Gujarat Travels in Jan, Jaipur Sketching in Feb 2024

 I like to write a review after a tour- helps me summarize for myself what I found, let's you have a little insight into our travels too.

Ahmedabad, it had been too long. We always stay at The House of MG  I think it is my favourite hotel anywhere and feels such a wonderful haven in busy Ahmedabad.

Interestingly they have just had a copy of the Constitution written on the front door- a much needed reminder at the moment in India.

Every vista in the hotel catches your eye. They have a staff member whose sole job is to look after the Flowers! What a job.

On tour I always learn new things about the places we visit- which keeps it fresh for me.

The warm welcomes and hospitality of people astounds me. We always visit the Gods at the start of an Indian trip if we can- a very local culture thing to do. We visited the Swami Narayan Temple in Ahmedabad and just happened upon a woman who visits each Sunday- she introduced us to the Nuns that live there and then took us to the dining hall as guests for lunch. So kind and made us all feel special.

Then we buzzed around the World Heritage listed Old City of Ahmedabad in tuktuks.

There is a wonderful Stepwell we always visit and a mosque next door I always enjoy a chat with the Iman. He is only a young fellow and attained the position not long before Covid. Welcoming and friendly, but times have changed- he looked harried and there were a group of youth who were being disrespectful - a very sad state of affairs India. 

Read the constitution guys, again you are not living up to it. Minorities are feeling nervous, like the world over for political gain politicians try and set up an us and them situation to divert attention from themselves.

The Stepwell is a magical place, fun to explore and take Bollywood style pictures.

And on we travelled, so good to catch up with many long term friends- people we met at craft events and later visited on our summer holidays in Kutch and now take a tour groups to.

Our group really worked hard at "helping the local economy" and through our group chat and still making their way through their stash back home. They have a wardrobe with many great memories attached.

It is fun to let your hair down somedays- as bus therapy we tied these fine cotton scarves I got from our Bengal weaver and when we visited the Ajrakh printers of the Khatri family Sufiyan very kindly dyed them for us in his Indigo Vat [ isn't it great having mates with indigo vats at the ready?]

And we decided to do a bit of a Bollywood photoshoot out in the White Desert. Fun times!

There was a guy out their with sparkly local costumes and everyone got dressed up and shimmied for more pictures- a real hoot.

This beautiful Madrasa on the way to the batik man I have tried poking through the crack many times to see what was inside- lo and behold the door opened this day and we were all invited inside.

This section is where pilgrims stay when visiting the mosque. So kindly welcomed inside and our curiosity quenched. 😊

Learnt something new at the Batik guy, Shaquil's place. When the cloth is washed it is always thrashed on a stone after- this thrashing actually straightens out the fabric and the edges sit flat. It does not need ironing after this. 

We are new to textiles in a way at our workshop- after natural dying Praveen washes in a washing machine and hangs it out to dry- the edges are always crinkly and have to be ironed before cutting- this is the traditional method to fix that.

Hmmm 

We have know Sujna Ben for years and taken workshops with her, always through Somaiya Kala Vidya,. She has taken their courses and really stepped up as an entrepreneur and is running classes from home. Fabulous to visit her, I can see how proud she is with her attainments.

We saw wild Asses on the salt flats of the Little Rann of Kutch and visited some of the salt harvesters. Everyone was touched at the challenge of their lives.

Danced in the evening at our Camp Site near the Little Rann.

The Sun Temple at Modhera is nearly 1000 years old, it is a place with a very warm and welcoming ambience. The sun always seems to be shining and it is saying come and visit. I know that sounds a bit fanciful but every time I go there I hear that.

We lived in a 1500 century Palace for a few days, chilled out, used the jeeps to visit the local sanctuary. You make a wish and put a terracotta horse under the tree.

Great place- so sad to see the government has decided to make it easier to access, and destroyed hundreds of horses as the move them and pave the area. Really what are they thinking?

Old Dadar, the gate keeper of the Fort /Palace loves to have his photo taken and he proudly escorted us around the village to explore all its nooks and crannies.

We had a great group of people to travel with-, some knew each other from previous trips others were newbies. I loved the way everyone folded in together and we felt like old mates very easily.

Thank you to the kind hearts of everyone.

One woman needed to sit up the front travelling, she was inclined to "help" the driver drive. I am usually pretty easy going with people BUT the one rule of the bus is always Let the Driver Drive, your help could actually be a big distraction.

I had to nudge once or twice then she said " ohh I do this at home" hmmm maybe it is not helpful and looking out the window and letting the driver drive is good for my anxiety and the drivers.

I got an email from her saying she has been on jaunts with her husband and he was smiling as he drove. It brought tears to me eyes. We can all have insights along the way- they help us in our life. It is good to recognise them. [ xx A good on you]

After Gujarat it was a quick flight up to Delhi to meet up with Leonie Norton and a group of sketchers and head to Jaipur.

I learnt a lot about Jaipur traffic- it is a pain to get around, patience is needed. Usually Jaipur is a place we buzz through for a few days and you don't notice it as much. 

For another sketch tour it has some great opportunities but it would be good to spend a night or 2 at a country palace along the way..... always things to refine when arranging tours.

We have all have challenges in life.

It is your attitude and reaction to such things that determines their impact on you and those around you.

My yoga teacher says- lift the edges of your lips UP- it really helps with everything.

People teach you things along the way.

Lovely places to visit and some wonderful work was made

We visited the Elephant Village- interesting conversation about domesticated elephants. I learnt Government decree is that their will be no breeding allowed, so the old girls you see will be the last domesticated elephants once they pass.

Our girl was Rani, she was happy to stand there and be fed by her mahout, his kids came over and tangled around her legs, she was not interested in us until a camera came out and she posed. 

We noticed that- and watched it happen Elephants are perpetual motion creatures but if you brought the camera up she would stop and kind of lift her face to you. Such a gorgeous girl - a delight to meet her.

Meet Rani- isn't she elegant in that pose?

Our palace in Jaipur

Lots of gentle interest in our sketchers- lovely way to meet locals.

There are lots of great places to sketch- look at that roof.

I knew we could not draw in the Taj, but thought I had found the perfect alternative. The sunset point across the river. Praveen and I did a reccy there in August, chatted the gate keeper and he was happy for me to sit and sketch at that time. BUT apparently in the crowds of peak season it is not allowed. 

Bit of a grrr moment but it was noice to be part of an excited crowd watching the light change and make photos for later use.

Ohh well, we tried.

The colours, and the sunsets all add up to a romantic place to sketch and wander.

Saying sunset made me think of Sunrise and a jaunt to the flower market- so beautiful Our gang made this Chai sellers morning- cheers everyone for a great memory.