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Other entries in Pushkar

Deserts, Monkeys and Camels

Hello All,

Firstly, I would like to say that Iam thankful that Kat and I were unharmed in the Mumbai blasts that occured. We were in fact on another train service that day. I hope you will enjoy reading our trip notes and we appreciate you staying tuned in.

Well, after 48 hours of travelling we finally arrived in Mumbai, jet lagged and tired. The city was one of extreme chaos and we have since decided that the smaller towns are more enjoyable and less straining. Mumbai is afterall a city of 16.3 million in only 22 sq. miles.

After touring and attending some pre wedding parties we flew to Picturesque Udiapur where we stayed at a lakeside Hilton surrouneded by hills. The weather was great and the breezes kept us nice and cool. The 3 1/2 wedding ceremony was unreal and probably the most amzing one I have ever witnessed. Kat's brother arrived via Elephant and people relaxed on mats and pillows while others told jokes and enjoyed refreshments as the family members explained in english the importance of each ritual performed. Later that night we had a western wedding ceremony to satisfy the western half of the family as well. And of course dinner and dancing and drinking.

After leaving Udaipur (the venice of the east and the most romantic city in India) Kat and I headed up into the Araveli mountains to a town called Kumbhalgar (Cum bal gar). Here there is a fort that has a 20 mile long wall and used to house 30,000 residents.

Wild monkeys rome through the villages and streets as well as mongooses, cows and goats. The area is very rural and people live very basically (off the fat of the land). Walking around the kids are so happy to see you and smile and say hello (dada in hindu) or good evening (namaste).

We toured the fort and then took an open air jeep over the next ridge of mountains to a temple that is over 650 years old and took 63 years to build.

After leaving the lush mountains behind we drove 6 hours in an SUV into the desert town of Pushkar where we are now. To put it into perspective we are heading NE towards the Taj Mahal (town of Agra). Here there are many markets and many westerners from the UK, France, Italy and Spain.

This evening we will take a sunset camel safari into the desert for 3 hrs. All health is still good, lucky to have only had minor boughts with stomach problems. It is very hot here in the desert compared with the other towns.

India is such a cheap place I could live here for over a year and not work. They have massages, yoga, reiki on offer. You can get your face shaved for 20 cents and  the 3 of us just ate breakfast for 50 cents (all of us for 50 cents, not separate).

I hope all of you are doing well, thanks again for keeping up with our progress and we will speak again soon.

K and W

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