Thursday, March 31, 2011

Rohet.

At Rohet we went on a jeep ride. While we were on the ride we stopped at lots of mud hut villages. In 1 village we saw an opium ceremony. We saw dried poppy flowers and opium resin. To make the tea the priest ground the resin with a pestle and mortar. He put it in a funnel made out of camel’s hair and then he poured cold water through it. It came out into a pretty wooden jug. Funny enough you don’t drink from the cup but you have to be offered it from the priest and drink it by slurping it three times from the palm of his hand. Dad had some and said it was just like tea. Our guide said it would be good for my upset tummy so I had some. It tasted a bit like green tea. It was a bit strange drinking from the man’s hand and I couldn’t make the slurping sound. Opium can be very bad for you but the tea I had was just tea.


Dad is trying tabacco in leaves





































Jeep Safari from Rohet
Don't worry, Maisy is fine and just enjoying the wonderful experiences of life in India.
While in Rohet we were fortunate to stay in the 400 year old Fort, the ancestral home of Maharajas and noblemen. Still today the direct descendent (the man who would be Maharaja) lives here and even joined us for predinner drinks. A wise and gentle man, he told us the rooms we were in were once his grandfather's quarters and is the favoured accommodation for famous English writers who come to stay and write.
The entrance to Rohet Garh needs to be big enough to let elephants in.

The upstairs writing room.

A beautiful place to dream up a story.
Charlotte enjoying an evening dip in the courtyard pool.

The man who would be Maharaja

The beautiful curly eared horses from the Fort stables.
India is a land of contrasts and exotic cultures, so from the lush and lavish comforts of this magnificent fort we ventured just a short drive to the villages and fields. The lifestyle in the Indian villages relies solely on agriculture and is tranquil and unchanging. The people are loyal to their village and deeply respect the hierachy within. The ageold custom of sharing and using communal facilities is ever present and this interdepence with the land and community is what gives the people strength to survive in such harsh conditions. It truly makes you reflect on your own lifestyle and our totally independent way of living in our fast food / disposable society.
Will I still remember this when I am back in Godzone country??









ReflectiveLee

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