Gardens from the Amber Palace

This morning was spent visiting the Amber Palace, riding elephants and generally being stunned by the beauty of it all. This shot is of the formal gardens taken from within the Palace.

Having promised everyone a block printing expedition, the Anokhi Museum turned out to be closed on a Monday. After lunch in a lovely vegetarian cafe, our driver was persuaded to drop us in the newer part of town at the Anokhi shop. What a haven of peace and quiet! The materials and clothes were beautiful (my purchase is likely to feauture in a later blip) and we bought hand blocks too. There are villages outside Jaipur where block printing is the main source of work and one day I should like to visit them. A wonderful reason to come back.

Before dinner in the evening we went to see a Bollywood movie which was great fun. It was showing at the Raj Mandir Cinema, a modern art deco building with an interior described as a 'meringue' interior! Although the auditorium was impressive the foyer was even more so with its grand sweeping staircase, balcony and chandeliers. The foyer itself was bigger than any English cinema! Hindi film premieres often take place here.