Golden Triangle: Jaipur

we wrapped up the chaos in the third angle, the "pink city" of jaipur in rajasthan. it is known for its rich culture, beautifully vibrant colors, and deliciously spicy food among other things. Jaipur in particular is known for its wonderful shopping, especially gemstones and textiles.

upon our 4 am arrival, we befriended a young rickshaw driver, Saleem Ali, who kindly helped us find accommodation, and became our guide to the city the next couple of days. per protocol, the ride was cheap, but the shopping hot spots he introduced us to dipped a bit further into our pocketbooks.

india, unsurprisingly being located in the east, is loaded with "eastern" remedies and medicine (i.e. ayurveda, reiki, yoga, meditation, and various energy-based approaches) holistically incorporating mind, body, and spirit. our curiosity was peaked after visiting a gemstone therapist who read our chakras and insightfully shared detailed personal information with each of us. we could not refuse the gemstone he recommended each of us based on his reading. Scam or not, he was quite impressive and convincing. and so we all left jaipur with frustration of large crowds and salesmen sure and probably more phlegm, but better yet our energy-tailored gemstones, beautiful textiles, opening minds and hearts, stories to share, and a drive deeper into the quietness of the Thar desert!