A painfully slow connection

I stepped from the fine shined marble floors of the Imperial into a cab, that although brushed clean, smelt like a urinal. I was then in no doubt that I had finally arrived in India.

I had a spare half hour on the way to get my plane to Udaipur, so took a detour to the Khan Markets to buy creamy Biotique potions and lotions. All botanical extracts – although everyone claims that these days. But these are supposedly Ayurvedic too!

Delhi domestic airport seemed more chaotic than usual, and would you believe, my flight was delayed. I’m getting very good at protecting my personal space. I hold my ground and give the 'evil eye' to anyone who jostles, bumps or pushes me. I’m turning into cantankerous, curmudgeonly memsahib.

There was not a seat to be had in the waiting lounge. So I settled down on a spare patch of floor and blocked out the chaos with my new iPod. I listened to Joni Mitchell’s singing of “anima rising” with her “head full of quandary and a mighty, mighty, thirst.”

I joined the queue and bought some water.

The propeller plane stopped in Jaipur, where a big mama of an Indian woman wearing a fat diamond parked herself beside me and immediately claimed the armrest. She ordered a guava juice and then complained to the air hostess that it was warm and she wanted ice and was outraged when told there was no ice. "You need to inform your superiors!" she huffed. So much for cantankerous, curmudgeonly memsahibs!

Landed in Udaipur and it was a cool 32 degrees. The heavens are threatening rain – an auspicious sign for my arrival, a blessing. I’m staying at the Shiv Niwas Palace, a heritage hotel, and I have a room with a terrace.

My internet here is 28k dial-up, but I’ll find a way to add pictures as soon as I become more familiar with my way around town. I mean images are part of the fun of blogging, wouldn't you agree.

Imtyaz, Narrowcasters' project manager, and I will be meeting the Maharana and the princess later this morning.