Jodhpur: Shopping and Monkeys

    I knew that I was going to visit Jain in his new shop so I saved shopping for my very last day. Although India does have malls and some ready made stores and clothes. Many things are still made to order which I LOVE. Nothing gaps or fits too tight here while it's too loose there. Everything is perfect. I definitely feel as though something great has been lost along the way from made to order to mass produced clothing. Anyway, so me and my driver were off to meet Jain at Maharani Textiles. He said to meet him there at 10 am. Of course I was right on time while Jain was on Indian time, about 10 minutes late. I was thankful when he arrived. I was the first customer that day so everyone just stared at me. Once there he took over swirling me through piles of fabrics, Persian carpets I could NEVER afford, and showed me the new India line by Hermes. Many European countries and big name stores like Anthropologie buy from shops like these and upcharge. I'm more than happy to skip that part.

                          Me and my bestie/personal shopper M. Jain (Jain is his last name)

This year I did a real one all by myself. I was proud.

My first "real" sari. Meaning I have to wrap it and pin it all by myself like Indian women do. 

The one I purchased last year was made for me, but the skirt didn't require the wrapping a real sari does. Where my purple sari is more formal, this sari is more everyday where around India. It's also tie dyed in the Rajasthani style. Every state has their own look. 

                                Last year I put this on alone and had no idea what I was doing. 

And this picture I promised Jain I wouldn't put up, but we all know I'm a liar :) He was attempting to sell me a beautiful gold and powder pink lengatha ( a long full, embroidered skirt typically worn with a top piece that shows the stomach. This is the matching scarf/wrap. It's more of a special event outfit than every day which is why I didn't get it, but oh man did I want it. Maybe I'll order it to wear when I turn 50....

After shopping with Jain, my driver and I left him to attend his other clients while we headed out to a park in Jodhpur. Only some men in Maharani Textiles speak English, most are strictly Hindi. However, one friend of Jain's mentioned there was a beautiful park and there were monkeys! Of course I was down. My awesome driver, who is weary of monkeys, came along in the park with me so I wouldn't be alone and probably to stop me from grabbing monkeys.

The park was gorgeous of course as is everything in India. The trees had green parrots and cranes were hanging out near the fountains. 

My personal favorite the monkey vs. the guard. The monkeys drive the guards crazy so it's hilarious to hear them yell at the monkeys in Hindi!

If they stood on their hind legs, I'd say these monkeys were at least stomach level with me. They were crazy fast too. I didn't have to zoom in too much because my crazy self just walked right up to them. Until they would take off that is. I didn't get any closer to these monkeys like I did the smaller ones. If I had they probably would have fought me an stolen my cellphone.

After breaking my sandal in the park and taking lunch, it was time to head back to the hotel. The next day we were driving to Dechu for my camel ride and my overnight in a tent!