Blogs from Bikaner, Rajasthan, India, Asia - page 3

The shrine to Ramdev, a revered 17th century do-gooder who tended the needs of the poor, is approached through street upon street of stalls hawking offerings to this demigod. We wonder who buys it and where it all goes? How much prasaad (sacred food offering) can be strewn around a temple, and how many plastic keepsakes desired or donated? With shoes customarily discarded, our freezing feet shuffle in behind a long line of pilgrims awaiting their moment of “pujah” (devotions) before the deity’s image. Their devotion is evident in the slow pace of passing and we the unenlightened finally give up, sneaking a view from a different vantage point. On returning through the carnival atmosphere of peddlers lining the path to the temple, we contemplate the paradox of commercial enterprise and religion common to all societies ... read more

What a day this turned out to be. Before I write about today, in order for this entry to make a bit more of an impact on you, I will tell you something about me that few people know. I have a 'thing' about going barefoot in places where a lot of people may have gone barefoot before me. I rarely shower barefoot in hotels and hostels, no matter how clean they appear, and I often won't even go barefoot in the room. I can handle walking barefoot on the beach, or even in the forest or people's yards. Regular dirt doesn't bother me. But in certain situations and places, I just have a 'thing' about going barefoot. Now you know. On to Bikaner. After washing my hair by pouring water over my head from a ... read more

Au matin, visite de la vieille ville de Bikaner, puis passage rapide par son fort. Ensuite direction Khuri qui est a 50km de Jaisalmer pour un safari a chameau. Ca fait haut quand meme quand il se leve, c'est assez impressionnant. Le safari a dure 3h, on a pu voir le soleil se coucher sur les dunes du Thar Desert qui se trouve a 90km de la frontiere pakistanaise, nous n'irons sans doute jamais plus pres. Apres repas avec musique traditonnelle qui casse les oreilles des novices! Apres retour aux dunes pour une nuit a la belle etoile. Malheureusement pour lui, Youval a eu droit au mastiquage continu des chameaux toute la nuit accompagne des conversations telephoniques des "camel-boys".... read more

Well... Firstly Danny talks rubbish...i have been very adventurious with my food options...tonight i had chips and curry sauce!!!! dad - i'm kidding, i had a buffet of loads of different food...tika and curries and naan and yes i had a few chips...ooops! Anyway, since our last blog we have been very busy...... I have done more shopping...in the middle of a negotiation for a very pretty bed cover.....danny actually said..."you do know i am going to work wiht my dad in a fabric business" as if that is the point....and as if that is the same as having a hand stitched (30 days worth) bed cover....anyway.....that and 2 pairs of shoes....both camel leather...and divorce was on the cards...so i have promised for the time being to curb my shopping habits......we are now in the desert ... read more

Un destino evitable!! Llegamos a esta linda ciudad con la idea de hacer la excursión en camello, que se hace normalmente en Jaisalmer, pero parece que acá era mas copado porque no estaba tan explotado para turistas y el desierto era mas natural…. Taan natural que tenia menos arena que el balneario de Azul. La primer tarde la dedicamos a conocer un poco el pueblo, comprar especias y a tomar cerveza en una fábrica de textiles, donde después de 3 hs de darle vuelta el local, no lograron vendernos nada. A la mañana siguiente comenzó nuestra experiencia por el “desierto”. Subimos al camello, que por cierto no es el transporte mas cómodo, pero fue divertido estar arriba del camello cuando se paraba, aunque la cara de Mechi decía lo contrario. El paseo duro 4 hs hasta ... read more