Day 71 (Sat 16 Sep) - Agra / Jaipur

Up quite early this morning as our bus left at 8.30am. Got to the bus station at 8am and by now it was already hot.

Sarb dozed for most of the journey; rousing himself only to buy some cold drinks when the bus hit a chai stop. Travelled on the dusty roads past brown and hot looking fields. If this wasn't evidence enough that we were passing through an area practically a desert the sight of two camels ploughing a field certainly provided it.

Got to Jaipur and forewarned by our guide book that the auto touts here were a particularly unsavoury bunch we studiously ignored a small gaggle of them that had formed as we collected our bags. This crowd was practically salivating to get to us and we were perplexed as to why they kept their considerable distance of 10 feet. Had Sarb's new plan of not using any deodorant (to help save the planet) resulted in a positive side effect? All was made clear when one excitable tout stepped forward and tried to hassle us. He made it about 2 feet when an hitherto unnoticed policeman grabbed hold of him and marched him off. This was bad for him and bad for us, because as soon as the copper exited stage left the remaining touts felt it was open season and got stuck in.

Fought them off and walked through the crowded hot streets about a half km to our hotel, the Athihi.

Well from some of the hotels we have stayed in the Athihi is lovely. Basic, clean and bright with a small neat garden out front. Lovely. Also serves beer. Brilliant!

Had some lunch and went for a power nap. Up late afternoon and as we were peckish walked to an italian resteraunt, the Mediteraneo. Both had very good pizzas and Sarb managed to get bitten by a couple of mozzies.

Walked back through the dark streets, past puddles of dogs rubbing the sleep from their eyes ready to start barking and howling the night away.