Going for a Paan Break in Jaipur

A few cities in India are famous for certain things that are truly unparalleled. Just like Nagpur is famous for oranges, Jaipur has earned the fame for Paans. For those who are new to India and its traditions, Paan is a mouth-freshener prepared with a combination of betel leaf, areca nut, tobacco (occasionally), fennel seeds, gulkand, katha, mukhwa, and many other refreshing ingredients. The psychoactive and stimulant effects of this fantastic creation are well-known from centuries in India and abroad. The Mughals have it mentioned in their scriptures as well. It is a simple, yet complex creation, which requires years of practice and expertise. Only a few Paan sellers in the country have been able to become famous for their variety of paans. 

Jaipur is one such city in Rajasthan where eating a Paan after a meal is a must-do. When I went there last month in October, I had made an elaborate itinerary to visit various forts and palaces. However, all of my plans failed because I had not managed my itinerary well. Nevertheless, few good things also happened on our vacation. I am blessed to have a supportive family who does not crib over petty issues. Even though our plans did not work out well in Jaipur, we still had a great time with each other.

It was our first day in Jaipur when we saw a massive crowd in front of a bicycle. Our first thought was that there must have been an accident, which is why such dozens of people were present. However, the presence of BMWs and Audi’s made it a little fishy scene. I got down from my car to find out what was wrong as the traffic was already moving at a snail’s pace. To my utter surprise, it was nothing else, but the rush to grab the Paan from the seller. I had never seen such a swarm of people maddening around to grab a piece of mouth-freshener. 

I have bought Paan from a few sellers in Delhi who are really famous for their creations. They sell a wide range of paans in flavors like chocolate, strawberry, Maghai Paan, Saada Paan, Paan, Banarasi Paan, Meetha Paan, Silver Paan, Rasamalai Paan, Gold Paan, Chocolate Paan, Bangla Paan, Tambaku Paan, Misti Paan, Jagannath Paan, and Kalkatti Paan. I must say that I have googled these names from just one source, and these are only a few variants of Paan sold in Delhi. Despite such a vast assortment of their creations, none of the sellers are able to attract more than ten buyers at one time.

Anyway, I got down to know what was so special about this seller. After waiting for a good fifteen minutes, I could manage to have my turn to buy his special creation of Paan. To my utter surprise, the person was not even preparing the Paan. He had already got his stock ready from home, and he was selling only Meetha Paan, which was quite cold I must say. He would take out the required number of paans from his storage box, probably a mini-refrigerator, and give them to his customers. I grabbed the four paans for my family, paid the price, and rushed back to my Self-Drive Car Rental Jaipur. 

As I gave my parents and sister the famed paans of Jaipur, and opened my share of this majestic creation, I looked at my sister who was about to ask something from me with her mouth filled with paan. As I was gulping down the cold and fresh paan, she asked me the name of the seller, and my reaction was, "Oops! I didn't ask for it!" What a shame! No, I did not go there again in the long queue to ask it.

How I Eat Alone on My Solo Trips

The worst part, at least according to inexperienced travelers, about solo travel is eating alone at restaurants. Many people feel awkward sitting unaccompanied at eateries and eat on their own. They don’t want to be noticed every time they are having a meal, maybe because they feel that people would find socially unacceptable or give them weird looks. Anyway, if you are planning a solo trip anytime soon, you can refer to these tips mentioned below. I have used them on all of my vacations, and trust me, they really help. 

Accept the truth about you 

You might find it a harsh fact, but you do need to realize that the world does not revolve around you. Unless you are a well-known celebrity, no one even cares whether you eat alone, wear shabby clothes, or even die! Yes, it is too rude to say that, but I have observed this fact about myself as well as others. While gorging a delectable dish at a café, try to ignore every weird, yet momentary look that you receive from someone. Even if you are sitting with someone, you will receive a cursory look from other people. When you do not bother their staring glances when you are with friends, why do you need to care for it when you are alone?

Enjoy the food 

Like you, everyone else at the restaurant is either hungry or is there to experiment with a new meal. People are always busy in their own conversations with their friends or family. They do not even want to notice you to stare at you. If you choose to ignore them, they are also not interested in staring at you, unless you wear funny clothes. As every solo travel guide says, dress up according to the local traditions to grab less attention, and you will be fine. Just focus on enjoying your meal. Indulge in people watching if you like it. 

Eat on a sidewalk 

Sitting alone in a closed room may feel more awkward than doing so on a walkway. If the restaurant has the arrangement for outdoor sitting, you can sit outside and enjoy eating with people watching. You cannot feel bored at all when you have so much to think about while watching people walking by. However, make sure that you do not stare at other people; they will feel awkward just like you if someone stares at you. Watching people walking by is like watching a live movie running in front of you. When you are in a new country, it also helps to learn more about the local cultures and traditions. Learn doing it and you will never feel alone. 

Stay occupied 

The best thing to do when you want to ignore others around you is to keep yourself busy. You can read a book, or even a guidebook when you are spending time at a restaurant. You can re-acquaint yourself with the sites you want to see, activities you wish to do, the next steps you need to take during your journey. The idea is to utilize your time at its best. While eating, you can plan the things you need to do, or just indulge in reading a fiction book.

When you are in a relatively conservative place in India such as Jaipur, you might get more stares than Delhi. However, you can avoid it at almost every place by taking Car Rentals In Jaipur to travel around. You do not need to think about your conduct when you have car rentals Jaipur since you can be yourself and even eat in the car if you feel too awkward in a restaurant.