Udaipur

The bus journey to Udaipur highlighted how the colours in Rajasthan have become more vibrant. Men wear bright turbans and women seem to wear brighter pinks and yellows that glisten with sequins and jewels. There is jewellery everywhere, huge silver bangles and gold discs for nose piercings that are so big they cover part of the face. Glass bangles in every colour shine in the sun and ankles and toe rings cover the feet - Beautiful India.

Udaipur is known as the romantic city of Rajasthan so where better to spend valentines day. It's built up around a lake with lots of beautiful buildings with huge archways that create pretty shadows. We've been to see a traditional Rajasthan dance show that started with a strange dance representing a quarrel between two Gods and involved a man putting hot coals into his mouth. The performance continued to involve women dancing the 'quick step' with pots of fire balanced on there heads, this was followed up by more women clinking brass discs on string all over there bodies! One man did a funny puppet performance and the concluding act involved a lady balancing 10 pots on her head and stomping on a brass dish and shattered glass. As well as these strange acts of madness there was drumming, singing and beautiful dresses.