We are looking forward to some complete relaxation after our hectic couple of days in Jaipur.
Our tray of tea arrived at 7:15 and we went for breakfast just before 8:00. Our “Indian component “ this morning was described as a bread roll, but in fact was a mashed potato cake stuffed with herbs and served with a mint raita. Alison had an Indian scrambled egg, with tomato, chili and herbs and Peter had a similarly filled Indian omelette.
Our clothes had been returned from the laundry beautifully packed in what sounded like tissue paper but was in fact newspaper; it meant that repacking was much easier. Despite all our shopping, everything was in our suitcases and back pack with the exception of a shopping bag which will fit inside the suitcase when necessary.
Packing finished, bills paid and we waited in reception while Alison found a cookery book with a very simple recipe for chappatis: 1lb whole meal flour, 2 tablespoons sunflower oil, warm water to mix; knead thoroughly and divide into equal portions, cook on a hot griddle.
Our Audley rep arrived to bid us farewell and check on our progress, we had a final chat to our charming hosts and we were on our way at 9:30 along highway 8 towards Ajmer. The first part of the journey was similar to our trip to Bagru and the road was very fast and smooth, the only delays being at the toll booths. Once again the lorries hogged the outside lane, meaning that overtaking manouvres were mostly on the left but sometimes on the right.
After 2 hours on the road we stopped at a wayside boutique, where they were a little disappointed that we only wanted some tea, but we did manage to find a tourist map of Rajasthan which will be a useful souvenir. We even persuaded our driver to pose for a photo with Alison in his smart white jacket.
After we left the highway, the road deteriorated, but it was evident that it is being reconstructed and improved with flyovers, so that in a few months time the journey may be quicker. However the final part was much slower and we passed through the main town just as a religious procession was in full swing, meaning that we had to divert through some narrow streets.
Eventually we arrived at Fort Barli after about four hours on the road to be greeted by a most elegant gentleman with a turban and staff, who escorted us up to the cobbled drive to the main reception. We were most grateful that we did not have to carry our luggage. We were met personally by the owner who is 16th generation of the family.
We were shown to the Kings bedroom, which is even more sumptuous than our room at Dera Mandawa! There is an ensuite bathroom with its own boiler that can service just one shower every 10 minutes, which means that Alison will get an extra 10 minutes in bed!
As we were sorting out our luggage, there was a knock on our door to let us know that our lunch was ready. Alison had a vegetarian griddled sandwich and Peter had vegetable pakoras, which were freshly fried and delicious.
Afterwards, it was down to the pool for a swim and lounge in the sun. We managed to fit into one showering session and then went into the lobby area, sat by the open window and celebrated with a gin and tonic. The owner will be chef tonight and he told us that Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall has stayed in our room earlier in the year. We were not sure which chef and taught and which had learnt!
Dinner is a 7:30 and we are being entertained by parakeets as we sit in the window writing. Also it seems as if there is another procession happening out side somewhere in the village as we can hear drums, bells and music. We understand that this happens every day to welcome the farmers back from the fields. It was too misty tonight to witness one of their famous sunsets.
Dinner was amazing. It’s cooked by the owner and we had a sumptuous selection of dishes, such as fried okra, aubergine with yogurt, spicy chicken, dal, sauté potatoes, balak puri, chapatis, rice, vegetable balls, with an starter of tomato soup and finely shredded cabbage with onions and peanuts.
He had also read Alison’s passport and came to the table with a freshly baked chocolate cake, complete with candle! We were able to share some of it with the other couple from Audley who were staying the night.
We can truly say that Fort Barli is a haven of peace and tranquillity after the hustle and bustle of the big cities. We are looking forward to being woken up at 7:30 by the parakeets, rather that at 5:00 by calls to prayer and honking traffic. Breakfast will be at a sensible time of 8:30 tomorrow.