Back in Udaipur around the palace area

well I went to another buffet rest. after last email...... it was good. A young waiter (8-10) dropped a bowl of banana custard on the floor.....he promptly he left the area and returned holding a dog by the scruff of the neck and put his nose in the custard, the dog licked the concrete floor totally clea then the boy stomped his foot on floor just behind dog and it ran out of rest. i laughed sohard. how brilliant and an effective way to clean floor (and feed hungry dog at same time).....only in india...........these are the crazy lil things that make me luv it soo much.
I went back to holy lake and sure enough the old holy man walked by and sat down..........later 2 of his freinds joined all quite interested in staring at me for quite a while. I watched the sunset and then tried to figure out which town i would go to and how to buy ticket w/out using a travel agent as to me, that is just opening up your wallet and giving away money b/c u cannot buy ticket directly like all the locals do. well after asking 4-6 people(never ask only 1 in india, never.....not even 2 or 3 ask more!) well all buses went through ajmer....city of 600 000, 30 mins away. So first step was to take local gov't bus to that town. I chatted w/business man(i always ask well dressed/educated people for directions/questions, yet still they can give u wrong answer but less chances then asking uneducated people i feel) Well i spoke w/him and he directed me on where to wait(next to him) He flew in from Bombay and was flyng out next day.......He couldn't believe that i was getting hotel for 80 rupees(2.00/night) I laughed to myself that a local couldn't even imagine a room so cheap to stay in but he was a higher class businessman from big company...this Indian lived 1 step above this Canadian tourist!
I explained how price was 100/night but i bargain down to 80/night. He said...............u bargain? I answered...........why yes, u bargain, so why shouldn't ! bargain !........He smiled and agreed(wonder if he judges all Canadians by MY actions..............hope not?)
When bus came he helped me fight my way on bus/pushing and shoving to get on before bus fills up, or u must wait for the next one...he paid my fare (only .15) but still nice. At Ajmer 30 mins later i asked him where I buy my other ticket to Udaipur(rather than going further way to new places I am slowly heading back to Bombay to meet Laura in 3 days)...........well he spoke Hindi and even he was told one end of station by first ticket booth then another pointed in opposite end. So I was happy to see, even him a businessman speaking Hindi and he got 2 totally different directions, both from official ticket sels in the gov't bus station. How does this happen? aaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrg................india makes no sense
Finally we asked more people and foundthe place to wait then he asked me if it was okay for him to leave......i looked puzled at him and he stated that i was a tourist(guest) and it was his duty as an indian to help me.......this statement totally floored me , but explained why sooo many poeple in the past did so much to help me. They must have thought same way. Well i offered to buy him a chai for all his help.....i had money in my hands but he ordered 2 and paid...........i couldn't convince him to take money for chai.....only .25 for 2, but still, nice of him.
after he left the craziness really started.........man at office pointed in general area for my bus to arrive and said 9:15 arrives 9:30 leaves, Well being India there were about 20 buses all pulling in, drivers shouting town names in Hindi then pulling out.. I asked so many drivers U D AI PUR? U D AI PUR? all shook their head . Well here i am at 9:50 pm still sitting. Busses at both ends of platform coming /going, all writing on buses in hindu....me not sure if i misse bus(yet knowing everythign in india is late) well finally, a bus pulled up and driver said yes.....udaipur to me......i was like a lil puppy going to every driver then back to my bench , i was just thinking if paying travel agent and taking the easy way out would have been a good idea..........but proudly i did it all myself, which was hugely rewarding.
i was lucky that tourist season is winding down, geting too hot, so i could just buy a sleeper ticket on the spot w/o advance bookings(this is why i travel this time of year...........method to my madness)....i crawled in.......no broken window no man triing to come share it w/me.........it was sweet..............well as sweet as 7 hours of bouncing/bumping around can be.
Arrived here and took rickshaw to hotel I stayed at before.......guy wanted 70 rps for ride, after some negotiating, he was upset w/me but agree to 30 saying I was a rich tourist and should pay more.........i explained that locals pay less and he was making good money from me.....bottom line he took me so obviously the price wasn't that bad slept till 11:00 and had an awesome coffee shake at hotel, then walked to train station(4.5 km) I found out all tickets are sold out for Laura/i to head to beach resort state the night she arrives, so plan B will have to be executed........haven't quite figured out what that'll be yet, but working on it and got 3 days till she arrives.
just went to nicest rest. yet in all of india for me. I ordered my favorite palak paneer(spinach/cheese) The waiter lit a candle, turned on fan/music, but most of the entire time i was there he stood beside hte table watching me. If i reached for napkin he handeed it to me.......if i was to light cigarette, he lit it for me.............i actually didn't enjoy being waited on hand and foot...i felt uncomfortable actually..............Too high end. My meal was 1.87 w/pepsi and first time i am even charged tax on a meal bill........... I guess only the fancier places do it(or maybe a tip was automaticaly added) bill was in Hindi and 7 rps was added but i didn't care. the meal was awesome and worth it. I didn't enjoy such treatment at all and at the end of meal tried convincing waiter to sit w/me and have a smoke but he didn't smoke
ironic, bathroom was on roof, same w/ the kitchen, and kitchen looked as dirty as a cheap rest. Kinda spoiled my impression of my fancy meal
Gonna chill out here next 3 days taking local bus to another town and making up my own tour local style. Booking the tour from hotel would not be satisfiing to me..........it'll be awesome.
well, off to market.. maybe time I start buying souvenirs.
Bless u all...............wish someone was here to see/verify this You may think i am exagerating of making up descriptions.........haha i only wish!
India is a true gem like no others , absolutely maddening at times, yet in the end i love it all. Today even I was told about 5 different prices and lengths of journey and arrival times for my journey from here to mumbai in 3 days. once again who to trusat and who to buy from?????