So first my first full day in Udaipur, famously known as the most beautiful and most romantic city in India and it truly does live up to its reputation.

I’m currently sitting in Internet cafe been periodically hit on the back by 2 adorable, but manic 4-year-olds! Thank God for small miracles at least they have stopped biting me and their dad has confiscated the belts that they took off to hit me with!

Ok, I digress: First thanks mum and Midget for your messages…as always greatly appreciated.
In case anyone was wondering what happened to the SA couple…I kinda lost them at the first port of call in Udaipur. I had made a booking at a hostel and they were going to come with me. Alas, they got suckered into going to another hotel. (Unfortunately, they made the rookie mistake of looking at the pamphlet that the rickshaw guy gave them and he then did a massive detour and surprise, surprise….we magically arrived at the hotel and not the hostel. The hotel, I have to admit, was lovely and a really decent price, but being the seasoned traveller (that I AM), I knew that I would meet more travellers at the place the lonely planet had recommended. So I insisted that rickshaw guy take me to my hostel and soldiered on alone! Ok, If I’m honest I wasn’t too gutted to be separated from them. As lovely as they were, there is only one thing worse than being stuck in a strange city by yourself: Being stuck in a strange city with two people you have absolutely nothing in common with! Once we got passed: “OH my God you’re South African!!!” the conversation pretty much dried up! Besides that, they were both smokers and as a newly born non-smokeeee (12 whole hours!) I felt it best to move along!
My hostel is really lovely and I even managed to score a room with a European toilet….(I paid RS100 extra for the luxury!!!-  worth every bloody cent)
Umm….. As of yet, I have not met a single traveller here;-)

That been said it been a great 2 days. I chose not to mention yesterdays adventures last night for fear of giving my poor mother a heart attack, but I feel it is now safe to do so. On arriving in Udaipur yesterday I was absolutely exhausted and managed to shower, sit on my toilet ( I paid RS100 for that toilet!) and drag myself out for lunch. It took me all but 2 steps to realise why they call Udaipur the city of love. There are a kazillion Indian men looking for it..or for their next sale- the lines are so blurred!!…. (I thought Istanbul was bad)…..it is completely overwhelming how many of the men approach you ‘for a chat‘. Today I had to take the hardcore approach and simply ignore them all. The standard question is: “Where you from?” To which I reply “Cape Town” (they know CT) and then simply keep walking. Sounds harsh…..but I do not have the time to make general chit-chat with every single male in Udaipur! As a result, I have had many men drive passed me today on scooters today shouting “Miss Cape Town!” Gees news travels fast in this place!

Anyway were was I?…..oh yeh…I decided to escape to a beautiful rooftop cafe for a lunch when I was approached by what can only be described as Udaipur’s version of Rhett Butler, with long hair! His name was Raju – he was good looking, charming, well spoken and an artist that owned the shop downstairs. We chatted briefly about the school he supports with his art (aaahhhh) his love of different religions (bless) and his great respect for foreign women that shamefully get hassled left right and centre in his beautiful city! He told me to stop off at his shop downstairs on my way out. Which I no doubt did. I drink a couple of chai teas with him while he painted this truly amazing miniature picture of an elephant on my fingernail…. ( He said it was for protection! – I dare not ask from ‘what?’ After a while, I said that I needed to leave as I had a massive headache ( I’m tempted to blame that blasted hooter but those that know me well, will see through my blatant lie! – more like the residual after effects of smoking!) So Raju then offered to take me for a head massage at his friend’s place. I thought we would walk there but soon discovered I was going to be getting on a long-haired, strangers motorbike. (I probably should have said no, but it all happened so fast mum!!! ) Next thing I know I am whizzing passed my hotel: with hotel owner sitting outside. The same owner who only 40 minutes before had warned me: “Many men make rides with foreign women, no riding with men” What could I do but smile an wave;-)

So was mildly panicked and yet also pretty certain he was a decent guy…..I like to think I have a good sense of people. Low and behold he took me to his friend’s barber shop where I was given the most amazing ‘free’ head massage. Back on the bike and dropped off at my hotel all in one piece. I have to admit the driving bit was probably more scary than anything else. As Raju put it: “In India, you only need 3 things while driving: Good luck, good horn and good break!” (Dad I thought you would enjoy that!)

So arriving safe and sound at my hotel lovely Raju said he “couldn’t bear to be apart from me” (his words honestly) and that I had to have dinner with him. I said probably not as would have to see how my headache was. To which his reply was “Whisky cures all headaches”  Um ….nope not exactly what I had in mind. So said politely declined and told him I would see him tomorrow. ( said he would take me to his school and also a local ashram that he knows)

Needless to say, I woke up this morning with very mixed feelings about my new friend Raju. Wondering to myself, how do you truly know when you can trust someone, especially when travelling is all about meeting different people and experiencing new experiences? I decided to hold off visiting him and set off to do a little exploring by myself! Udaipur is truly beautiful, it is made up of loads of tiny one-way streets coming off one square shaped main road. There are endless amounts of shops selling, bags, clothes, handmade leather bound books, perfumes, trinkets…you name it Udaipur has it. If I was going to buy you all presents this is where I would buy them….dam not coming home for 5months! What a shame! 🙂

I ended up eating at a lovely cafe called Maxim, and on my way out I started to chat to the really friendly owner called Raj (seems to be a good name for me) We hit it off immediately and I got loads of tips about where to go and where not to go. I wanted to go to a place called Mount Abu, which Raj informed me is the place where ‘lovers’ normally go. He mentioned that he might be going to a place called Sukar tomorrow on business and that he would drop me off for the day if I wanted and then bring me back.

I also met his Business partner a lovely calm man called Yogi, who I chatted to for ages about his family and jewellery business! I remembered walking out there thinking I would trust both of those men in a heartbeat, so maybe knowing when to trust is simply down to your gut. After I had spent pretty much most of the day walking around the city chatting to different people and ignoring all the boys, I decided to go and see how things were with lover-boy Raju. At first, he was clearly annoyed that I hadn’t come earlier, or the night before! (Um I had not made any definite plans with him the day before) We went upstairs to have some Chai and he almost seemed to be sulking. When I commented on this I was informed that he was busy making plans for our day together tomorrow. He was taking me in the car to Mount Abu! Enough said! Decided to follow my gut and say my goodbyes!

Now as any girl will well know after a particularly turbulent break-up, the only recourse is to go shopping!;-) And this is unfortunately what I did. I defended my actions with the excuse that I am in India and therefore need to look like the seasoned traveller that I AM, so bought 3 pairs of tie stringy pants (I am a sucker for punishment) that were all tailored for me and 2 tops. Now I know as a budget traveller I don’t really have the luxury of buying clothes….but in total, I spent 16 pounds…which in the big scheme of things isn’t really a lot of money! Oh and that included the very cool ethnic bag I bought. I had carelessly putt my old bag down in what can only be described as urine today… it stunk like hell for 3 hours!!! (A new one was definitely a necessity, wouldn’t you say Midget?:-)

And so ends my magical day in gorgeous Udaipur!!  Made loads of new friends including on old man called Hanif who has hundreds of photo’s of him with different travellers and postcards that have been sent to him from all over the world. (and yes I had to LOOK at ALL of them). Have discovered that I now speak like a local Indians leaving out half my words so as to be understood better!
Finally stopped off at Raj and Yogi’s, drank more tea, gave them a really good laugh when I told them where Raju was planning on taking me. Raj is now not going to Sukar anymore…but has told me where/and how to get there on a local bus tomorrow. And Yogi says he will take me to his little boy’s school the day after tomorrow, so all sorted!

I truly love being a lone traveller!!!:-)