Happy Holi

Yesterday I rode a camel and Alicen rode one not far away She looked cool on a Camel and I felt quite cool myself.
Camels are really big and tons of fun and the desert we rode through was full of gazelles and soft sand dunes. But boy are they ugly (while still being cute, mind you); I really, really want to ride a horse when I get home now though.
We had a bed alone on the sand dunes; sleeping about 50 meters away from our camel and our guide just beyond that. Other than thse two, it was just our be, soft sand, and the bright moon. Very, very nice.

in the afternoon we wandered around Jaislamer, The Golden City, and today we are in Jodhpur, the Blue City. Next we will go to Udaipur, the White city and then to Judaipur, the Pink City. And these are not metaphorical names; the cities are alone in the desert and are quite literally made of stone buildings in the color which the names imply.

Wow.

I need to mention how amazingly peaceful and open indian people have been so far. Unlike other countries we've visited, I don't feel like everyone here is trying to rp me off. Ofcourse they want me to buy things but, as Alicen noted, they practice the art of selling and aren't just trying to con you. It is much more pleasant than I expected.
Although it is really chaotic, often intensely crowded, very dirty with trash and cows, and pigs, and donekys, and camels wandering through the city and without, apparently, anyone with the job title of 'Animal Shit Picker-Upper.' So, not the greatest smell I've ever smelled, but no worse that parts of China.
That being said, the food is really bloody good and we've had some really nice places to stay which have stil managed t be surprisingly inexpensive.

We are having an amazing experience, but the first four days have been non-stop all day long, so we sent our driver away tonight, cancelled our sightseeing and are chilling in the hotel and going to bed early before another long day of seeing amazing things.

Two Phrases I Find Myself Saying a Lot on The Trip:
"Well, I've never seen anything like that before."
"I just can't believe a place like this still exists on Earth!"

We've happened upon India at a very unique time as well. Tomorrow night the Holi Festival begins. Al and I saw this on the Amazing Race a few years ago. This festival finds everyone dancing wildly through the streets in peaceful and jubilant celebration of Springtime arriving and they celebrate by throwing water and food coloring at everyone they see. Apparently bright colors signifiy happiness in India, which explains all the beautifula clothing and decorations in such vibrant clors everywhere. Anyway, Alicen and I each bought a set of pure white, traditional Indian clothes which we plan on having completely dyed by ecstatic, pelting Indians in a couple days. sounds scary but so, so fun.


p.s. if any of you were wondering, I did not get the australia job....it must have gone to one of the other 19,800 people who applied.

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