According to our schedule, this drive should take us between 4 and 5 hours, including rest stops, which our driver is always sensible to take. We are expecting to depart at about 10:00 and so had originally planned a morning swim before breakfast, but Peter had been coughing a bit during the night and woke up rather warm, so that idea was shelved. It’s quite strange and seems just to be aircon reaction as during the day he has no problems.
Last night’s dinner was again delicious, but this morning we decided to dispense with cooked breakfast as the fruit and yogurt here is the best we have experienced, apart from our first morning at the imperial in Delhi, so it was just fruit, mango yogurt and toast, washed down with earl grey tea.
Our table was bathed in the early morning sun and the ever attentive staff offered to drop the shades, but we declined as we will be in a car for most of the day! The only negative aspect of life is that the Hotel kittens are a little troublesome as they wander around the breakfast area, one tried to steal Alison’s toast this morning 🐱🐈
We are all packed up, it’s 9:30 and we are sitting outside in our private courtyard admiring the fort with one or two raptors ( unidentifiable at this distance) circling overhead, checking emails and Facebook before we leave….
We met our agent in reception, who confirmed that we would be driving directly to Narlai, with no diversionary stops at Jain temples or Forts, paid our bill and said our farewell. We set off promptly on time and once again our driver had to negotiate the narrow streets outside the hotel. We saw one pedestrian knocked over by a scooter, but he dusted himself down as if it had been his fault.
We left Jodhpur on smooth roads with 40kph speed limits, not surprising since a Lorry and school bus were traveling towards us on the slow lane of the dual carriage way. We travelled on the NH 62 towards Pali passing numerous herds of cattle, donkeys and at least 4 flocks of sheep, but not many goats and with the odd camels pulling carts. Our driver was using satnav on his phone, so maybe haas not done this trip before.
At Pali we turned off onto the NH 67, which was more of the road quality we had been used to, but the government still had the audacity to have installed toll booths!
After about one and a half hours we stopped at a “quaint” Jain restaurant near The village of Sona Magii. There was a children’s play area outside and small family rooms inside. We were greeted with surprise and pleasure by a charming gentleman who introduced himself as the magician and gave us a menu entirely in Hindi. A younger man then found an English equivalent and gave us two metal cups into which he poured fresh bottled water.
We ordered a vegetarian sandwich for two and lemon tea, both of which were on the menu, but our waiter informed us that they only had black tea, so we asked for black weak tea with no milk and no sugar. What arrived first was a single four-decked tomato and cucumber sandwich cut in two, followed about five minutes later by two espresso cups of tea the strength of espresso coffee, hot milk and sugar.
The bill for “lunch” was less than £4 and the outside toilets were equally antique, Alison deciding to hold on! No sooner had we left than traffic came to a halt at the village as it seemed as if a water main had burst. Continuing on the NH 67 we passed under a new tunnel under the railway line, on which there was an excessively long goods train trundling by above us.
Once again, our driver needed to ask directions to the hotel, but we reached it in only 3.5 hours after our departure (at about 1:30 ) at the same time as a coach party, so, having been greeted with a blessing and a flower garland, we were shown into the bar to check in.
Once again, Jen, you have come up trumps with our room, the best in the hotel, with a separate entrance lobby with bureau and wardrobes, and a private exit with steps down to the lawn leading towards the pool. The bedroom is vast with easy chairs, a king size bed that has to be climbed onto and a private balcony with table and chairs. The decor is a bit tired and there was no soap in the bathroom, which has a small bath with overhead shower.
We suffered three short power cuts before we walked down to the full sized pool area, which has a view of the elephant on the hill, where we had time to relax and swim before making our way to reception for the 4:30 leopard safari that we had been offered as soon as we had arrived.
We shared our Jeep with another couple who had arrived from Jodhpur at the same time and we soon were on our way passing through the village which was very clean by Indian standards, but had the usual mix of wildlife: cattle, dogs and monkeys.
We were soon off the road and into the bush where birds and plants were pointed out to us. We passed through a gate and there was soon a sighting of a leopard cub on the distant hill, seen by the guide, but not by us, even with the help of binoculars. We moved further on, together with the other Jeep with 6 occupants, and saw plenty of tracks ( a leopard chasing a boar, but failing to catch it) and our guides had further sightings. We moved further into the heart of the bush where we all saw the leopard cubs and the guides were kind enough to take pictures on our chips with their powerful cameras.
We drove further round the area where we had the “chai break” , hoping the leopard (Mum or dad) might pass us; this natural break involved 2 baskets coming out of their boot with tin of delicate finger cheese sandwiches and a tin of spice or chocolate biscuits. Fairly soon we leapt into action and we were on the move again. Great fun was had by all and then it was time to get back as the couple with us had to be back for their stepwell dinner.
As we arrived back at the hotel the tour group were having a special temple drinks event so music playing bells ringing and a fire display, so quite a feel to the place
We had a first viewing of all the video that Pete had taken over the holiday so far and more about that later.
It was getting well in to dinner time so we thought we had better find the restaurant, which we did but no one was there, we were told that there was dining on the roof terrace which happened to be full , so could we stand here for 10 minutes ? Instead we decided that we would be entertained at the bar. NON ALCHOLIC this time: a sea breeze and a virgin monitor ( someone was missing the sea). After about 20 minutes, we were told that our table was ready, so backup then steps to find a new table ready for us exactly where we had been standing, but with just one chair, no light or napkins; when the menus arrived the mobile phone torch came out and Alison asked if there was a torch to be had as we could not see a thing!
Our order that we chose was a Royal tiffin platter, which had a buttermilk drink included, but we could not get them to understand that it was not required by Alison but as it was complementary we had to have it!
The meal itself was delicious, well spiced, but a little cool in temperature. Because it was dark and there were no napkins, Alison managed to get curry on her new white jacket and trousers. Rather belatedly, napkins arrived.
Unfortunately there were no sweets that Alison could have, not even any kulfi, so Pete had pineapple fritters, and we both had coffee. We went back down to the bar for a G&T this time and met the couple who had shared our safari Jeep. They reassured Alison about the stepwell dinner (we would not be having dinner dangling our feet into a 100 foot deep well) and we eventually got to bed at 11:45 (without finishing our blog!).