1 00:00:07,133 --> 00:00:10,453 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Saturday Morning with Jack team podcast 2 00:00:10,573 --> 00:00:11,693 Speaker 1: from News Talks. A. B. 3 00:00:12,853 --> 00:00:16,133 Speaker 2: Travil corresponds Mike Yardley, and he is here with us 4 00:00:16,173 --> 00:00:19,373 Speaker 2: this morning, focusing on Jaipoor Rajasthan. 5 00:00:19,493 --> 00:00:22,733 Speaker 3: Good morning, sir, Good morning Jack. I can see you 6 00:00:22,773 --> 00:00:26,173 Speaker 3: on the trapeze after that, Dad, I don't know, huling 7 00:00:26,213 --> 00:00:28,973 Speaker 3: yourself across some venue. Yeah, I'm just not someone. 8 00:00:29,093 --> 00:00:31,333 Speaker 2: I'm not someone known for keeping his limbs close to 9 00:00:31,373 --> 00:00:35,573 Speaker 2: his body. You know, that's like an help a tross 10 00:00:35,573 --> 00:00:37,773 Speaker 2: on stilts, they say, Mike. So no, I'm not sure 11 00:00:37,773 --> 00:00:42,373 Speaker 2: that I necessarily have the grace to join. It is amazing. 12 00:00:42,453 --> 00:00:45,093 Speaker 2: Every time I go to Sir Laer, I'm like, it's 13 00:00:45,173 --> 00:00:47,373 Speaker 2: just unbelievable to me that people are able to pull 14 00:00:47,413 --> 00:00:50,653 Speaker 2: off those different stunts. You know, I'm always so yeah, 15 00:00:50,733 --> 00:00:54,133 Speaker 2: so affected by it. So that does sound sound amazing anyway. 16 00:00:54,133 --> 00:00:57,773 Speaker 3: You're human, human elistic, isn't it it is? Yeah? Yeah, 17 00:00:57,893 --> 00:00:58,453 Speaker 3: everybody is. 18 00:00:58,453 --> 00:01:00,253 Speaker 2: And some of the things they pull off you just think, 19 00:01:00,293 --> 00:01:04,093 Speaker 2: oh my goodness. Yeah. Now, Jaipoor is the is the 20 00:01:04,133 --> 00:01:05,813 Speaker 2: red city, isn't it? Is that right? 21 00:01:06,093 --> 00:01:06,293 Speaker 3: Yes? 22 00:01:06,453 --> 00:01:10,613 Speaker 2: Red and I understand. Or pink city, yes it is pink, yes, yes, 23 00:01:10,933 --> 00:01:14,133 Speaker 2: the blue city. But Jaipur is the is the pink 24 00:01:14,173 --> 00:01:17,573 Speaker 2: city and it really is gorgeous. How did it end 25 00:01:17,693 --> 00:01:20,413 Speaker 2: up getting painted pink? How did the old city and 26 00:01:20,493 --> 00:01:21,573 Speaker 2: Jaipaur end up pink? 27 00:01:22,653 --> 00:01:25,613 Speaker 3: Yes, well, a lot of people Jack liked to paint 28 00:01:25,613 --> 00:01:29,933 Speaker 3: the town red, but Jipaul went pink and it's pink stucco, 29 00:01:30,653 --> 00:01:33,573 Speaker 3: which all began in the eighteen seventies when the Prince 30 00:01:33,573 --> 00:01:36,453 Speaker 3: of Wales rocked into town. So he was Queen Victoria's son. 31 00:01:37,013 --> 00:01:40,813 Speaker 3: He later succeeded her as King Edward. He named j 32 00:01:41,013 --> 00:01:44,413 Speaker 3: Paul the Pink City, and the Maharaja at the time 33 00:01:44,973 --> 00:01:51,213 Speaker 3: chose the color for his visit because pink symbolizes hospitality 34 00:01:51,453 --> 00:01:55,533 Speaker 3: in Rajpot culture. So the name and the stucco has 35 00:01:55,613 --> 00:01:58,773 Speaker 3: stuck ever since, and even today, all the buildings in 36 00:01:58,813 --> 00:02:02,133 Speaker 3: the old City must still be painted pink, which I 37 00:02:02,173 --> 00:02:05,773 Speaker 3: think adds to the unmistakable magic about the place. Yeah. 38 00:02:05,893 --> 00:02:08,373 Speaker 2: Yeah, so talk to us about City Palace. What did 39 00:02:08,373 --> 00:02:09,493 Speaker 2: you like about City Palace? 