Tuesday, January 11, 2011

First day in Udaipur


It’s hard to describe how different things are here in Udaipur.  The Mewar Haveli, where we’re staying, sits almost on the edge of Lake Pichola.  All around the lake and on islands in the lake are beautiful, old buildings with arched windows, painted different colors.  There are thousands of lights twinkling and their reflection on the water reminds me of an impressionist painting.  It gets hot here in the day, about 85 degrees,  but very cool at night, maybe 40 degrees.  I’m realizing that I don’t have enough warm clothing and so I’m wearing nearly everything I brought with me to stay warm, including some leggings I bought at Fab India, which I pull down over my feet.   
Sam and I went for  Ayurvedic massages yesterday.  It was definitely different from the work I do.  I was slathered with oils that had an exotic scent and the masseuse put only a small towel over me.   Her work was fast, not at all deep, and at times the oil she literally poured on me was hot enough to make me flinch.  She also rubbed a mustard paste wrapped in a linen cloth on my skin.  It was nonetheless relaxing; unlike Sam’s massage which he described as painfully vigorous. 
As I write this, I hear the Muslim’s praying in a nearby building. 
Today we’ll visit the City Palace, a Jain temple and a spice market in the center of Udaipur.  

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