets nervous travelling. I thought she probably would be OK, but there was a good chance buses would be late...we finally found out today she made it back fine. Even though her flight from Delhi was delayed 8 hours she still made it there by 7 am. Phew. What would we have done, i don't know. There was maybe a 5% chance she was still somewhere in Jaipur - ugh...anyway, she's fine. :)

Now we are in Udaipur which is really nice and relaxing. Fairly touristy but we are staying at a guest house right on on the lake and we can eat dinner overlooking the lake palace which is truly glorious. Because of wedding season it took some manuvering to get to Mumbai in time for the wedding, but we will make it just barely a couple days before to get acqainted and all. I have no idea what to expect. There have been weddings all over every where we go and lots of fireworks and marching bands. We'll see what happens.


But oh those dinners made by Mama. Three veg dishes, dahl, rice and chapati. Unlimited chapati and unlimited refils. Before you were half way done with your first with one more to go one of the hilarious daughters came out with a huge grin "more chapati?" sure why not. I could never eat more then 3, but then refils of all the other dishes. Too much. Too delicious. Yummy. Those daughters were hilarious. The younger one literally goes through life laughing at the world. Its all a joke to her. She is great. She couldn't speak english but would just say "hi" then burst out laughing. Ah. Good family.

More chapati?