Gujarat

After Pushkar, Dustin went North and I backtracked South to Gujarat, to get off the tourist trail a little and explore the state. Ahmadabad was my first destination. After deciding I didn't like the city much, I met a guy called Ali, who took me around town on his motorbike, showing me different sights and night markets, and I explored the Manek Chowk Area, where shops and stalls overflow onto the streets, on which people park their scooters, leaving only a thin slice of road for rickshaws and motorbikes to pass through, it's a really crazy place. Ali told me about the unrest between Hindus and Muslims in the area, saying there were riots about once a month. A few days ago, some Muslims attacked a cow in the street, fueling anger from the Hindu community.

Needless to say the kindness of people here has made me appreciate the places more, and I've hardly felt lonely in my time alone.

I left Ahmedabad for Palitana and at early morning the next day I climbed the +3000 steps to Shatrunjaya, where there are more than 1000 Jain temples on top of the mountain. Really extraordinary place, very peaceful.

On the bus to Diu, the next day, I chatted to Vikram, a 27 year old, who repeated many times he isn't married, and that his family will soon find him a bride. Most Indians seem to marry at a younger age. Although castes do not restrict friendship, he explained that he must marry a girl of the same caste. He lives in a big house with his grandparents, parents, brothers, brothers' wives, and their wives' siblings! Family bonds are extremely important here.

Diu is a small ex-Portuguese colony where alcohol is legal (and not in Gujarat) so there are a lot of drunk men stumbling about, even in the early afternoon! It's so quiet and chill, with really lovely villas and a Portuguese speaking community, it hardly feels like India. The beaches are nice too, here is sunset beach:

Next up: Rajkot!