40 00:02:10,373 --> 00:02:13,733 Speaker 3: Yeah, there are some really big sights to see in town, 41 00:02:13,893 --> 00:02:16,773 Speaker 3: and City Palace is such a stirring complex. It just 42 00:02:16,773 --> 00:02:21,373 Speaker 3: seems to be the most perfect union of mouthwatering architecture 43 00:02:21,853 --> 00:02:26,293 Speaker 3: and tranquil garden courtyards. They really know how to soften 44 00:02:26,413 --> 00:02:29,973 Speaker 3: hard edges. And I love the Palace of the Breeze, 45 00:02:30,013 --> 00:02:34,773 Speaker 3: just such an ingenious design because it was built purposefully 46 00:02:34,813 --> 00:02:39,573 Speaker 3: to circulate cool air amongst all those pillars of the 47 00:02:39,613 --> 00:02:42,253 Speaker 3: palace in the extreme summer heat. And I mean I 48 00:02:42,293 --> 00:02:44,053 Speaker 3: was there and I think it was thirty nine degrees 49 00:02:44,093 --> 00:02:47,333 Speaker 3: when I was there, and yep, I was not sweating 50 00:02:47,533 --> 00:02:50,693 Speaker 3: at all in that palace. For something quirky. I think 51 00:02:50,733 --> 00:02:52,853 Speaker 3: this is the greatest thing about the City Palace. You 52 00:02:52,893 --> 00:02:57,333 Speaker 3: can go and see these massive silver vessels in the courtyard. 53 00:02:57,733 --> 00:03:01,013 Speaker 3: They are like the urns of a giant. And they 54 00:03:01,213 --> 00:03:07,133 Speaker 3: carried the Maharaja's drinking water from the Ganges to London 55 00:03:07,573 --> 00:03:11,093 Speaker 3: for Edward's coronation. And I thought I was a heavy packer. 56 00:03:11,213 --> 00:03:11,453 Speaker 2: Jack. 57 00:03:12,293 --> 00:03:13,093 Speaker 3: Isn't it amazing? 58 00:03:13,293 --> 00:03:17,653 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's not a short journey. Yeah, amazing. Are the 59 00:03:17,693 --> 00:03:19,173 Speaker 2: other royals still in residence. 60 00:03:20,333 --> 00:03:25,093 Speaker 3: Yes, you can see the reception rooms of Jaipaul's royal family. 61 00:03:26,013 --> 00:03:29,773 Speaker 3: The cheers. I love their cheers. They have silver lions 62 00:03:30,173 --> 00:03:33,613 Speaker 3: for armrests. Every home should have those. But there's a 63 00:03:33,613 --> 00:03:35,933 Speaker 3: lot of tabloid tattle at the moment about the current 64 00:03:36,373 --> 00:03:41,333 Speaker 3: Maharaja of Jaipaul, Patcho Singh. He's only twenty seven, quite 65 00:03:41,413 --> 00:03:45,453 Speaker 3: the playboy and not just at Polo. So he's currently 66 00:03:45,533 --> 00:03:49,453 Speaker 3: living in city palace with his French girlfriend. Now this 67 00:03:49,533 --> 00:03:53,253 Speaker 3: is very controversial because, as I'm sure you can appreciate Jack, 68 00:03:53,613 --> 00:03:58,133 Speaker 3: in Rojastan culture, one must have an arranged marriage and 69 00:03:58,173 --> 00:04:02,053 Speaker 3: it's also got to be astrologically aligned. So there's not 70 00:04:02,293 --> 00:04:03,973 Speaker 3: much hope for the French girlfriend. 