Udaipur India

I have had no postings for a few days so a brief update. We left Mumbai (thankfully) and took an overnite a/c sleeper to Ahmedabad . A long , long ride. Upon arrival at Ahmadabad around 7:00 we immediately booked in at a hotel a couple of km's from the train station. Very nice economy hotel with air and fan, private washroom with sit down toilet and hot shower and cable TV. Very well kept and a welcome relief (just on Relief Rd!) Unfortunately Ahmadabad is very highly polluted in all ways - air, water and noise. I got quite sick and spent the next three days in bed. I had severe pains in my head all over my cranium, my eyeball, cheek bones and teeth as well as all over the bod. I seemed to recover a bit but I had no energy and couldn't even bring myself to get to an internet terminal. I am not sure what caused the sickness which I would say a combo of heat and pollution.
The next two days we hung around and gradually did some walking. Unfortunately each outing brought with it a new round of sore throat, respiratory problems and coughing.
Ahmadabad in Gujarat State is the centre of textile industry and seems to be prospering . Paradoxically there is little evidence of private auto ownership but lots and ;lots of motorbikes and little CNG, fueled three wheeled taxis. They are all constantly blowing their horns.
Finally got energy to book a train out of Ahmedabad to Udaipur. The 300 km journey took 8 hours on the only train that connects . Another cramped sleeper There is no room to move about the train. You are confined to the assigned car and there is no dining or club car.

This town is on a lake and is extremely quiet compared to Ahmadabad and Mumbai. We are in Lake Ghat guest house that so far seems very attractive and a nice place to recover. There are a lot of tourists walking around. I'll keep you posted. We will probably stay three days and walk around to different temples etc. Tomorrow is festival day (in all of India I think) Daliwal Day (or something like that - I have to check)

By the way I have not had a lot of success in uploading photos. The system always seems to freeze up. I'll try a computer in Delhi which may be more robust.