Where is the Pink????

BackPacker Journal entry 1/8/08 : Arrived in Jaipur today. "The Pink City" or so its called. I'm still trying to find the pink although I surely have found the city.And I used to think Bombay was dirty. As soon as I stepped out of the station and with precise timing and skill I was hounded by people who as usual think I'm a foreign tourist and wanted me to take a ride in their vehicles (also read) they think I'm a rich westerner and want to take me for a ride, if you get my drift. It is quite amusing to see how these people look at and talk to you in their best possible English when they think you're not Indian. Even more rib tickling is the priceless bewildered look on their faces when you talk to them in Hindi. Not to mention their obvious disappointment to now know that I didn't have as deep pockets as they originally believed. The lack of writing of any sort has screwed up my handwriting. Not that it was much better before.

I elected to walk despite eager, almost honest and " I like you so I wont cheat you" looks. A quick consult with the bible also commonly referred to as the Lonely Planet travel guide and I narrowed down my lodging options to a place called evergreen guesthouse. The name seemed nice enough and the book had a few good things to say about it. I began to ask for directions even though I had a map of the city in the guide for mainly two reasons 1) I suck at detailed maps just like most Indians, unless I really put my mind to it and whip out my compass which was at the time safely and "conveniently" stashed inside my backpack (my backpack is called Kahloucha Jr.) 2) Its always more fun asking for directions in our country the people of which usually don't have a clue, but will always gesture and say something/anything and get you lost. I say this from personal experience in asking for directions in a lot of places. In true to form Indian style I did get lost. As I began to ask for directions again I saw a fellow backpacker. A 29 year old guy from Manchester on a 3 week holiday. He had a guide book too and had narrowed down on another place to stay. The place was listed in my book but was a bit heavy on an Indian backpackers pocket. So we parted ways after walking together for a bit and exchanging pleasantries and indulging in some traveller chit chat. Later on while still looking for directions I sought help from an old hand rickshaw puller. His wrinkled face and slender but tough frame spelled struggle but honesty and poverty as well. He offered to take me to the guesthouse for a mere 10 rupees, which I thought was fair fare...... until I saw the scrony old man cycling me through completely pot hole infested and messed up streets and by lanes. He took me to the guesthouse as he had promised. On the way he had told me that the place would be a little expensive when I inquired about it. I told him that my book says its about 150-200 rupees a night. Looking at Jaipur I really didn't want to stay long just a day or two at most. I didn't find a cheap room at Evergreen (so much for guide books), and so asked the rickshaw puller to take me to any cheap guesthouse. He took me to a couple and everything in Jaipur just seemed expensive.