Jaipur, a Jubilant Pink City with a Justifiable Big Heart

This is where I learnt about calmness, lucky karma and culture, whose people show gratitude for every day of their life.

Travelling to Jaipur was an interesting experience, particularly the trains! I was heading to platform 2 via a staircase, piled high and juggling my rucksacks. I just wanted to double check I was going to the correct platform when all of a sudden, I was surrounded by a gang… two in front and two behind it was a jaw drop moment.  Their form was unique as they blended into the beige staircase, I could barely line them out.  All of a sudden, I realised that this whole family of monkeys were so intrigued by what I was doing. This was a risky situation, with no one in sight I could be in danger here.  I remembered one fact I’d been told, don’t look them in their eyes. And you guessed it, I did! I threw my water bottle up in the air, hoping they would chase it… not even a flinch.  In a slight moment of panic, I decided to make a run for it and started screaming loudly! However, the male monkey launched at me, latching onto my leg.  This was not pleasant, and I didn’t want a hostile partner for my travels! Luckily, I got away with a few scratches and a bruise on my leg, avoiding the first hospital trip. TOP TIP: be aware of your surroundings – people and animals.  Monkey menace is reported widely in Jaipur.

I finally made my way to platform 2 where my train was sat waiting patiently for me. Of course, I got onto the wrong carriage, twice. Classic backpacker Ella. Recheck bookings and signs carefully before boarding.  After receiving help from locals, they insisted on having a photo with me and at this point I felt obliged to take pictures with them.

Throughout my time in India, I have felt like a celebrity walking the streets. In India there is a very challenging hierarchy called a caste system that still exists from around 1500 BC, there are four castes and a fifth group called Dalits or the untouchables.  This is exceptionally hard to witness as there is so much poverty, it opened my eyes so wide and is on another level in recognising world poverty.  Sadly, I was told that if you have a lighter skin tone and can speak English, you would be viewed as being in the top of this hierarchy and treated as a VIP within many eyes. A tuktuk driver named Ali also known as an Indian helicopter driver was able to share an interesting reason on why locals take photos with foreigners.  Lots of Indians who live in small villages and towns will visit the big cities in India for religious reasons and to discover more about their country and origin. When they return back to their hometown they will show off with these pictures, saying that they ate and drank tea with this person and how they are friends with them. This gains great respect from their relatives and neighbours giving them a higher status at home. This allowed me to have more patience and understanding when having requested photos with the locals, although no exaggeration, once you say yes to one you can expect a large queue to form, as if it were a meet and greet.

If you want to say no to people or you need beggars to leave you alone, my good friend Phuntsok from North India taught me to say ‘ney ney’. This is the local translation for no, no. This startles them as they are in shock you know some Hindi so if they say you know Hindi you respond with ‘tora tora’ this means little, little and they leave you alone and gain respect at the same time. I have learnt to leave people with a memory of kindness and humour instead of bluntness. I feel when travelling, respect is one of the most important traits to hold.

In Jaipur there is much to see as a tourist, being selective is best. Whilst I was on the train heading towards Jaipur, I was lucky enough to meet a likeminded woman from the Netherlands. We discovered we were located at the same hostel and decided to make the 10-minute trek from the train station to Moustache Hostel. Moustache Jaipur | Backpacker Hostel In Jaipur - Hostel with Rooftop Pool (moustachescapes.com) Well, this was not a walk for the faint hearted, because we soon found ourselves like deers crossing highways in the dark and our instincts on full alert with the fear of getting hit.  If you can’t pluck up the courage to cross a road in India, believe me life isn’t worth living.

We made it to the hostel with some skill and a lot of luck, with all our bags and limbs still attached. We were introduced to two guys when we arrived at the hostel, one from Sweden and the other from Austria. Two intriguing guys from two outstanding countries. These two men intrigued me so much in the way that they spoke and entertained one another.  This impacted me greatly and they have now encouraged me to read more and to use my brain in ways one does not think about.  We all spent the following day together visiting amusing sites and meeting intensely enthusiastic tuk tuk drivers.  It was the best day until I began to feel some slight grumbles and then realised I had gained the dreaded Delhi belly!! I just made it in time to the toilet where it came out in many ways! I think that’s enough detail for you all, although it wasn’t at all fun!

When travelling in India it is sensible to respect their culture and the way they dress, it is a privilege to visit this country, so I recommend wearing long dresses and trousers as this shows respect to yourself and their culture. I made the mistake of only bringing one long dress and wow did I regret it. Although to be fair it was value for money per wear. Research and plan your packing, make lists - it is essential!

I do want to remind all my female travellers not to trust everyone in the world, there is a mixed bag of people out there.  I keep making this mistake especially with tuktuk drivers, they promise you a price then kick off wanting more money when you get to your destination.  Agree the price first and be aware of your surroundings.  I have been lucky to meet fellow travellers and although hostel life is basic and not everyone’s thing, it certainly provides a community and learning experience.  You get to make friends from all over the world, so it’s definitely one step up from basic networking. 

On my way to the airport I had left myself with 120 rupees in hand. With the average cost of a tuktuk being 200 rupees to the airport. This is where I decided my bartering skills needed to be improved. I managed to grab an Indian helipcopter for the 120 rupees (£1.20) plus 2 cigarettes. What a skill I have now got! I might even place this on my CV!

My Flight to Bangkok awaits…