71 00:04:04,013 --> 00:04:09,053 Speaker 2: No wow, okay, says scandalous. I might have to have 72 00:04:09,093 --> 00:04:12,933 Speaker 2: a very scandalous So just beyond the old city, another 73 00:04:13,053 --> 00:04:15,733 Speaker 2: huge drawer is Amber Fort, right or Army of. 74 00:04:15,813 --> 00:04:20,373 Speaker 3: Fort Armia Fort. Yes it's spelled Amber, but they say, amya, 75 00:04:20,493 --> 00:04:23,173 Speaker 3: apologies for the background noise. By the way, I'm at 76 00:04:23,213 --> 00:04:28,453 Speaker 3: that gobshide of a place called Auckland Airport. Ah, but 77 00:04:28,733 --> 00:04:33,453 Speaker 3: yes it's a construction zone. Yes, yes, anyway, our US 78 00:04:33,613 --> 00:04:36,773 Speaker 3: Army of Fort. What a colossus, like something out of 79 00:04:36,773 --> 00:04:40,173 Speaker 3: Return of the Jedi. It sort of sprawls across the 80 00:04:40,253 --> 00:04:44,733 Speaker 3: upper reaches of a hillside like a city. It's just 81 00:04:44,813 --> 00:04:48,013 Speaker 3: so enormous. And this was the seat of power for 82 00:04:48,133 --> 00:04:52,173 Speaker 3: the Rujhport Kings before they relocated into town to build 83 00:04:52,213 --> 00:04:56,573 Speaker 3: city palace, But I was equally intrigued by Armia War, 84 00:04:57,133 --> 00:05:00,653 Speaker 3: which rides across the ridge lines as far as the 85 00:05:00,693 --> 00:05:04,093 Speaker 3: eye can see. The Chinese would be very impressed by 86 00:05:04,173 --> 00:05:07,973 Speaker 3: this wall. But within the fort comp once again, you've 87 00:05:08,013 --> 00:05:13,013 Speaker 3: just got the most dreamy stash of palatial buildings and 88 00:05:13,053 --> 00:05:17,133 Speaker 3: shades of honey and rose, sandstone and white marble. It 89 00:05:17,333 --> 00:05:20,133 Speaker 3: is a bit like some of those palaces in New Delhi, 90 00:05:20,613 --> 00:05:25,493 Speaker 3: just the most frothy fusion of Indian and Islamic designer 91 00:05:25,813 --> 00:05:26,853 Speaker 3: really is gorgeous. 92 00:05:27,253 --> 00:05:32,533 Speaker 2: Are elephants still lugging tourists up the hillside to the fall? Oh? 93 00:05:32,613 --> 00:05:36,173 Speaker 3: Yes? And those tourists they are getting harder to lug. 94 00:05:37,053 --> 00:05:40,533 Speaker 3: I actually took an elephant ride at Army of fourteen 95 00:05:40,613 --> 00:05:42,213 Speaker 3: years ago, but I've put on a bit of wait 96 00:05:42,293 --> 00:05:45,453 Speaker 3: since then, Jack, and I'm very mindful of animal welfare, 97 00:05:45,493 --> 00:05:49,053 Speaker 3: so I didn't I didn't ride mister elephant this time. 98 00:05:49,093 --> 00:05:51,573 Speaker 3: I took a jeep ride up the hill. But me, 99 00:05:51,973 --> 00:05:55,933 Speaker 3: That've still got hundreds of elephants out there every day, 100 00:05:56,053 --> 00:05:59,013 Speaker 3: hauling hefty visitors up to the fortress, and they're all 101 00:05:59,013 --> 00:06:02,893 Speaker 3: brightly dressed. Apparently they looked after really well. But I 102 00:06:02,933 --> 00:06:05,173 Speaker 3: think you would struggle to find a New Zealand travel 103 00:06:05,213 --> 00:06:08,413 Speaker 3: agent would say, do the Elephant Rider. It's just become, 104 00:06:08,493 --> 00:06:10,093 Speaker 3: you know, a no go for a lot of keywsks. 