The Pink City

Nov. 14, 2008

After leaving Delhi, I headed west to the desert state of Rajasthan. My first stop was to Jaipur, the state capital also known as the Pink City. The city is a bustling place with a population of about 5 million. The whole city was painted pink in the mid-nineteenth century in honor of Prince Albert who came to visit.

Jaipur is known not only for it's color but also for the fact that it is one of the first cities to be laid out in an orderly grid, like Manhattan. But that's about the only orderly thing about the place.

Though not a massive as Delhi, Jaipur is similar in terms of its intensity of touts and hawkers. After a few days in the country though, I'd learned to better manage the onslaught of "Hellos" "What country?" "You want pashmina scarf?" Still, somehow I got talked into buying a block print blanket, a tunic shirt, and a drum. I don't even play drums. Why do I need one, exactly? I have no idea. The guy selling it made a really cool sound though, and once I showed interest he pretty much followed me through the streets banging out a rhythm to the pace of my steps. I just had to buy the damn thing.

It turned out to be kind of a fun purchase though. As I was walking back to my hotel, banging thoughtlessly on the thing, I passed a little boy amidst a throng of sari-wearing women. He had two little drums in his hands and was hitting them absentmindedly. When I saw him, I bent down and banged on my own drum eliciting laughter from all the women and the biggest, sweetest smile from this little boy who banged right back. That was pretty neat.

Those are the kind of moments that make this country beautiful.