Jodpur Jan 11 & 12 Kalyan Singh our guide for the next two days

Kaylan has a master's in History and is a native of the area. His grandfather was a general in the British Army. Jodhpur is in the state of Rajasthan and historically was farming and military the 2nd level of the caste system.

He took us on a jeep to the Bishnoi villages but changed the plan from a safari to a visit to an Opium Den.

• Opium is very labor-intensive to produce and the end product of raw opium was smaller than a 50-cent piece and maybe a ¼ of an inch thick. 
• The couple in charge of growing 1000 poppy pods for the government who produce morphine etc for medicine in the region is allowed (bribed?) to keep approximately 100 pods for personal use by the locals.
• He would not let us take a picture of the raw product but he did let us take a video and photos of how they prepare and drink it. They do not smoke it.
• , whiFrom the raw piece, I described above he chipped off a few flakes, ran it through multiple filtering tubes then put a few drops in the palm of his hand and sipped it. Our guide said if used in moderation it has multiple medicinal benefits; however, like alcohol, if not used in moderation it can be addictive. We declined to try pure opium in water.

Sheron & I are pictured with him.   

• We learned how some of Indira Gandhi’s policies established and implemented reforms that taught & allowed women to use their skills, earn money, and work alongside men. Even though they were illiterate and still today (est to still be 38% illiterate) could earn money.  

Friday, January 12th day tour of the Meherangarh Fort

Built by Rajput ruler Rao Jodha in 1459 AD and covers 1200 acres. Each subsequent generation added to the structure with most of the existing structure being from the 17th century. Inside its boundaries, there are several palaces known for their intricate carvings and expansive courtyards, as well as a museum.

• Next, we visited The Jaswant Thada a burial place where the ashes of the king are kept.
• It was built by the Queen in Memory of her late husband.
• The history of traditional Hinduism and the ritual of cremation.
• The bottom line is they believe in reincarnation and their bodies are burned, and the ashes are dropped in the Ganges (or for the poor any river or pond) and the river will take them back to God where
• Depending on how they lived their life will come back in some form.