Blue, blue, blue

No, I am really not drunk! (How could I, in a Hindu country like this??) No, I repeat I am not drunk - I've just been to Jodhpur. That is such a beautiful little town. All the houses in Jodhpur are blue. From the fortress (yep, macho man here at the border with Pakistan) you have an excellent view. I just kept on taking photographs (but you won't be surprised to hear this…)Indeed, I also took a digital picture, but it will take some to get this printed, due to this second world economy and the consequences of this for anything related to computers.

The Big Ben of Jodhpur is very nice. Around it there's a big market square, where you can hang around to enjoy everything that's happening. Fortunately, they don't leave you in peace here, either. It isn't a bad thing - otherwise you'd start doubting yourself, wouldn't you? So, again I walk around like the Pied Piper, with ten children following me who all want to stroke, hold, buy or have Bee One (the year club bee). Well, they can't! I had a bit of a laugh after a little girl had come up to me to beg and I had given her my empty water bottle. (I have made it a rule not to hand out money, sweets, etc. If you start doing this, you'll end up being harrassed by the whole village!). She happily ran off and returned within five minutes with the bottle, which she had filled with water. She then sat down beside me and, just like me, started to drink. It was so funny. Hundreds of things like this happen ever day; I'm really having fun!

Lassi

Lassi - The magical rice? The golden TV dog? No - it's the name of a drink you MUST have tried (according to the Lonely Planet guide). I never like doing anything that MUST be done, but out of curiosity I tried Lassi. It is delicious. It is a mixture of yoghurt, lemon, banana, cinnamon and some slush; it's refreshing and nutricious (and sweet, but everything is sweet over here!). I love sitting down between the locals who always start their Spanish Inquisition (They don't know what embarrassment is over here. They don't know the words 'please' and 'thank you', either… I think it must be because there are too many people here; they would spend the whole day just saying 'please' and 'thank you'.)

Where yoo from?

Holland

Whot's yoo name?

Jackie

Ah yoo marriet?

Yes [as it's a lot safer to say so]

Whe' is yoo husbant?

In the city, doing business

Yoo 'eff children?

No [Who on earth would leave their children behind to hang around in this shit and then say they enjoy it???]

Yoo 'eff work?

Yes [It's a shame they haven't heard of the word 'consultant'. It's even worse that they should all think that I'm a teacher. It seems to be printed on my forehead!]

And this goes on and on. I can laugh about it; for they believe anything I say, and I often give them 'variations of the truth' (if this is a nice enough term).

Photo's