Pushkar! Camels! Here we go – check out my new friend:
He looks good at every angle. And you are about to find that out.
But first, Pushkar is the site of the famous camel fair held every November. So it is pretty much a given that you must take a camel ride into the dessert. One afternoon we met outside our hotel to find a posse of camels waiting. I can’t remember if I chose my camel or if he chose me (or maybe I just got on the one I was told to) but take a look at this face will you, he looked very happy to have me.
PS. Check out his camel friend photo-bombing in the top right corner. Hehehe:
And here is the camel that was behind us in the camel train – he was alright too:
So off we went into the desert in one long line, a camel train if you will.
The ride was heaps of fun and actually really comfortable. Full disclaimer – I have no problems with heights, animals or motion sickness, so it really was a joy ride for me. The journey through the desert was very peaceful and quite mystical in the golden light of the setting sun.
We stopped for a little while as even a camel must drink sometimes.
And have a lay down when they’re tired out (I think these camels get their own way a lot). We all took a break for while, having hot chai as we watched our camels stretch out and have a nana-nap.
Eeeeek! A two headed camel! No, wait… No, it’s just two camels guys.
I told you they look good at every angle, you can’t disagree with this:
Then we rode off into the sunset… I have always wanted to do that.
The last part of our camel ride was through the town which was quite jovial and festive. All the local kids (and adults) waved at us from the side of the road or from motorcycles. I felt like I was in a parade though I suppose camel-transport was a usual day in town for them.
Pushkar itself has a quite the chilled out vibe, plenty of local and tourist hippies around and ‘special’ items on the menus in the cafes. I spent a little time browsing the market streets and drinking fresh juice (non-special) from a little hole-in-the-wall stall with mounds of fruit hung up all over the store front. I walked down by the lake and the ghats, hanging out with my tour friends at the sunset cafe. It was very chilled, once again a reminder how life should be sometimes – there’s so much more than the busy cycle of work and home.
On the last night we went to dinner at the home of a local family, the father works with the local Intrepid team so he welcomes groups to dine at his home. We all sat in a row in their courtyard and his lovely wife and family brought out piles of yummy food. His little boy was very sweet, shaking everyone’s hand and saying hello.
When we left Pushkar we went to the station to catch an overnight train to Delhi, which I quite like, the soothing rocking of the train lulls me to sleep. I’ve heard some really unpleasant stories about them, foreigners getting robbed or waking to find a someone leaning over staring at them, but I’ve been lucky, I keep all my valuables on me, tuck myself up, close the curtain around me and am quite cosy.
Yes I’m one of those people that quite like being in transit. Even this part is alright:
(photo credit: Daniel Brielmayer)
Waiting has its advantages; you can read, listen to music, talk, daydream, sleep, and not feel like you should be somewhere, doing something. Travel teaches you that it’s OK to slow down. Maybe some people don’t need to learn that lesson, but I do. That calm middle ground is my holy grail.
Well.. off I go to Delhi then!!
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