Udaipur, Rajasthan

What a great city! So, we found a cheap room (Rs150) and we ate at a great restaurant. The man that ran the shops, brothers wife, Shashi, runs a cooking class. I set a goal to submit my grad school aps (at least two) and then I could take the class. Well, I did it and I tried to sign up but she was booked with her three students that day. I went in to sign up for the next day as they were finishing and they were all so happy and full. Ethan and I took the class together in this woman's home. It was awesome and the best Indian food we have had yet. In addition to food, she taught us about caste and culture and how her husband was murdered and she can't marry again. She loves to cook and this is her way of supporting herself and her two boys. We spent five hours in her home and I can't wait to share the recipes back in the US. This was the highlight of India thus far, for me. If you go to Udaipur, go to the Sunrise Restaurant and ask for Shashi. Remember that if you book classes through the spice shops, they get a cut. If you book it through her she gets all Rs400.

Us with Shashi....in her home.

Spicey Box....

We also hung out at a cool vibe restaurant on the river with a young entrepreneur named Vicki. A modern Sikh as he likes to call himself (with a Spanish girlfriend) who claims to offer Chai, Henna, and advice for free. He is a good salesman and not pushy. The food was ok, but we found ourselves going there for the conversation. His restaurant was over the bridge and to the right, cant remember the full name but it included Marine in it. Ethan and I said that we didn't sitesee in Udaipur, we peoplemet. On the last day, my iPod went missing and we spent the day retracing our steps. Now, those of you who don't know me, I tend to misplace things and it wasn't until we arrived in Agra that I found my iPod and I apologize to all the people I accused and glad that I didn't find the police station to fill out the report yet. Nela, "no laughing!"