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Published: October 25th 2010
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Junagarh Fort Bikaner
Austrian lady takes orphans for a day out Hello all - it has been a while!
Obviously I survived the first long train journey - 13.5 hours of lying down trying not to pee! Since then I have completed a 3 day long camel safari (sore legs), complete with eating food cooked on whatever dung could be found around the place and with two nights sleeping under the stars with Melvin the camel nearby (thank you for the name suggestion Sian).
It was kind of scary, but we were so far away from everything it’s pretty fantastic compared to the big smoke of Delhi! Everytime we stopped to make a poop-fire to cook a meal, at least one dog appeared from a village and waiting desperately for some leftovers (usually patiently, though you’ll see the picture of the sneaky beast who stole from our plate before long!). Endless village children ran up to me, waving manically saying ‘Ta Ta Ta Ta’ which I'm told means 'goodbye', hopefully it's nothing worse! I felt as if I was in a place that very few Westerners have been before - the children did not know to ask me for schoolpens, chocolate or money yet. I imagine if I went back
in a few years it will all have changed. In my first village, where I was given a tour, I was invited to drink chai with a village chief whilst the kids sat and watched me curiously through the windows. It was a wonderful strange experience.
I spent yesterday evening with a German pair (Annette and Klaus) and a middle aged Frenchman (Christian), all was good fun until Frenchy mentioned the war (the day having been 11/11). Somehow, I managed to make light of it - I've no idea now, but the problem faded quickly. Treated myself to my first beer of the trip, it tasted goooooood! Great to finally spend a bit of time with fellow Europeaners, especially the couple (just travel buddies apparently!) about the trials of being a white tourist arriving in Delhi and all the craziness it brings! They had somewhat been tricked into paying to a Rajasthan taxi. Actually 'tricked' probably isn't the word to use, perhaps 'gently pushed towards' fits better. They were gently pushed towards getting a taxi around Rajasthan instead of the trains/buses for numerous exaggerated reasons.
I also went to the fabled ‘Temple of Rats’ in Deshnok, which is
literally a temple with rats running around everywhere and being treated insanely well because they are believed to be the reincarnation of the village people (i just read how that sounds, and i am fine with it!) If you accidentally kill one, it gets weighed and you must donate that weight to the temple in silver. Fortunately I did not, but I did see an albino rat which is believe to be good Karma - every little helps...
Currently in Bikaner and attempting to find a way to get to Jaisalmer (the golden city) or perhaps to retreat to Jodphur which is a bit further East, very confusing trying to sort trains out! Can’t even find the correct train reservation office! Might just sort it out online, but little worried about going on the generic ‘Sleeper Class’ - don’t think
I'm quite ready for that yet, but it my be my only option other than a bus (and that sounds like even more of a pain to sort out!).
Ah well, I'm sure I'll work it out!
How are you all? Everyone have a good time at Helen’s leaving party????
Miss you all x
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