Around some of the world in 180 days

Jodhpur, 300km west of Jaipur and the second biggest city in Rajastan. Also known as the Sun City because of the all year round hot weather and the Blue City for the colour of many of the buildings. The city is on the edge of the Thar Desert. Unsurprisingly,  the city is hot day and night.

The train didn't arrive till 10pm, so there's nothing for it but to go to the hotel and order room service . The Indian food in the UK is a pale imitation of the real thing . This Paneer Korma was so good, I felt compelled to get a photo:

I begin the next day with a plan to see Mehrangarh Fort and other attractions.

By now, I've seen so many forts that sight-seeing fatigue is beginning to set in. So I decided to start the tour of Mehrangarth Fort with a difference, as a flying fox. No, I'm not moving up the evolutionary ladder, the flying fox tour is a zip line tour of the fort. Basically, you're attached to a cable and move along through the force of gravity at great speed from one end to the other. This is me about to take off:

After this, it's back to the mundane task of exploring via the traditional method. Mehrangarth Fort is even better than the Amber Fort in Jaipur, with Hindu, Islamic and British influences. The fort is well preserved and also has a well stocked museum. Here's an example of British influence. Christmas balls of all things, very odd:

A view of the city from top of the fort:

By now, it was midday. Discouraged by the searing heat, I decided to forgo some of the monuments that were close by for latter. Instead I decided to head down into Sardar Market for some relief and to try out the famous Makhaniya Lassi of Jodhpur. The heat didn't get much better at the market and it wasn't long before I gave up headed back to the hotel for a nap. I did manage to try the lassi:

Unfortunately, I also overslept and the sun had set by now. I decided to head back into Sardar Market anyway for dinner.

And the fort at night:

It was much better wandering in the market in the cool of the night (relatively speaking). Not much to buy unless your shopping habits is the Glasgow Barras. Try as I might, I could not get into the spirit of the marketplace and wander into some of fly infested alleys.

The Makhaniya Lassi this afternoon was so nice, I had 2 more in the market. With lassi and somosas in hand, I wandered out of the markets into the streets. I'm constantly stopped by well-meaning people, all wanting to have a chat with me. There's was even a couple of guys with the most unusual Indian names of Rocky and Solo. We somehow got into a discussion about saffron lassi at which point, one offered to pour some pink coloured liquid into my lassi. What's that I thought, you want to pour some strange liquid into my drink. Nah, I think I'll pass. There's more than enough warnings on travels sites about foreigners getting drugged.