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Published: February 15th 2007
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Sunrise at the Camel Camp
I turned around to find one of the best settings for a picture I've come across during my travels... Falling into a grove here in India. More accurately getting sucked into everything that is India, people, sights, smells, culture, food. Never have I visited a country that is so 'in your face' constantly, twenty four-seven, allowing emotions to surface that you never even knew existed. Gotten used to the cows in the streets, the incessant honking on the roads, the chai, the beggars, the gypsies, the sandhus, and everything else. I almost can't get enough, don't think I've had a cup of coffee in the last week, been drinking masala chai almost exclusively. I've begun to calm down, latching on to what Indians describe as "Shanti, Shanti" (Slowly, Slowly). It's a great way to live. I have yet to try yoga, I'm pretty templed out, I've been craving western food more often, bucket showers are a way of life, and not a day goes by here in Pushkar that I don't visit a small local Chai shop in the middle of town, watching people, reading a book, while the hours slowly pass either filled with interesting conversations or chances to just think and reflect at where my life has taken me. I have a hard time describing in words what
Check This Guy Out.
Caught a glimpse of this guy from the bus on the way to Jaisalmer. He was smoking a local butt and he was great fun to watch for five minutes. it's like to sit on a small street, watching life happen right in front of your eyes and then bang it hits you..."I'm in India!"
"Nights in Udaipur"
It's after midnight in Udaipur, India. Lying in bed at my guest house, listening to the music that fills the night air. Songs many of us are familiar with fill the silent void outside. Most people are asleep, but it seems as if while one population sleeps, another awakens, roaming the streets, singing and screaming. More accurately barking and growling, that's right it's the canine population, playing out the hand they were dealt by mother nature. Fighting each other for, I'm only guessing, territory, food, mating rights. For over half an hour I've sat here listening to endless barking, walked over to the window and watched while four dogs faced off, two on two. Never physically fighting, but flexing, intimidating, almost dancing. All the while they sound like they're playing for keeps. Crickets sing, filling the background with an almost constant noise. Even now I hear dogs racing by on the streets below and in the distance it sounds like WWIII. It's like being a reporter in a foxhole on the Jagdesh Temple - Udiapur
I loved this picture, wish I still had my DSLR. front lines...
The following night I was startled when the same scene described above spiraled out of control to actual violence. Dogs biting each other, going right for the jugular. The sight of blood on their coats. Some whimpers as one dog bites another. Battles lasting a couple minutes most times the fighting ends with both sides retreating, licking their wounds (both literally and figuratively). The above is India at it's finest!
"Desert Nights"
As I sit here on the dunes of the Thar Desert, the sun setting in the background, causing the sky to glow many different colors and the clouds to turn all the shades of red. I recall the day gone by...
Arrived out in the desert just as the sun was crossing the horizon blessing us with a spectacular sunrise while presenting us with a great back drop for breakfast. Chai was served almost immediately, followed by toast, hard boiled eggs and porridge, a hearty desert breakfast! In the background, heads held high, our mode of transportation for the next couple of days were also waking up...The Camels.
Riding through the desert gave me a chance to reflect on the time gone bye. More and more I find myself staring into space thinking back on all the wonderful memories that fill my mind. It was like being in "Laurence of Arabia", I know I'm not in Arabia, but hey thats just a technicality, I was riding a camel through the desert which is close enough for me.
As the sun goes back across the horizon, capping off the day, I make my way to the fire. Sitting by the fire I catch a glimpse of our camel guys in their element, small fire burning, chai boiling, chapati dough being kneaded, curry simmering, the warm desert air gives way to the cool of the night ahead. And one question keeps running through my head..."Does life get any better than this?"
I lay my head down on the pillow, look up at the clear sky and witness a sky filled with stars brighter than I've seen in months. I cover myself with a down comforter and just day-dream as the Milky Way glows above. At some point I cross the threshold from day-dreaming to sleep and awaken with the rising sun below my feet. Didn't even need to pick up my head
Another B & W I Just Love...
Shot this one on the Camel Safari on the first day. I watched the girls for a couple pf moments and the lighting was perfect. from the pillow to see the sun rise, I turn over and drift off into oblivion for another three hours...
"Chai Stand of Pushkar"
People watching is a great pastime of mine. Hours can be filled just sitting around watching life go by right in front of your nose. The key is location. The Chai Stand in the center of Pushkar provided a great place to sit, meet people, read and watch life as it happens here in India. Welcome to Pushkar, the city of Lord Brahma, centered on a lake created when he dropped a lotus leaf. It is now an over-developed, touristy, hippy hangout. Dread locks as far as the eye can see, people donning tie-die t-shirts, shopkeepers shouting "looking is free!". During one visit I got a glimpse of the one of the sub-cultures of India...
Sitting here at the Chai shop two hippies across from me, a Finn and a Canuck and to my right a scruffy looking guy, hair that hasn't been cut in a year, possibly not washed in months, with a weeks worth of stubble, dirty finger nails, chain smoking, sputtering nonsense in a language from some unknown Eastern European nation. A man in turmoil, a man haunted by demons or so it seems. The man is clearly speaking to an imaginary friend, and the conversation has turned into a lengthy one. Definitely a guy I wouldn't have a conversation with.
The mans imaginary conversation is broken by a nice middle aged hippy lady, just being pleasant, asking him "how's it going?", which only leads to a curt diatribe that I couldn't exactly follow other than the name Gandhi. She has no idea that this is one sick puppy. I'm finished with my second chai, ready to leave, but I just can't tear myself away from this scene. Part of me is drawn in by the slim possibility of something crazy happening, no problem..."Chai Please!" The nice lady finally realizes he's talking to himself, when she responds to one of his mumbled statements, luckily he cuts their exchange short. But she continues to engage him...
The scene is complete now, two Israelis have arrived, thank-god, I haven't seen any of them in the last 20 minutes...
I finished my third chai, things are continuing uneventfully so I finally pick my ass up and leave. Rest assured I'll be
Chillis
My mouth is on fire just looking at this pic. back again tomorrow and once again I'll be blessed by a chance to watch life happen right here in front of my eyes.
Back in Delhi to catch my flight to Chennai tonight. Plan is to spend tonight in the Chennai airport before catching a flight early tomorrow morning to the Andaman Islands, if you have the time Google them. You'll find the same pictures of white sand beaches, crystal clear water and palm trees blowing in the breeze that drew me in. I'll catch you all again in a month or so...
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Betty
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Picturesque
India seems a place of odd contrasts, very drab landscape, very colorful food and clothing. Attractive riverside laundery, but I'll keep my washing machine.. I will try the daal - when are you cheffing up a feast for us? Keep the blogs coming. Miss you, love you.