Udaipur

The Lake Palace, was featured in that great James Bond film, Octopussy. Unfortunately the last rain fell a few years ago, and the lake is now all but dry, leaving the prestigious hotel, cum palace, cum restaurant, firmly grounded.

When the lake has enough water, you have to get a boat to the hotel. Claire visited Udaipur 10 years ago, and we were planning on a nice meal at the hotel. When calling to make a reservation, the nice man on the phone, kindly told Claire not to worry about getting a boat back from the hotel as they run all night. He didn't have the heart to tell her there was no water. This was a disappointment when we arrived.

The Lakeside (City) Palace was our second stop, after the Monsoon Palace. The king needed four palaces in total, one for summer, one for winter, one for the monsoon, and one for festivals.

The king also had a crapper to make Al Bundy proud. Redefining the term 'throne', this shitter is padded, and has a drop seat. Just what you need for those big jobs when your arse gets numb.

The leery, but beautiful colours of Rajasthan.

The king wasn't shy of a bit of hanky panky, and had a good size harem to keep him occupied.

This is the quintessential Gujarati family on holiday. Gujurat is the next state over and is alcohol free. They arrive in droves, make a lot noise, drink the place dry, and leave, after taking as many souvenirs as possible.

Here they dress up as royalty, and wear these clothes during their sightseeing tour of Udaipur.

The City Palace at night.

Bagore-Ki- Haveli was a good insight into the lifestyles of the aristocracy. Apparently, it also home to the world's largest turban.

We were in Udaipur for the Indian equivalent of Christmas -Diwali.

Everyone paints little brown squares out the front of their houses and some include foot prints facing into the house, to invite in Lakshmi the goodess of wealth.  For some very unknown reason, the following day, they cover this in dry cow shit. Even the posh hotel do it!

They also let off ridiculous bangers and fireworks for about four days, this means its impossible to sleep.  It is also dangerous to walk down any roads at night, as five year olds can be seen lighting a firework (in your face), at any moment.

This chap entertained us for hours with his dust trailing antics. The boys have a wheelbarrow of coloured powder for decorating all the roads in town.

The sight of a few tourists taking photos seems to got them excited.

Even the cows got dressed-up, and had their horns painted. The cowshit smeared between the eyes was perhaps the least appealing part of its ensemble.

The powder boys made this flower in one of the main squares in town.

This guy was picking flowers and couldn't reach the top ones. The reason he is laughing so hard is that he is on Jason's shoulders to reach the top ones.

The flowers arrive in town by the barrowload, or is that an oversized pram?

The flowers are important offerings for the temple that evening, and throughout the week of the festival.

We did a bit of shopping here as well. We got carried away to the tune of 20 kilos that is making its way back to Claire's dad in hand stitched and wax sealed boxes.  We really enjoyed the two and a half hours that they took to send!

This bloke bathes in the road.