In Jaipur with Sir Elton John

I had been to Jaipur just once before in 2001. Then we had put up in modern Jaipur not the old town, this part too was somewhat crowded, jewelers all around and lovely textile stores that housed anything from saris to long traditional skirts, scarfs and bed spreads. Vibrant colors sashaying the roads, filling up the sidewalks. I had picked up some silver trinkets and cushion covers which I treasure even to this day. Beautiful stuff.

This time Jaipur was livelier and more charismatic. Well, it was Sir Elton John and I making this trip together. We were in old Jaipur. It was an experience of its own. It all started with him and I on elephant backs visiting the forts, the forts had so many stories to tell of the past. The howdah (carriage seats) rocked to and fro while the tour guide educated us with stories of the past. The Howdah was covered in beautiful and rich embellished textile meant for a king or queen. The elephant was oblivious of the enchanting colors he was adorning. I almost went back to the days of royalty while the guide jabbered along. Soon we descended to an exotic restaurant for a typical Rajasthani meal. The guide explained a lot of the food to us and I did the balance of how much ever I knew. Each entrée was delectable - we loved the fare.

Elton John was wearing a Jaipuri printed kurta and his one symbolic earring looking very cool. He was in a non-musical mood, not even humming one of my favorites. He loved every bit of his Jaipur trip and wanted to soak in more knowledge about the place. All the while I was thinking how different he was here than the Elton John of the music video’s I often watched. His skills of the piano, his effortless way of singing was a distant thing of now. He did not want to be bothered with his trade; he just wanted to enjoy Jaipur.

We asked around for a handicraft store from where we could pick up gifts and souvenirs and someone suggested ‘SAMS’. Sam’s was not in one of the crowded places. It was in a clean straight road, a small boutique housing exotic stuff in cotton only. They had scarves in all lengths, handkerchiefs, bedspreads and some modern outfits made out of ethnic fabric making them look like designer wear. Sam was a creative lady in her 50’s, charming and very accommodating to her customers. I loved the store products and the store owner. We chatted and picked up several things from this place and the prices too were so very reasonably tagged.

All the while I was wondering if we could find a karaoke bar so that I could ask Sir Elton to sing “Words in Spanish” for me, just once! Unfortunately I found none. The only part about holidaying with Elton John that was not nice. I really wanted him to sing one of my favorite EJ numbers.

We proceeded to a carpet shop now since Sir Elton John wanted to pick some up for his home, next day was his flight. He picked up something I don’t remember. It was a carpet in cream of what I remember. We both were tired by now and got back to the hotel and finally went up to our respective rooms to shut eye, he had an early morning flight to catch. All through the night I was restless. Excited at my good fate of holidaying with my favorite star and restless as I always am if anyone takes an early morning flight. It was a very light and disturbed sleep and I finally woke up and saw it was 6.05 am, was Sir EJ up to catch his flight? Where was he? I was sure in my pretty room but not in Jaipur, in my house in Bombay, was I dreaming? Yes I was – this was an end to a beautiful dream.