February 25, Puri India

This morning we took a rickshaw to Raghurajpur, the craft village that is about fourteen km from Puri. 

Thankfully we asked the rickshaw driver to wait and to bring us back as well or I am sure we would still be there.

On our beach, early morning

B

Wash day

As we were warned in out rough guide, we were not dropped off at the craft village, but at a number of shops that preceded it. Luckily we eventually made our way to the village.

Murals on the house exteriors

The houses of the village were painted with murals. According to Tutu, this village has 100 people, 600 artists and 400 children.  The really bad thing about it was that everyone was desparate to sell us something.  All of the art was based on a zillion hours meticulously painting the Hindu story.

Because some one spends a zillion hours on something and does it meticulously, is it art?

Not in my books. Eventually, we made an escape with three small pieces, one done on cotton, laminated with tameran, one carved into Palm and one on silk.  

Jim and I got dropped back off in Puri at an old train hotel. Unfortunately, it wasn't licensed to sell beer so we walked and walked. Eventually we found a hotel, where the chap said that if we gave him money, he would go for beer. We sat in the shade and eventually beer appeared!!

So much of India seems to be like this. Not licensed but if you pay the money, beer will appear.