Amer Fort

On Sunday, I went out to see Amer Fort with my new friend Rani. (She's brazilian.) Amer Fort is perhaps the most famous sight in Jaipur. It is more like a palace than a fort, and it rests on top of a mountain. It is about an hour's ride by rickshaw. Surprisingly, I was already more used to rickshaw travel, even by the second day. We hadn't been in the rickshaw more than 10 minutes when our driver pulled over by the side of the road. He stopped the car amongst a half a dozen cows, and old women standing with huge bouquets of greens. The driver motioned for us to get out so we did, and then he took two sheaf of greens from a woman and handed them to us. He took one himself and moved towards the cows. We cautiously held ours out and, lo and behold, the cows came right up and chomped away. We then got back in the rickshaw and continued on our way to Amer Fort.

Cows by the side of the road

On the road we passed camels and elephants. It is overwhelmingly dirty here, with trash filling the streets and the roads. Even at the volunteer home, taking out the trash entails tying up a bag, waking out front and throwing it outside the house. (Apparently there used to be a real plastic dump, but it was taken away once and never returned.)

Camel crossing

Elephants next to motorcyclist 

Note the copious amounts of trash

The fort itself was lovely. It was a steep hike uphill; we were sweating by the time we got up there. Before we entered the fort, there was a group of people handing out food in paper bowls. We took one and tried it: it was delicious. It turns out that is called pakoora, and it is fried okra with peppers. They were handing it out in anticipation of January 14th, which is a major holiday in India. In Jaipur, it is celebrated by the flying of kites and the handing out of pakoora. However, in some places, like the fort, they start the handing out early.

View of Amer Fort from the ground

Walking up to Amer Fort

Rani looking over the edge of Amer Fort

Looking over the edge of Amer Fort

Pakoora!

Amer Fort was similar to City Palace except more spectacular. It is filled with arches and courtyards and intricately patterned walls. Monuments in India are different that in the West. Whereas if you got to Versailles they give you a detailed map of the layout and there are very specific places where you are and aren't allowed to be, in Amer Fort you just wander. There is no rhyme or reason and nowhere is off-limits. It was really fun to explore.

The girl in these pictures is Rani, my new friend from Brazil! The people in the volunteer home are really great. There is Rani from Brazil; Gabrielle, also from Brazil (but they didn't come together); Hari from Australia; David from Great Britain; Eva from the Netherlands; Greta from Germany; Sophie from California and Lauren from Maryland. People come and go constantly, and there is even a new girl coming in tonight. Lots of people keep things lively, and it is so interesting to learn about the places they are from.