Udaipur

Udaipur is an average size city in southern Rajasthan. It has gotten some international attention when the James Bond movie "Octopussy" was partially shot here. Restaurants show the movie every evening - all year round.
Rajasthan is hot. Udaipur was almost half way to boiling temperature when I stayed there. During mid day you should have taken care of all important things already or be willing to postpone them to afternoon, because with this temperature nothing besides of lieing on some pillows in the shade and sipping fresh juices is much fun.
The most special sight to see in Udaipur - next to the daily life - is the Maharaja Palace where until 1956 there was actually a Maharaja ruling his empire. The architecture is very distinct in Rajasthan because of the Maharajas who ruled this region autonomously for a very long

time. Islamic influences are everywhere and sometime makes you feel like I imagine Turkey. In the palace I also met Marieke from Holland with whom I would travel for almost a month across northern India. She has been doing some research in the south for a NGO about the impact of droughts in Tamil Nadu. She's great fun.
The other day we and some friends I met on the train went for a ridiculously small hike which was nevertheless exhausting because of the temperature. From the fort we were a ble to see over the whole city and the dried out river bed, the remaining water in the lake and the sunset.
After three days we went on the long night bus ride to Jaisalmer. The night bus was not as fast as promised, so we ended up being in the bus at mid day in the bus driving through the desert. The wind coming through the window consis ts of 50 degree air. Because this is above the body temperature you are able to witness the other side of the wind-chilling-factor. Shortly said. It is incredibly hot.