April 12.
We went to bed at 9.30am and I didn't wake up until 8.30am, best sleep of the trip so far, pillow creases on my face and everything. Whatever Jess had, Dylan now has. I will not be going into that bedroom ever! So the doctor is called out and they're both prescribed antibiotics and recommended to stay in Udaipur while we continue onto Pushkar and they can meet us in Jaipur. Both of the trousers I bought in Jaisalmer split so I head out to buy some new trousers and get some of the fine artwork on camel resin placards. Trousers purchased I walk into the first art shop I see and immediately clock a beautiful blue piece depicting a love scene with jewels. The shop seller shows me everything he has on offer, the counter surface is covered with rice paper prints, silk prints, credit card size to A4…but I still just want the blue piece. Problem is though, I can't haggle. Not at all. I'm terrible at it. It makes me uncomfortable and I feel like I'm insulting the sellers. As if by magic, Dom is walking by and comes in and he haggles for me. I end up feeling sorry for the seller with how confident Dom is, he gets 15% off and I want to give the seller a hug. Dom also wants to get some art of his own, on a camel resin plaque like mine. We went into six shops where Dom laid into the sellers. He walks in to each of them saying he wants a Shiva piece, A5 or larger. They offer him an array of Ganesh or love scenes, all shot down. The few Shiva pieces that are available he haggles down to his price…only for him to walk away. I laugh at him ‘what on earth are you looking for then? You've got Shiva, you've got your price?...’ We spend the day between temples and art shops, seeing monkeys on roof tops and children playing in the streets, and me fleeing the shops feeling uncomfortable while he tries to reduce their profit. When we get back to the hotel Jess and Maddie are just about to leave to give Jess a quick tour of Udaipur (before we leave Jess and Dylan there. The doctors suggested that they stay there and meet us in a couple of days) and grab an ice cream. Next door to the ice cream shop is another art shop, of course Dom wants to go in. 20 minutes later he leaves WITH A PIECE OF GANESH?! I'm sorry but we spent all day saying no to Ganesh. In his defence, he got a bargain beautiful framed piece.
That night we have a group meeting at 6pm to tell us the dos and donts for Pushkar. We aren't to eat at our hotel because two previous travellers have fallen ill from two consecutive trips, ignore the Holy Men surrounding the lakes because most of them are imposters, Pushkar is a dry area, don't accept marijuana lassi… There's a lot of donts. Two girls didn't follow Raj's instructions before and he got beaten up by ‘Holy Men’ so we’re eager to ensure that doesn't happen again.
Maddie, Dom and I decide to go on the sunset boat ride around the lake. I can see why Udaipur is the romance capital. It's stunning. We watch the sun descend behind the mountains, floating along the smooth surface of the lake, deciding which hotel is our favourite and see homes, hotels and restaurants turning their lights on, reflecting on the water. Bearing in mind Pushkar is dry, Beth and I meet at the hotel rooftop bar for beers and an early night to pack for our 4.30am alarm.