10.26.18 On the Way to Amer Fort


Factoids about Hawa Mahal - The Palace of Winds...

• built in 1799 for Maharaja Sawai Pretap Singh as part of the women's section of the City Palace
• the facade is just an enormous screened porch only 1 room deep in most parts (who cares? It is still awesome)!
• red and pink sandstone construction materials

Hawa Mahal - The Palace of Winds

The children here treat us like rock stars - they love taking selfies with us 

and love posing for our pictures.

Amer Fort Factoids:

• built in 1592 and located high up on the hillside in Rajasthan, India
• number one attraction in Jaipur
• 4-level marble and red sandstone structure  
• within the walls are The Hall of Public Audience, Hall of Private Audience, The Shees Mahal (Jai Mandir) and the Sukh Niwas
• declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2013

Our first glimpse of Amer Fort is breathtaking!

Our amazing Jeep driver. He was really disappointed that I didn't sit in the front seat

 on the way back to our bus (I wanted to give someone else a chance), 

but Karen took this great photo (at his urging) of the two of us.

Inside the Fort...

The 3 Musketeers: Charlene, Dorothye and Michele.

We cannot understand why Indian people never smile in their photos...

Singapore High School students pose for me during their cultural trip to the Fort.

Fort construction...

Pigeons are everywhere...

Karen checking out the view on the horizon.

After we left the fort, we made a quick stop at Jal Mahal, a palace in the middle of Man Sagar Lake. 

Then a quick stop to see textile block printing and weaving.

Then polished off the day with a home-hosted dinner with the delightful family of Devendra Singh.

Mrs. Singh serves up some appetizers and lemonade.

Karen shares a gift with each of the children.

Dinner of authentic Indian food.

And, of course, the group photo with the family.