105 00:06:10,173 --> 00:06:12,373 Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, fair enough too. Were there some good buys 106 00:06:12,413 --> 00:06:13,733 Speaker 2: in the bazaars around town? 107 00:06:14,733 --> 00:06:17,373 Speaker 3: Oh wow, I reckon. This is the highlight of Jaypaor. 108 00:06:18,013 --> 00:06:20,453 Speaker 3: I mean, I'm not a big retail sort of person. 109 00:06:20,493 --> 00:06:24,293 Speaker 3: I'm not a shopaholic, but it's that sort of place 110 00:06:24,453 --> 00:06:28,693 Speaker 3: where impulsive shopping becomes compulsive. You know, you just find 111 00:06:28,693 --> 00:06:32,693 Speaker 3: yourself buying things you never dreamed you'd buy. And it's 112 00:06:32,813 --> 00:06:35,293 Speaker 3: just so much fun to be had strolling under those 113 00:06:35,773 --> 00:06:39,533 Speaker 3: peeling pink porticos of the roadside bazaars, and there are 114 00:06:39,533 --> 00:06:43,453 Speaker 3: ablaze with everything from hand crafted puppets to pajama pants. 115 00:06:43,493 --> 00:06:46,813 Speaker 3: It's just the most wondrous place. I haggle down the 116 00:06:46,853 --> 00:06:52,053 Speaker 3: price on this spectacular tablecloth with block printed red elephants. 117 00:06:52,373 --> 00:06:55,053 Speaker 3: So that's as close as I got to a trunk jack. Yes, 118 00:06:55,173 --> 00:06:59,293 Speaker 3: but yeah, if you want local garments or textiles, really 119 00:06:59,293 --> 00:07:03,053 Speaker 3: good bys and jewelry and Jaypoor Jaipaul is the global 120 00:07:03,133 --> 00:07:06,973 Speaker 3: center for cutting and polishing precious and semi pressure gems 121 00:07:07,253 --> 00:07:09,373 Speaker 3: who knows. Maybe the French crown jewels may end up 122 00:07:09,373 --> 00:07:12,693 Speaker 3: and jib, but you will still you will still see 123 00:07:12,853 --> 00:07:17,333 Speaker 3: old men at workbenches in the city adorning gold settings 124 00:07:17,373 --> 00:07:20,173 Speaker 3: with jewels, and then they rinse the gold dust from 125 00:07:20,293 --> 00:07:25,213 Speaker 3: their hands and that water is later sold to extraction companies. 126 00:07:25,293 --> 00:07:28,493 Speaker 3: So the quality of the workmanship is second to none. 127 00:07:28,573 --> 00:07:31,813 Speaker 2: Oh man, that sounds sounds incredible. I think when I 128 00:07:31,933 --> 00:07:36,493 Speaker 2: was there, I it was up the road maybe in 129 00:07:36,733 --> 00:07:40,933 Speaker 2: Jaisalmeir or something like that in Rajasthan. But I went 130 00:07:40,973 --> 00:07:42,693 Speaker 2: to you know, in those bazaars they often have the 131 00:07:42,773 --> 00:07:46,813 Speaker 2: leather shops, and I bought a leather a camel leather 132 00:07:46,893 --> 00:07:50,453 Speaker 2: messenger bag and it costs about you know, seven dollars 133 00:07:50,533 --> 00:07:53,813 Speaker 2: or something, and I just like, to this day, I'm like, 134 00:07:53,893 --> 00:07:55,693 Speaker 2: why I didn't know by fifty of those. It's just 135 00:07:55,733 --> 00:07:58,613 Speaker 2: such good quality and such a bag and such a 136 00:07:58,653 --> 00:08:00,893 Speaker 2: handy thing. And it's been all over the world with me, 137 00:08:00,973 --> 00:08:01,173 Speaker 2: you know. 138 00:08:01,413 --> 00:08:01,733 Speaker 3: Wow. 139 00:08:02,133 --> 00:08:05,093 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's just it is. Those bazaars are really incredible. 