For those that may be interested - here goes :)
PART THREE
Street sweepers in Rajasthan are quite different from with what I am familiar. Firstly they are not machines but women and secondly, they are dressed as if ready for a very well to do ball. The first one I came across, was wearing a vibrant fuchsia coloured sari entirely trimmed in gold stitching. To add to this glamour she also wore a gold ring in her nose about 3” in diameter and intricately designed. True to form, I totally missed that pic as I was so boggled. But here are two others to give you an idea.
Street sweeper
http://www.flickr.com/photos/91119310@N07/8588441884/in/set-72157633078911877
This woman on the right is a construction worker and taking a well deserved break.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/91119310@N07/8615787992/in/set-72157633078911877
We travelled to Jaisalmer where tribal roots are clearly stressed in traditional clothing – vibrant colours often heavily embellished. The turbans, distinctive to the area, are actually quite dashing. http://www.flickr.com/photos/91119310@N07/8587355501/in/set-72157633078911877/
Lots of earrings on men; rose blossoms and so on – and they definitely were attractive - but the women appeared to be the only ones to wear the hugely dangly ones.
I found Rajasthan constantly amazing, challenging and fascinating with at least 15 religions living in the same box, and all rattling around quite nicely. I found the wonderful use of colour endlessly engaging. There was so much to learn – I thought Hindu was just that – Hindu. But I quickly discovered that there are a great many different sects with different gods and different ‘layers’ from there, all with huge differences.
Visited Jaisalmer Fort - a medieval fort built in 1156 and still a bustling city with ¼ of the population living inside.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/91119310@N07/8573006093/in/set-72157633037989365/
Such wonderful colour and notice the delicately painted toenails J
http://www.flickr.com/photos/91119310@N07/8573006665/in/set-72157633037989365/
Stone seats on the right, well polished from centuries of people sitting on them.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/91119310@N07/8574096722/in/set-72157633037989365/
I had wanted to sleep inside a medieval fort and was fortunate to locate a guesthouse with a room in a top turret - Surja Guest House - nothing could beat the fantastic view.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/91119310@N07/8573004487/in/set-72157633037989365
At first I was hugely nervous when sitting down at the restaurant – it was at the very top of the fort with no roof and hubby chose to sit far out on an extended ledge where there were lots of cushions. I gingerly crawled out on hands and knees – same for my bedroom turret window until I got up enough courage. However, I was always thinking that after this many centuries and now ‘my’ sitting there, it would be my luck to choose to cave in.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/91119310@N07/8573007039/in/set-72157633037989365/
Early morning, it was wonderful to watch the children flying their kites at the very top of the fort. Many celebrations at night together with wild wild music and drumming – the drumming is not the western stuff I often hear at home. The authenticity here stood out and I loved it.
Very narrow streets inside the fort:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/91119310@N07/8573005369/in/set-72157633037989365/
Lots of great shopping:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/91119310@N07/8573005911/in/set-72157633037989365/
Out of the fort, the shopkeepers presented a sense of humour:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/91119310@N07/8574097568/in/set-72157633037989365/
I like this pic I took when walking outside the fort:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/91119310@N07/8573099811/in/set-72157633038239647/
Obtaining water for cooking:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/91119310@N07/8573100571/in/set-72157633038239647
Visited Kalp-Vraksha, Lodarva Jain Temple just outside of Jaisalmer – a beautiful complex worshipping black cobras – there were small dishes just outside holes in the temple walls holding milk. Standing at the top of one temple, in the distance I noticed a large bone dry field circled by large stones. Apparently during monsoon time, this becomes a lake to swim in ! And THAT is just how much water is expected during monsoon in this area.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/91119310@N07/8592398489/in/set-72157633098762556
http://www.flickr.com/photos/91119310@N07/8592399043/in/set-72157633098762556/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/91119310@N07/8593499510/in/set-72157633098762556/
Real Poverty was all too common and areas like this were everywhere. It is so heartbreaking to realize that those living in these areas actually have, what those living in the outskirts consider luxuries and advantages.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/91119310@N07/8588434574/in/set-72157633078911877/
Sharing Tea with the neighbour:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/91119310@N07/8588434872/in/set-72157633078911877/
Heading into the desert, we were advised of an Indian armed force member being ‘caught’ in his own territory – he was sent home in two pieces having his head cut off. As we were now about 20 k from the border, having planned to travel further, we decided to travel elsewhere.
We drove to visit Khuri, a village out in the Thar Desert, http://www.flickr.com/photos/91119310@N07/8576468306/in/set-72157633048776514/
Went in search of a camel.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/91119310@N07/8576469074/in/set-72157633048776514/
From there we travelled through gorgeous scenery to visit the marvellous sand dunes.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/91119310@N07/8576468876/in/set-72157633048776514/
Peacocks were running wild being that they are the national bird.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/91119310@N07/8576469910/in/set-72157633048776514/
Deer were close by.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/91119310@N07/8575373991/in/set-72157633048776514/
Travelling further into the desert all shrubbery disappeared:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/91119310@N07/8576470450/in/set-72157633048776514/
By 2 pm we were frying in the sun and by 4:00 p.m. the sand was starting to fly:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/91119310@N07/8576469528/in/set-72157633048776514/
Hubby buggled his knee so we rode on the cart back to the village.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/91119310@N07/8575372467/in/set-72157633048776514/
Just as the sun went down, even tho we had returned to the village and were sitting around the camp fire, everyone was wrapped in blankets as it was now bitterly cold. We enjoyed good ethnic entertainment of dancing and music and had a tasty Marwari dinner prepared for us on the spot. In our travels, we met up with some wonderful food offerings and often found myself writing down the names so that once home, I could look up the recipe. Mind you, on many occasion I had to cut down or out - the spices - as my mouth would be burned and swollen. It took me a bit of time to learn how to ask for absolutely no spices – (something that was non comprehensible with those living in Rajasthan for it would be offering me the guest – waste – so asking for none, at least I got less). My next step was to remember that adding blindingly hot peppers to my meal, was not considered hot spices.
I had to watch my colloquialisms. At one restaurant, the staff was insistent I eat my luncheon order with a certain Rajasthan type ‘bread’ – but I preferred that specific dish by itself or with rice, especially as hubby is allergic to wheat. As a result I had 3 waiters literally hovering over me waiting to see how I could possibly enjoy this without the specific type of bread – at which I said, just before taking a bite, “don’t look”… and all 3 turned their backs ! I was embarrassed ! That was not what I had meant at all.
Continued Part 4 . . .
