(Not Quite) Jaisalmer, India

Sick safari!  Alexander Wang trench, Old Navy linen shirt, Uniqlo cropped khakis, Target belt, Converse sneakers, Michael Kors Sunglasses, Eric Javits hat

The next stop on our mini-tour of Rajasthan was going to be Jaisalmer, which is basically noteworthy because it serves as a base camp for the sand dunes that extend to the Pakistan-India border. Unfortunately, the 250+ km ride over patched of bumpy road in 90+ degree weather did not sit well with poor little me, and in the midst of the use of a sick bag, my dad made the executive decision to stop at a random resort in the middle of nowhere.  Although perhaps not at strikingly barren as some parts outside Jaisalmer, the Samsara Resort  was literally a desert oasis where we ended up staying did play host to a quite magnificent sand dune that erected itself right behind the bright and charmingly decorated rooms.  The hotel also boasted the most comfortable beds (of many comfy beds) of the trip, as well as the most delicious food (at least I was told, but my lentils and rice were also delicious).  We went for a little desert safari one morning, which included a camel photo op with a very charismatic camel owner, and a visit to a rural family.  Let me take this opportunity to say one thing:  I have NEVER in my life seen such unabashed joy in the faces of children as I did in Rajasthan.  Although frequently visited by tourists, they wanted nothing but to say hello (or rather "ta-ta!") and give a warm wave and smile hello.  As cliche an observation as it may be of "undeveloped" areas, something really touched me about how unanimously their eyes shone.  Obviously, I'm not going to make any assumptions or claims about their absolute quality of their life, but if I can ever for one moment look as purely joyous as those kids did, I think my life would be completely fulfilled. :)

 Camel Market

 

 

Jodhpur, Part II

Marc Jacobs dress, Prada baroque sunglasses, Rochas fisherman sandals

 I wouldn't normally dedicate a whole post to a hotel, but the exquisitness of the Taj Umaid Bhawan Palace in Jodhpur.  Due to the wonderfulness of an Expedia deal, we were able to stay at Umaid Bhawan (even got upgraded to a suite!), which in my opinion, puts a lot of European palaces to shame.  The maharajah still lives in part of it, so it's one of--if not the--world's largest residential palace (take that Buckingham).  The architecture and design is superb (east-meets-west art deco and Edwardian-inspired), the grounds are impeccable, the setting on top of a hill is majestic, and there are PEACOCKS wandering around at breakfast on the veranda. No joke.  And they're not the mousy kind either, but huge, majestic, technicolor bird that match the equally vibrant gardens.  Oh and the Maharajahs apparently had a thing for hunting, and there's quite a collection of taxidermy that I'm sure is probably illegal now (ahem *tigers* ahem).  A bit unnerving, but the whole thing just works to create a really fairy-tale type settng.  Pretty much paradise city in the flesh.

Not an attempt at being glamorous, but at trying not to be sick all over beautiful garden

 Hi Dad!

Serene breakfast

Jodhpurs in Jodhpur

Outside Jaswant Thada - Phi jodhpurs, Brooks Brothers polo, Proenza Schouler sandals, Prada sunglasses, Eric Javits hat

Excepting a bout with a malignant stomach bug (and the general awfulness of Virgin Atlantic), my trip to India was pretty much perfect.  The weather was gorgeous (high 80s-low 90s), the scenery unparalleled, the family time good, and the mangoes!!--oh the mangoes!  For those of you that haven't had Indian mangoes, they're pretty much the most delicious things ever.  Mexican mangoes taste like wallpaper in comparison.  And even though it was just the very beginning of mango season, they were absolutely scrumptious to someone so deprived as me.  But enough about my mango obsession.  Besides visiting my grandma in New Delhi, we also did a mini-tour of Rajasthan to hit up the parts I hadn't already seen.  First up:  Jodhpur.  Being the dork I am, I could not resist breaking out some jodhpurs because...well, does it really need to be explained?  While in the city, we visited the Merangarh fort, which was certainly impressive and gave magnificent views of the "Blue City" (many of the houses in the old city were painted blue to repel insects and keep things cool), as well as Jaswant Thada (a memorial to one of the Maharajas), where a man with an otherworldly voice and a harmonium was singing--it was like something out of a storybook.  In the peaceful setting of the memorial, it was simply transcendent. But for the most part, we chillaxed at the gorgeous hotel and hammed it out (those pics coming up next).  I tried my best to get good pics, but this was kind of at the height of my sickness, so I was dressing a little more casually and paying a little less attention in an attempt not to wretch all over historic monuments. :)

 Merangarh Fort

Jaswant Thada

Wedding Party at Merangarh Fort