Friday, February 17, 2017

Extended Stay in Sawai Madhopur

Last night we enjoyed a great dinner in the little restaurant at our hotel. There are only 10 or 12 rooms here in cottages surrounding a walled lawn. It's quite different from the chaos out on the road or in the town. Everyone comes here to go on tiger safaris which run for 3 1/2 hours each morning and each afternoon. They're all run by Ranthambore National Park service and cost 2,000 rupees per person (about $40) to ride around a section of the park in a 6 person jeep.
Unfortunately, during the night my "Delhi Belly" returned so I spent a mostly sleepless night with many trips to the bathroom. In the middle of the night, I decided I was past the Imodium stage so I started into the 3 day course of antibiotics that we picked up at the travel clinic before leaving home.
Once again, I'm trying to choke down bananas, rice, tea and water with electrolytes. At least I won't be getting fat or drinking too much alcohol. I've had 2 beers since we arrived in India and Anita has had 2 rum drinks. Party animals.
Since I had lots of time to think in the night, I contemplated how we want to spend our time here. We discussed it this morning and Anita feels the same way I do. Spending 4 1/2 weeks touring all the way around Rajasthan means about 10 or 12 more days getting from place to place. Trains don't go everywhere we want and are a lot of trouble too. Taxis are easier but the drivers are a pain in the butt and the traffic is terrifying. Getting from place to place here is not very pleasant.
This little hotel is great so we've arranged to spend 5 nights here instead of 3. That way I'll have a chance to get better, I hope. I've been more or less sick for 5 days already. Before that I was really jet lagged. I need to regain my strength and enthusiasm.
The staff have been helpful. They went to the market today to get me some bananas, since I'm having trouble eating much else. Twice today they brought bunches of bananas to our room.
Hopefully, in a couple of days I'll feel better and can go on a jeep safari to see some tigers. When we leave, we'll get a taxi to Jaipur, about 4 hours away. We cancelled our hotels in Bundi and Chittorgarh. We just don't want to travel that far and beyond. Each of these places have forts or old palaces but we're starting to think that we don't really need to see all of them.
So, next Tuesday we'll go to Jaipur. Anita met an Israeli woman here who recommended a Jaipur hotel. We found it on Booking.com and got a room for 4 nights. At some point we'll decide if that's all we want to see of India. If so, we'll try to change our flight home. Jaipur has an airport with many daily 1 hour flights to Delhi. At least now we have a plan that seems like it will be more fun and less gruelling. All I have to do for the next few days is get well while Anita enjoys the Indian food and sunshine.

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