No tigers, just notes

Our jeep safari this morning was a bust except for some exotic birds and peacocks so here are some notes on India

Food- yes, it is typical Indian food, better than we have had at home, moderately spiced, some really good roti and naan.  Obviously no beef - it's illegal here, even McDonalds doesn't have hamburgers.  We haven't been in one but were told they have chicken and fish.  We haven't seen any fish on the menus, but then we are far from the ocean here.  Chicken and mutton are the only meats we have seen on menus, and after you see all the crates with live chickens in the food markets it really doesn't seem that appealing sweets are awful - sticky sweet balls of dough or cheese served in sugar syrup: no thanks. Most of the people in the hotel now are Indian and many eat with just their right hand (left hand is used for toilet related tasks, not for eating) using the roti or naan to pick up their food.  As much of a skill as using chop sticks.

Hotels - Bloomrooms in Delhi was obviously owned by a Dutch ex-pat and was totally European in feel and decor.  We tried a home stay in Agra to see how it compared to S.A. or Ireland and didn't find it that great.  Our driver had trouble finding it in a residential neighborhood and then was confused about why we wanted to stay there.  When I explained he asked whether we got to chat with the owners I had to say no, it wasn't a great experience.  The notel here at ranthambore has duplexes within a large compound with a pool, a small cricket pitch (national game here) and an entertainment area where we had tea and watched a family of Rajistan dancers and musicians perform.  It's been over 90 degrees and occasionally the power goes out and the AC goes off.  

Signs and Rules -They don't have ANY signs around the pool saying "use at your own risk", etc.  In fact there isn't even a fence.  I guess Indian lawyers have the same income base of liability lawsuits that American lawyers have.  When we were in the spice bazar in Delhi the owner explained all the strict rules that they have about the production and grading of quality teas in India.  Other rules are not so strict.  I mentioned the crazy driving.  When something really egregious happens on the road our driver says with a sense of humor  "Ah, Incredible India" , making fun of their tourism moniker.  The sign at the entrance to the Taj Mahal forbid taking toiletries, combs, electronics and a long list of other things

Crafts and industries - There are many skilled handicrafts here, among them fabric , weaving, mirror work (tiny mirrors embroidered onto fabric), stone inlay, hand woven carpets, stone and marble carving, hand made silver jewelry (you pick the gem stones, they make the jewelry to your request), and many more.  Along the highway we saw fifteen or twenty small businesses all carving monuments out of the same red sandstone that is used for the forts and palaces.  Then there was a section that had shops fabricating monuments and decorations out of white marble.  In the gazars the jewelry shops all tend to congregate.  It seems strange to se numerous vendors next to each other with virtually the same things, but that's the way they do it here.  

Lost in Translation - Yes, English is the national language but sometimes things get mixed up.  We think they mean "wine and beer" but who knows?