Camel Safari

This was a lot more fun than I expected.

Camels in Rajasthan are the main mode of transport. Which for me is an unusual site. I have not really come across any camels in my life - then again I have not really experienced the desert life before. They pull carts, roam free in the fields, take a major part in the big festivals.

Jaisalmere was a major trade route before the days of the Raj. After the British came, they established ports in Mumbai and other places which led to a decline in business in Jaisalmere. The camels were deemed useless and the arrid desert town was slowly turning into a ghost town...until the first tourists arrived. And so the 'desert camel safari' was born.

We opted for a 'non-touristic' safari. Which means we didn't go to the usual sand dunes, but paid a bit extra for a jeep to take us to a remote village from where we started our safari. Unfortunatley, we were not able to do the overnight safari due to time restraints. Nontheless, it was great!

Kalia, my faithful camel, turned out to be a very good little boy. Can't say the same for Gurcharan's ride, Mathura. She had a slight gas problem and might have had too much too eat - I had the misfortune of riding right behind her and had to content with very smelly farts and endless camel droppings!

Apart from that, the experience was very much the 'lawrence of Arabia'

Jaisalmere

'The golden city'

Yet another fort and palace! But this fort is unique in that its the only one actually occupied. This is not entirely a good thing, the ageing plumbing system is causing the fort to collapse. The government has no interest in doing something about this, nor do the residents. This fort has made it to the top 100 sites in the world which is on the watch list for collapse.

The best thing here - the camel safari! We loved it!

The Rajasthan tour is now at an end - the lovely car has been sent home - I was quite getting used to living it large! 'driver, chalo!' hehe! :O)
We were lucky with this car (the first one we got broke down in Jaipur, if you remember from my previous post), it was a brand new Tata indigo - a luxury car in these parts. We were priviledged enough to be its very first passengers for its maiden journey.
BUT the good news is...my lovely uncle from Punjab is sending another car to take us from Rajasthan to Punjab! Talk about spoilt little brats! haha! Although im sure those who have travelled on public transport in India will sympathise with us (and especially after our first incident with the trains in india we're determined to avoid trains if we possibly can!)

Ranakpur and Jodhpur

RanakpurClose up of one of the carvings
This monkey was so weird!
The Jain temple complex was huge!
Something caught my eye!
Some artistic shots by Gurcharan
A nice passer by took this for us
The intricate carvings were incredible

From Udaipur, we passed through Ranakpur. Here we saw one of the most beautiful Jain temples we have ever come across. It really is incredible. The number of carvings here and the amount of detail is astounding.


Udaipur

The thorne room

Some real jarokas, very much a moghul design, but adopted by the Rajputs.

Another finely detailed Jaroka

The Maharajs bedroom, note the tiny bed for one and the lack of clutter, rather unlike the indian houses that we know, where everything has value from the vinyl suitcases in various shades to the aluminium peti (storage chest) and random bits of clutter.

The coloured glass is the original Belgian glass used, notice how brightly coloured it is even after hundreds of years, our coloured glass on our windows at home has faded already, but then we aren't maharajas, and the glass isn't Belgian, we are not in india and I need to stop typing...

Theses beautiful Jarokas hold a sad tale as this is where the queens and princesses used to look at the outside world as they werent allowed to out into the real world, they were items of the palace to be seen only by those who were allowed.



Me looking at weapons, im interested in swords and kirpans for obvious reasons, I noticed that some of these were forged damascus steel, as there was a fine water-like pattern to the steel.
Sometimes you just crave familiar food, it would be rude not to indulge in the odd paneer tikka pizza! Oh yes, the world famous Pizza Hut gets all local and knocks out some indian inspired pizza! Yummy!!


The reason that Jodhpur is called the blue city... Because it looks blue! Blue they say is supposed to be a cooling colour which is welcome in the heat of Rajestan and it also keeps the mosquitos away, don't know how true that is but there you go!
Most of the guest houses where you stay are located in that mass of houses, the roads in some places are so narrow that you can only get down them on foot or on motorbike. Out guest house had a fantastic fort view from the roof.
Our room, Preet loved it, as it was so nicely decorated with nice traditional touches, like the windows and artwork. was full of mosquitos though, but our Thai mosquito coils knocked out the mozzies without hassle!
Note the 'Mahahraja' pose, i've got it tradmarked, look at the distant look in my eyes and head tilted to the side hands on knees waiting to dish out some authority over the peasant folk!!

Every night the same family perfomed some local music and dance, we used to sit here and enjoy the entertainment while enjoying rajestani taalis, where we forced to keep eating and eating, rather like being at an old friends house where you get treated so well.

We're now in Jodhpur. Haven't managed to see much yet but will be going later this afternoon to the huge fort and Palace. We have an incredible view of the fort from our 'haveli'. But then again, every building in the old city has a view cos the fort is right on top of the hill! It's huge - might take atleast 2 hours to complete the tour.

After Jodhpur we move to Jaisalmer to complete the final leg of our journey. Here we plan to go on an overnight camel safari, where you can camp under the stars on the Great Thar desert.

Jaisalmere will be our final stop in Rajathan.
After this we move on to Punjab, where we'll meet both mine and Gurcharans relatives. Especially looking forward to seeing my dear mummy whose also in India at the mo! It's going to be good to see her after such a loooooooong time on the road! We're also hoping to meet up with some friends who are arriving in India from London soon. Boy, its going to be quite a shock to the system to see so many familiar faces! I am looking forward to it - travelling does make one appreciate one's family and friends. Absence does indeed make the heart grow fonder!

In a couple of weeks we're back in London. It feels like 6 months has flown past! But its all been such an amazing journey!
I wonder what's changed in 6 months? Do I still have a job when I get back??!! Has my brother finally learnt to drive, bought himself a car and great big mansion??!!!! Has the London underground finally installed an ac system in the trains?!

I just hope the weather's not too cold!