The Temples of Joy

Kajuraho – Day 1

Flight to Kajuraho uneventful, lovely local airline, Spice Jet, takes all of 55”.  While getting through security (men and women must go in separate queues), a woman comments on my Australian scarf (thinks I bought it in Varansi) and it turns she’s one of a group of 8 – from NY (Great Neck)!!  One of them is astonished that we’re doing this on our own.  I tell her it took us weeks to plan and she says it took them weeks to get ready for their trip – all arrangements made for them! 

We’re met at the airport by a car and two drivers who take us to the Hotel Narayana Palace.  What a hoot!  I doubt they’ve seen a non-Indian tourist in years.  It advertised ‘cable tv, balcony, bathroom toiletries, room service’ – all true but seen through our eyes, not theirs!  The balcony overlooked the local construction site (there’s a building frenzy in Kajuraho), the bathroom toiletries were a roll of toilet paper and wee bar of soap, and tv was three channels in English.  And room service was the desk clerk doubling as chef in a tiny ‘kitchen’ about two doors up from us!  All in all, tired but full of surprises!

The desk clerk, Deepu, offers to take us on a quick walking tour to orient us to Kajuraho.  And off we go.  We’ve managed to arrive two days before a huge dance festival which is attracting folks from all over this part of India, and points beyond.  We hit one of the ‘free’ temples and do a quick walkabout, all the while getting to know Deepu.  

Free temple - dedicated to the lingam.

Tim likes this one - a lot.

Deepu's 19, quite articulate and desperately wanting to improve his English.  He wants to take us on a tuk tuk tour tomorrow, after we see the Western temples, and we’ll go to the Eastern and Southern temples and then go to his home in the Old Village for chai with his family and, he says, a surprise!  His pal, Nandu, will bring the tuk tuk and we agree to meet both of them at 12:30.  When I ask ‘What is this going to cost me?’ he replies ‘Nothing.  I just want you to help me with my English.’  Hard to believe but okay . . . we’re in.

It was waaaay cooler in Kajuraho than we anticipated - hence the ultra cool, oh so sexy outfit that was my lounge wear!  Sure hope these sexy temple carvings warm both of us!!