Can't Touch This

Our adventure continues!! We've spent the last couple of days in Jodhpur and surrounds. Jodhpur has cast us back in urban India once again, where the rule prevails: Touch Nothing But Yourself. It is quite dirty here (filth factor directly correlates with city size), but again, we are rewarded with highlights not to be missed. For one, whole sections of the Old City are painted in blue, which used to denote the social caste of religious leaders several hundred years ago (now it's more of a fashion statement, and a way to keep cool in summer). There is a fabulous fort atop a hill at the centre of the old city, (pictured - and yes here is the debut of the Pants! Niiice. Turns out this particular style originated in Jodhpur, so I'm actually very haute couture around here.) You may recall this Jodhpur Fort being featured in the news in September, when 246 people died as part of the fort collapsed (there was fear of a bomb, causing a stampede of mostly Indian teenagers attending a religious festival, clambering to get out). A palm reader takes residence in the Fort, and Deb chose to take him up on his services. He proceeded to sit us down and hork up the biggest, grossest loogie you've ever seen from waaay back in his throat, into a glass jar (just to make sure we could see it?!?!) and then go on to tell Deb what lays in her future. He concluded with: "You very fertile children into 40s and 50s this is all I read from your palm I have nothing more to say to you GOODBYE". Hmm. Interesting character!

We continue to enjoy great food, and are getting progressively experimental... for example, we've finally braved the oranges available for purchase at roadside foodstalls. This does involve an elaborate procedure of: wash oranges with antibacterial soap>> isogel (disinfect) hands >> peel orange >> isogel again >> consume. Can't Touch This!!

We had a funny episode following our Fort adventures last night. We realized as we were walking out of the fort that we ran ourselves down to only 150 Rupees with no ATM in sight (equivalent to $3.75 CDN!). Who does that??? What a couple of retards. Having said that, those last Rupees were enough to purchase 2 water bottles, 3 chocolate bars, and a rickshaw ride back to our hotel (with an ATM stop along the way!). Can't Touch Those Prices!!

Today, we hired a jeep and a driver, who took us out to explore rural life in the area. This was fanTAStic, as the guide lives in one of the villages himself (therefore very knowledgeable about local customs, trades etc), and he spoke great English. We had the opportunity to see a family run pottery operation and a weaving cooperative; visited a family who not only let us in to their home, but dressed me up in full traditional regalia; a UNICEF supported centre for children of poor families to eat (pictured above); and saw some wildlife (antelope, gazelles) along the way!