140 00:08:05,293 --> 00:08:07,253 Speaker 2: So when you're in Joyboul, it's a good place to stay. 141 00:08:08,533 --> 00:08:11,173 Speaker 3: Well, this is one of the real gems about Dipau. 142 00:08:11,293 --> 00:08:14,253 Speaker 3: They have so many old historic palaces, that have been 143 00:08:14,293 --> 00:08:17,093 Speaker 3: revitalized as hotels, so if you really want to go 144 00:08:17,213 --> 00:08:22,413 Speaker 3: Palatal with your accommodation, they are surprisingly inexpensive. But I 145 00:08:22,533 --> 00:08:25,213 Speaker 3: actually switched it up on my last trip a few 146 00:08:25,213 --> 00:08:28,413 Speaker 3: weeks ago and I stayed at a brand new palace 147 00:08:28,573 --> 00:08:31,173 Speaker 3: style hotel. So you might have heard of the brand 148 00:08:31,293 --> 00:08:36,893 Speaker 3: inn Intara, the tie of origin, but they've gone global 149 00:08:36,973 --> 00:08:40,093 Speaker 3: five star hotel chain. Anyway, they've opened their first Indian 150 00:08:40,133 --> 00:08:45,853 Speaker 3: opening in Gypaw and they've built it as a replica 151 00:08:46,253 --> 00:08:50,053 Speaker 3: of Gipaul's landmark, so you will see the facades of 152 00:08:50,293 --> 00:08:54,453 Speaker 3: Army of Fort, you'll see the facades from the city 153 00:08:54,493 --> 00:08:59,493 Speaker 3: palace built into this palace hotel. It is absolutely exceptional 154 00:08:59,493 --> 00:09:02,693 Speaker 3: and they've used a lot of local craftsmen to do it. 155 00:09:03,293 --> 00:09:06,813 Speaker 3: Even within the hotel, they've done a modern replace of 156 00:09:07,013 --> 00:09:12,453 Speaker 3: sheesh Mahal, So sheesh Mahal is the mirror the mirror 157 00:09:12,493 --> 00:09:17,093 Speaker 3: palace in Gipaw, and they've turned this into like a 158 00:09:17,093 --> 00:09:21,413 Speaker 3: bar and a restaurant at an Atara Hotel and the 159 00:09:21,453 --> 00:09:27,293 Speaker 3: actual interior gleams with three hundred and fifty thousand pieces 160 00:09:27,293 --> 00:09:31,613 Speaker 3: of glass in mirror mosaics. It's just the most incredible thing. 161 00:09:31,733 --> 00:09:34,853 Speaker 3: So Yeah, it's great to see all of that architectural 162 00:09:35,213 --> 00:09:40,093 Speaker 3: prowest of Jipoor continuing to shine in you know, new generations, 163 00:09:40,213 --> 00:09:43,093 Speaker 3: and I think that's what makes that place as a 164 00:09:43,133 --> 00:09:44,333 Speaker 3: destination so special. 165 00:09:44,453 --> 00:09:46,933 Speaker 2: Yeah, it looks. It looks amazing. Thank you so much, Mike. 166 00:09:47,213 --> 00:09:49,653 Speaker 2: We're going to make sure the bike's article for tripping 167 00:09:49,693 --> 00:09:52,053 Speaker 2: through gipaor is up on the News talks 'DB website. 168 00:09:52,053 --> 00:09:55,133 Speaker 2: NEWSTALKSZB dot co dot nz is the place to go 169 00:09:55,293 --> 00:09:56,533 Speaker 2: for everything from our show. 170 00:09:57,453 --> 00:10:00,573 Speaker 1: For more from Saturday Morning with Jack Tame, listen live 171 00:10:00,653 --> 00:10:03,813 Speaker 1: to News talks 'B from nine am Saturday, or follow 172 00:10:03,853 --> 00:10:05,453 Speaker 1: the podcast on iHeartRadio