FRANCIS BRENNAN’S GRAND INDIAN TOUR
PROGRAMME 4 – JAIPUR – SYNOPSIS
This summer hotelier Francis Brennan is putting his 5 star day job on hold as he takes 12 paying guests on a surprise trip of a lifetime to India’s Golden Triangle.
The group has arrived in Jaipur, known as the “pink city” due to it’s painted buildings. Francis has arranged a tour around the city’s old bazaars, where, as well as practising their haggling skills, there are plenty new experiences on offer. Pre-school teacher Kathleen McDonald from Co Dublin gets her head pummelled during an Indian head massage – it’s anything but relaxing!
Meanwhile 24-year-old nurse Karen Hurley from Co Cork finds herself playing dress-up in traditional costume; “Francis dragged me over to some fella who he’d arranged to dress me up, and probably marry me off any second!”
B&B owner Josephine Walsh from Bantry is smitten when she tries on a sari. But her travelling companions laughingly describe her as looking “like the Virgin Mary in pink!”
To top it all off, Francis has arranged a session with one of Jaipur’s leading fortune tellers, who unexpectedly operates from the back of one of the city’s modern jewellery shops. While some are underwhelmed by his predictions, Josephine is smitten once more: “That was so unreal. I mean he never met me before; you never gave him any information. He knows everything. Just guessed everything!”
Outside the city, Francis has arranged a visit to a particularly impressive ancient monument – the Chand Boari Step Well. Step wells were used to store water during monsoon season and despite the unassuming description this is an unexpected delight for the group. Visually stunning, this particular step well was one of the locations for Batman – The Dark Knight Rises.
Next up, Francis has booked a camel ride, but hairdresser David Martin from Co Wicklow is worried: “We were told a story about a man that jumped off the camel too quickly and had to have an operation down below …” Luckily, David survives his dromedary encounter.
Expectations are running high when Francis takes his group of tourists for afternoon tea. But their hopes are soon crushed when what’s on offer proves to be very different to the sandwiches, savouries and sweets they were looking forward to. With just cookies, crisps and Indian pakora on the menu Francis says; “What’s this? It doesn’t look like high tea. I’ll be killed!” Garda Edel Corcoran from Co Dublin is not impressed; “I’ve been for high tea at the Shelbourne, the Gresham, you name it…”. Francis is in big trouble …