This is something I had written a few years back, dont remember exactly when in my diary. Since I am feeling too lazy to write anything new, I thought Id keep my posting active by adding some old stuff:)

                                                    A child in Jaipur

Since the only thing I have done enough to write home about is travel, I am thinking of writing about it. I am sure my travels have been quite modest, and have no illusions about the depth or thoroughness of my travels too. Still, simply because it is me who has come into contact with these places, I feel I should write about them.
My earliest memories of traveling are when I was 8 or 9 years old. We had traveled to Jaipur, Agra, Fatehpur Sikri, and I can still remember some moments. The heat, afternoon sun, the pain of the elephant’s hair pricking on my skin when I sat on its head for a ride, the shock and dejection I felt when a monkey snatched away a kulfi from my hand as I was walking towards some temple, the emotions come back and become one with the memory.
So much is stored in our heads. So many colors, sounds, feelings, impressions – imbibed and seeped into our being. I wonder what difference has the trip to colorful and vibrant Rajasthan made to me? Would I be any different if I had not made those childhood visits?
We went to Hawa Mahal in Jaipur, the red building was full of windows. I remember someone pointing out a balcony, on which queens of old times would sit and enjoy the ‘Hawa’- breeze. I too got myself photographed on that ledge. The beauty of traveling when u are a child is that u enjoy the essence of every ambience in all its purity. There are no worries to distract; all the inputs are absorbed like a sponge.
We went to Sheesh Mahal, and saw halls with rounded ceilings, purple, blue, green, red, yellow, orange, white – cool and warm colors reflecting sunlight, gentle ripples of shadows, or thousands of round sunbeam shadows dancing about on some other wall.
I saw quiet courtyards of red sandstone houses, sometimes a door half open, inviting me to peep in and drown into the carved mystery of the place.
I also saw forts, huge and spread out, overlooking a scenery that was barren, mostly brown, with shrubs growing intermittently. There was a huge cannon; and stories about when it was used, and more stories of some movie starring some famous hero/heroines having been shot here.
I guess I enjoyed Jaipur to my maximum capacity. I do believe that children are really intelligent and enjoy the stimulation and beauty and knowledge showered by the world around in fullest measure. They don’t judge much, and simply enjoy. They don’t think like adults, and have enough blank moments to dive deep into each moment and be fully absorbed.
Recalling as much as I do about Jaipur, I certainly feel children should be encouraged to travel and experience the world. They may not be intellectually fittest, but instinctively and emotionally are at a much superior level than their parents.