for a busy day, which meant that we had to go really really early. The bus was scheduled to leave at 4:30 am so that we would be at the bird sanctuary at 6 in the morning. So after a short night's sleep we actually all managed to be down in the hotel lobby at around 4:40 am and off we took to our first stop in our Force-bus. For the first time since we came here we saw the main street in front of our hotel - Drive In Road, named after the Drive In movie theater close by - empty. Not a single car- a weird sight.We arrived at the Nal Sarovar bird sanctuary around 6 in the morning, at this time we were the only tourists there.
After some haggling about the price with boatsmen - 500 Rupees person - government rate! we agreed with them on 3200 Rupees for all 9 of us for 3 boats and a 3 hour tour of the lake.The quietness at the lake was quite pleasant as a change to the bustling streets of Ahmedabad. The boatsmen showed us all kinds of birds of which some have a stopover at the lake on their journey from Europe. While it was quite cool when we got to the lake, as soon as
the sun went up, it quickly got warmer and warmer. After a brief stop at an island in the lake we returned to the landing stage where now of the Indian tourists started their tour of the lake. After having been out on the lake for 2 hours or so, we were all glad to be sitting in our comfortable bus again, getting some more sleep on the way to our next stop, the Sarkhey Roza, a large complex with palaces, a mosque and tombs.On the way there we briefly stopped at a local village to have a glimpse at village life. While the village was very interesting for us to see, we probably were just as interesting to the locals there.
We arrived at the Sarkhey Roza in Ahmedabad in late morning hours. It is really an impressing monument built in th 16th century. However one of the main problems is keeping it in shape as it is not really appreciated as a cultural treasure by the locals - we actually saw kids playing Cricket in the palace's courtyard.An Indian visitor's tells us about an interesting story about the palace. One of the courtyards has a small pillar in its center. From a white marked spot on the outside of the courtyard
about 25-30m away, one has to walk towards the pillar with one's eyes closed. If one manages to reach it, a wish will be granted. Eva and me tried, but we both failed to reach the pillar by several meters. Next on our checklist for the day was the Adalaj Step-well, an absolute must see if one comes to Ahmedabad. The step is several stories in depth and has countless carvings on its
walls and pillars. In the past, the step well was frequented by travellers along their trade routes. Today it is a favorite tourist destination in the Ahmedabad.region. After a brief break on the lawn next to the stepwell where we get to try Annamarie's Finnish Salmiak candy, we decide to use the remaining time and our already paid for driver to pay a visit to the Gandhi Ashram at Sabarmati. Here Gandhi started a school that mainly focused on manual labour, agriculture, and literacy in his movement 
towards India's independence. Here it also was that Gandhi in 1930 started his long march to protest the British Salt Laws for the taxation of salt. Nowadays, the Gandhi Ashram has become a national monument of India.
