Jaipur: The Pink City
A whole week has passed since we started our adventure... but honestly, with all that has happened, it feels like a lot longer!!
We arrived in Jaipur with no plans and no accommodation sorted (Katie's idea). We walked to 'MI Road' which apparently has LOADS of places to stay (Katie's research). We wandered up and down said road, backpacks on, sweat dripping, and being stopped every few steps by either someone asking for money or someone asking for a selfie. Turns out: there is NOWHERE to stay on 'MI Road'!!!
With only 80 rupees to hand (equivalent of 80p), and no phone battery, we found one little backstreet hotel with extortionate prices. Using their electricity to charge our phones, we found the name of a cheaper hostel and then make a swift exit. After a lot of faff attempting to withdraw cash, and a lot of steps later, we were in a Tuk Tuk off to 'BunkStop' (Great hostel for anyone planning a trip to Jaipur!).
Our first night was pretty cool. We met a couple who had recently set up an NGO, providing education to kids in a local slum. They asked if we wanted to head out for a drink so we went along, and ended up getting free, delicious cocktails as they knew the owner!
The next day and we were off on our day tour with Khan, a Tuk Tuk driver who works in partnership with our hostel. Overall, it was an awesome day, with loads of sightseeing all around Jaipur. We explored Amber Fort, Monkey Temple, Step Well, Water Palace, and Royal Gaitor. However, a few of the not-so-good parts of our day included:
-Being dropped off in not one but two print workshops, where we instructed to sit on a sofa whilst various people tried to make us buy various pieces of fabric
-Being bought a 'complimentary drink' from our tour guide from a guy on the side of the road that tasted.... questionable and broke about every rule there is on avoiding the infamous 'Delhi belly'.
- Being taken to see some supposedly 'rescued and wild' elephants.
This is really another story in itself. And also our first experience of being a bit scammed (there have been lots of attempts already which we have managed to avoid). When we arrived, the 'elephant father' sat us down and spoke to us for a good fifteen minutes about what sort of backgrounds the different elephants have come from, and how they now offer them a retreat where they can be free. It was implied that these elephants were not used for typical tourist purposes. We expected we may get to meet a few of these elephants and would then leave a small donation to the charity.
However, as the 'Elephant Father' finished his spiel, one elephant had been brought round from an unknown destination, ready for us to go and meet her. At this point, the man whipped out an, in hindsight, absolutely ridiculous price list. The cheapest item consisted of 'affection' for a grand sum of 1200 rupees EACH (about £26). We felt extremely pressurised into paying, and then got to enjoy a whole five minutes of greeting the elephant named 'Nana', whilst being hassled by the 'charity workers' for tips and package upgrades.
Back at our hostel, we spoke to some girls who had also been taken to this place, but had enjoyed the same 'package' for no cost. More worryingly, it seemed none of the stories were adding up, and we just felt disappointed that what we had believed to be a legitimate, and much needed, charity for these beautiful animals, was actually just another tourist scam. We later found out these same elephants are used for the painstaking trips ferrying tourists up and down Amber Fort, day in and day out. We were feeling pretty rubbish about the whole thing and it had put a small downer on what had been a great day.
This aside, there is absolutely no doubting the vibrancy in the 'Pink City'. The streets are much more manageable than those of Mumbai, and the food is incredible. Look out for next blog post which explains how we managed to get our money back from the 'elephant charity', our invitation into an Indian home, and how we accidentally took a trip through a slum.
We arrived in Jaipur with no plans and no accommodation sorted (Katie's idea). We walked to 'MI Road' which apparently has LOADS of places to stay (Katie's research). We wandered up and down said road, backpacks on, sweat dripping, and being stopped every few steps by either someone asking for money or someone asking for a selfie. Turns out: there is NOWHERE to stay on 'MI Road'!!!With only 80 rupees to hand (equivalent of 80p), and no phone battery, we found one little backstreet hotel with extortionate prices. Using their electricity to charge our phones, we found the name of a cheaper hostel and then make a swift exit. After a lot of faff attempting to withdraw cash, and a lot of steps later, we were in a Tuk Tuk off to 'BunkStop' (Great hostel for anyone planning a trip to Jaipur!).
Our first night was pretty cool. We met a couple who had recently set up an NGO, providing education to kids in a local slum. They asked if we wanted to head out for a drink so we went along, and ended up getting free, delicious cocktails as they knew the owner!
The next day and we were off on our day tour with Khan, a Tuk Tuk driver who works in partnership with our hostel. Overall, it was an awesome day, with loads of sightseeing all around Jaipur. We explored Amber Fort, Monkey Temple, Step Well, Water Palace, and Royal Gaitor. However, a few of the not-so-good parts of our day included:
-Being dropped off in not one but two print workshops, where we instructed to sit on a sofa whilst various people tried to make us buy various pieces of fabric
-Being bought a 'complimentary drink' from our tour guide from a guy on the side of the road that tasted.... questionable and broke about every rule there is on avoiding the infamous 'Delhi belly'.
- Being taken to see some supposedly 'rescued and wild' elephants.
This is really another story in itself. And also our first experience of being a bit scammed (there have been lots of attempts already which we have managed to avoid). When we arrived, the 'elephant father' sat us down and spoke to us for a good fifteen minutes about what sort of backgrounds the different elephants have come from, and how they now offer them a retreat where they can be free. It was implied that these elephants were not used for typical tourist purposes. We expected we may get to meet a few of these elephants and would then leave a small donation to the charity.
However, as the 'Elephant Father' finished his spiel, one elephant had been brought round from an unknown destination, ready for us to go and meet her. At this point, the man whipped out an, in hindsight, absolutely ridiculous price list. The cheapest item consisted of 'affection' for a grand sum of 1200 rupees EACH (about £26). We felt extremely pressurised into paying, and then got to enjoy a whole five minutes of greeting the elephant named 'Nana', whilst being hassled by the 'charity workers' for tips and package upgrades.Back at our hostel, we spoke to some girls who had also been taken to this place, but had enjoyed the same 'package' for no cost. More worryingly, it seemed none of the stories were adding up, and we just felt disappointed that what we had believed to be a legitimate, and much needed, charity for these beautiful animals, was actually just another tourist scam. We later found out these same elephants are used for the painstaking trips ferrying tourists up and down Amber Fort, day in and day out. We were feeling pretty rubbish about the whole thing and it had put a small downer on what had been a great day.
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