Blogs from Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, India, Asia - page 4

Day 7- Jaisalmer Fort- and shopping! Where to start? I have had the best day so far, but every day offers different experiences! Jaisalmer, known as The Golden City, stands on a ridge of yellowish sandstone, in the heart of the Thar Desert. Crowned by a fort containing the palace and several ornate Jain temples, Jaisalmer was positioned strategically and was a halting point along a traditional trade route traversed by the camel caravans of Indian and Asian merchants. The route linked India to Central Asia, Egypt, Arabia, Persia, Africa and the West. We met with the guide at 8am to be taken by tuk tuks to the Fort area. It is the only ‘Living Fort’ in the country. The fort is host to over 1000 families whose forefathers have been settled there by the Kings ... read more

Και αυτο χαριστικα λογω του ασματος με την Κωνσταντινα καπου εκει τελη 80 αρχες 90. Η αληθεια βρισκεται στους συν 10 βαθμους πανω. 12 ώρες νάιτ μπας πήρε για να αλλάξουμε ήπειρο, και να βρεθουμε στην έρημο της Αφρικής σε ενα αρχοντικό νομαδοχωρι.Έτσι φάνταζε τουλαχιστον.Ετσι φανταζε και το ταξιδι.600 χλμ και οι στιγμες αμετρητες οτι δεν θα φτασουμε ποτε.Ενα συνεχομενο ταψι σαν αυτο που γελουσαμε τοτε στα luna park αλλα με aircondition. Delux δηλαδη. Jaisalmer ή αλλιως the Golden City. Σύνορα Ινδίας - Πακιστάν, η θερμοκρασία ανεβαίνει και το σκηνικό αλλάζει. Μονο ευγνώμων θα μπορουσα να είμαι για το cv μου στη Bikram, παρόλα αυτα την προσαρμογή ακολούθησαν μερικές ακόμη αμιλιτες στιγμές.Ειναι αυτες οι στιγμες που σου ερχονται στο μυαλο τα ρεπορταζ ειδησεων που προειδοποιουν για κυμα καυσωνα. Ειναι οι επομενες που συνηδητοποιεις οτι αυτό που ... read more

I have never ridden a motorcycle before, and the chaotic streets of India aren’t exactly the first place that I would opt to try. That’s why the title of this blog should in fact read, “Motorcycling AND SCOOTERING in the Thar Desert.” The Thar, or “Great Indian” Desert occupies an area of over 200,000 km2 and forms a natural boundary between northwest India and Pakistan. It is home to a wide variety of wildlife, notably Indian gazelle that are practically tame because they are fed and protected by Bishnoi tribes. The Bishnoi are a Hindu sect that cherish all forms of life. Remarkably, some Bishnoi women have even been known to breastfeed and raise young baby gazelle’s that have become lost from their parents. The Thar Desert is on the tourist map for it’s desert forts ... read more

The 22 day long tour I'm about to start is with Intrepid Travel, called 'North India Unplugged'. It's one of their basic no frills trips. We sleep, eat and travel like a local. View Intrepid's website for my itinerary, if you're interested. On Sunday morning everyone is packed up, suitcases downstairs, and gathered in the lobby by 8.30am. Luggage was stored until we left for the train station later in the afternoon. We accompanied Bishal, our Indian tour guide, to the metro station. First stop was Jama Masjid, the mosque I was turned away from the previous day due to prayers starting. We left the metro at Chawri Bazar Station, one stop before Chandni Chowk, so approached the mosque from a different gate. Entrance was free unless you wanted to take your camera in. For that ... read more

So so, endlich komme ich dazu, den versprochenen Blog anzufangen!! Sascha und ich befinden uns in Jaisalmer, ca. 100km suedwestlich von Pakistan. Eigentlich wollten wir ja direkt von Kolkata nach Darjeeling hoch und dann rueber nach Nepal, der Plan hat sich jedoch geaendert! Was bisher sogar gut war, denn wir haben jede Menge von Nord Indien gesehen und erlebt... Der Grund fuer die Planaenderung(en) lag hauptsaechlich darin, dass wir an einem Projekt teilnehmen wollen, bei dem wir die Wirkung von Solaranlagen in Einzelhaushalten untersuchen und die Haushalte besuchen etc. Der genaue Termin, wann wir da mitkoennen stand lange nich fest, also mussten wir oft improvisieren und waren in der Zwischenzeit schon in den Staedten Varanasi, Khajuraho, Agra und Jaisalmer. Heute Abend fahren wir weiter nach Jodpur, danach Jaipur, dann Delhi und irgenwann fuer das Pr... read more