More Backtracking...

December 30

photo taken by Megan :) Excited me and Kelly

This was a day I had been looking forward to my whole life. Elephants are my favorite animal. I guess I've seen one before, when I was really young, but don't remember it. So, basically, I got to see my favorite animal for the first time. The ISA clan rode up to the Amber Fort of Jaipur by elephant. It was tourist-city, but I didn't care. I rode an elephant! It was absolutely amazing, but I am ashamed to say that these brilliant animals looked extremely sad. They all had their tusks sawed off, had scars all over, and blood from new wounds. Rahul said that in the past, elephants were made to go up and down the mountain all day with as many people that could fit on their back. Luckily, the government has stepped in and they are only allowed to take two people up, twice a day. This is a great law, but it's really up to their driver how they are treated. I don't know anything about elephant training/driving, but I don't think that beating them in the head with an wooden or iron rod to make them go is very humane. I really don't understand it, as a famous Hindu god, Ganesh, is portrayed as an elephant. Some drivers treated their elephants very well, I don't want to give them all a bad rep, but it is very sad. Our driver just had to click his mouth and the elephant would go. He also gave him a snack on the way up. Touching that elephant was so incredible.... I don't know how to explain it. Their eyes are so big and dark. They look so wise and gentle. I saw so excited, I was able to block out the empathy I felt for them, as you can see in the pictures.

Beautiful Animals <3

My view on the way up

Our elephant is raising his trunk, which is a sign of welcoming.

We explored the fort from there on. This is a photograph of the mountains surrounding us with a huge wall protecting the city on top.

At the time this fort was built, women were not allowed to be seen by the public, so they stood behind these wonderfully crafted marble window-things, which allowed them to see out, but no one to see in.

ISA Family: we are standing in front of walls painted with paints made from vegetables and flowers. It's similar to a fresco.

We went SHOPPING afterwards!!! Jaipur is known for their gems (the tops place in the world for polishing gems, actually), and block printed textiles. We went to this shopping complex that was owned by the government, so all the prices were fixed and were guaranteed the best. I have never felt so rich in my life, the way the salesman treated us all was incredible! haha. They were shockingly amazing salesman, but very respectful and nice.

All of us after our first shopping extravaganza :)

Sadly, we had to leave Jaipur right afterwards. I really miss that place. It is absolutely beautiful.

We drove and drove to my least favorite place in India: Agra. It took an hour or so to find our hotel, which was very uncomfortable and super sketchy. It was loud, due to an early New Years Party downstairs, and apparently there was a big fight around midnight.

Kelly and I made an alarm system for our hotel room, since there were no bolts on the door :)