The Keerti Hotel also ruins another establishment, the Pratap Country Lodge, about 6 kms out of Udaipur. It is reportedly quiet + peaceful, so we decided to go there, at least to have a look at the place, especially since the Keerti arranges free transport out there. Mind you, our ride consisted of sharing a horse cart with a load of green horse fodder. A picturesque, but not particularly comfortable, mode of travel.
The rooms at the Pratap were all decidedly pokey, unless one paid more than we wanted. Val was a little annoyed about this, but eventually a compromise was reached, satisfactory to both sides. The hotel was certainly peaceful, there was no doubt about that – it was in the middle of nowhere. One of the advertised features about it, it failed to deliver, for altho’ there was a swimming pool, it was covered in green slime. The place also offers free horse-riding, however, + that is available, lessons even. Tomorrow maybe. Or maybe not.
We spent the entire day lazing round in the sunshine in the courtyard, playing cards, reading, writing letters. There’s a pretty freaky Sri Lankan staying there, + he lent us some different tapes to play on our machine, which made a pleasant change. There was also some dope around, + being smoked quite openly, but we weren’t invited into that circle until much later. It was late in the evening that we heard the news that Indira Gandhi had been assassinated, shot by 2 guys in her own house. I have to confess that horror at the act, in our case, was mingled with worries abut how it might affect us. Rajiv Gandhi has been sworn in as the new PM – no. 3.
Huge political events – just like those playing out today (Trump etc) – which might or might not have a personal impact. Otherwise, seizing the opportunity to rest.
