Farewell to Jaipur

This will probably be my last post from India. I am heading home. I am very sad. I will really miss everyone and everything.

I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who has left comments. I'm glad you have enjoyed my posts. I'm sorry I haven't replied to them, but time and internet speed have been sorely lacking.

I've mentioned it a few times, but I have spent most of my time at a slum school. Apart from english, hindi and maths lessons for the children the school also provides lots of arts and crafts activities and skill development for adult women. This includes lac work, crocheting and sewing. I've loved being part of this.

This is one the children's favourite activities - colouring in flowers. I draw the flowers and they colour. This is slowly changing as I have been trying to build confidence in their own drawing abilities. Indeed, some of the children are very talented.

This is lac work. Lac is a resin that is widely used to make bangles, jewellery boxes and all kinds of things. First plain lac is coated in the desired colour, which is what is happening here. Then the lac is heated over the coals, cut and moulded.



Little pieces of glass and beads are then heated and pushed into the lac as decoration.





These are some of the final products, a mirror and candle/incense holders.


Sewing includes both tailoring and sequin and embroidery work. The women make beautiful scarves, bags and saris. Rajastani women seem to live for sequins, beads, bells and bangles.


So there you have it, a little bit of my world for the past few months. I'll be back to regular food blogging very shortly. In the meantime HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!