2/6/06: Willabee Wallabee Wan, An Elephant Was Sat on By Anne, Willabee Wallabee Wick, She Was Joined on Top By Rick

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BOB!

We rose bright and early for a not-so-comfy but fun elephant ride up the hill to the Amber Fort, another breath-taking fort and palace, reflecting a combination of Hindu and Moghul architecture. Sunny painted a wonderfully evocative word picture of life as a member of the royal household in ages past. We suspect our Rajput guide held court there in a former incarnation. We all reflected on their clever use of small mirrors amid the carvings on walls and ceilings. Below the walls of the fort sat a beautiful garden, with elephants bathing in the river. The vista of the old city walls and the low brown hills surrounding Jaipur was different from any of the scenery we’ve eyed so far.

Lunch was taken at a beautiful heritage property, a former palace, owned by the Taj property, which, according to Sunny and reinforced by our experience, translates into older, less friendly staff. We then stopped briefly at a handicrafts shop on the route home, across from the lake palace, where even Anne and Rick pumped up the Indian economy with a wide assortment of pillow covers, silver (plated) candle-holders, and a married pair of Rajasthani statues. Meanwhile, Paul did his best to relieve poverty by adding an embroidered bed cover to his growing Indian art collection.

We were all delighted to make our way back to the luxurious Raj Vilas in time for a workout, nap, whirlpool, swim, or sauna before dinner.