Bundi

En el camino de Pushkar a Jaipur, esta este pequenio pueblo, que en su dia nos dejamos atras, y al que hemos vuelto despues de otro pequenio cambio de planes. En teoria es un lugar tranquilo, aunque yo tenga otro concepto de "lugar tranquilo". Esta vez para hacerlo un poco distinto, nos hemos alojado en un haveli con una familia india. El primer dia, fuimos a visitar lo que ha debido de ser un maravilloso palacio, que parece casi estar esculpido en la roca, de ahi intentamos subir al fuerte que domina la ciudad, pero nos aconsejaron llevar un palo para ahuyentar a los monos, y asi lo hicimos. Despues de caminar unos 15 minutos (como bien nos habian dicho rodeados de monos por todos lados, algunos enormes) y ver que nos adentrabamos aun mas en un camino en el que no se veia un alma (algo impensable en este pais), decidimos darnos la vuelta, porque aunque la situacion en principio no parecia demasiado peligrosa, yo no hacia nada mas que pensar en que si nos atacaba un solo mono, el resto haria lo mismo.
Al final nos decidimos y alquilamos una moto, lo peor conducir en India, lo mejor no tener que negociar un rickshaw. Fuimos a ver las cascadas de Rameshwaran, que resultaron estar secas porque este anio no ha llovido en el desertico Rajastan ni siquiera durante el monzon. Eramos los unicos turistas en la zona, y por tanto el foco de atencion. Otra de las curiosidades de este pais, es que cuando llamas la atencion de alguien, simplemente se paran a tu lado, te rodean y te miran fijamente, a ratos cuchichean entre ellos y se rien, a ratos los que hablan algo de ingles te intentan hacer todo tipo de preguntas, y no parece importarles si tu te sientes comodo o no, pero la sensacion a veces es la de ser un autentico mono de feria. Lo de no ser un lugar tranquilo, tiene una explicacion, y es que hemos llegado a Bundi, sin saberlo, en pleno festival de Diwali, uno de los mas grandes del pais, en el que veneran (creo) a la diosa de la prosperidad, y hordas de personas y monos atestan los pueblos y ciudades. Todos visten sus mejores galas, y los saris de las mujeres forman un perfecto abanico de colores. La ciudad se engalana y jovenes, ancianos y ninios despliegan sus encantos para satisfacer a sus dioses, todos cocinan para ofrecerles comida, y porque no para ellos mismos darse un festin, despues de todo estan de fiesta. Al dia siguiente resto de visitas, cenotafios, mas palacios y templos en ruinas, como en casi todos sitios. Aunque la mayoria son maravillosos, ya empiezo a estar un poco cansada de tanto palacio y tanto templo. Proxima parada Agra para visitar el Taj Mahal.


Bundi
In the way from Pushkar to Jaipur, we left this village behind, but we changed our minds and came back. It's supposed to be a quiet place, but I think I have a diiferent concept of what quiet means. For a change, this time we're staying in a haveli with and Indian family. The first day we went to visit what it must have been a wonderful palace, which seems to be carved in the rocks. From there, we tried to go to the city Fort. We were suggested to carry some sticks to keep the monkeys away, and so we did. After a good 15 minutes walk, surrounded by monkeys, some of them huge, we decided to go back. There wasn't a living soul around (something unthinkable in this country), and although the situation didn't seem too dangerous, I couldn't help thinking that if one of the monkeys attacked us, all the others would follow him. We finally decided to hire a motorbike, the worst part driving in India, the best not having to hire a rickshaw. We went to see Rameshwaran's waterfall, unfortunately they didn't have any water, as it hasn't rained at all in the dessert of Rajasthan, not even during the monsoon. We were the only tourist in the area, and therefore everybody's eyes were focused on us. One of the many things that grab my attention in this country is that when you grab people's attention, they just stand next to you and stare at you. At times, they whisper and laugh, those who can speak a bit of English try to ask you all sort of questions and it doesn't seem to bother them whether you feel comfortable or not, but sometimes you have the feeling of being an alien. About Bundi not being a quiet place, it's because, we didn't know we have arrived in the middle of the Diwali festival, one of the largest in India, in which they worship the goddess of prosperity, and streets are packed with hordes of people and monkeys. They all wear their best clothes, and women saris form a perfect range of colors. The city is all decorated, and youngsters, old people and kids exude charm to satisfy their gods, they all cook as well to offer their gods and goddesses their food, and why not to enjoy a big meal themselves, after all it's their festival. The next day, we visited cenotaphs, more palaces and e, all in ruins, like everywhere else. Although most of them are fantastic, I'm starting to be a bit tired of so many palaces and temples. Next stop Agra to visit the Taj Mahal.