Well I did it!! Be proud of the old Momma who has now ridden a camel for the second time in her life…wahoo. Even the guide was proud of me…he told me I was very brave, that I did everything on the trip…all the optionals!! Lots of people didn’t do the camel ride but I did !! But I’m right out of sink in my enthusiasm, let me start at the beginning.
It’s been a very big day. We started off at a lake where they watered the camels who used to come through here on the Silk Road. The partition of India and Pakistan stopped that as the route couldn’t go across the border.
Anyway we then went on to Jaisalmer Fort. Another magnificent fort that sits on top of a hill but it is the only active Fort left in India i.e. there are thousands of people living inside the Fort trading etc. First we went to the Palace and clambered up steps looking at it in all its splendour. Splendour that we are getting used to …the days of the Maharajahs was indeed a most magnificent era and it was beautiful. We saw some Jain Temples that reside inside the fort including a massive pilgrimage arriving to worship there. We walked around the fort for a while in the blazing sun looking at the beautiful sandstone merchants houses with intricate carvings on the walls and beautifully decorated interiors (called Havelis).
We were then taken to a place that make patchwork quilts out of the dresses of the muslim, hindi and nomadic women. They buy the superbly handworked material from them and make them into these quilts and give them a share of the profits when sold. And they are truly superb…so I did a bit of damage there I’m afraid buying myself a wall hanging.
We then went off to a place for lunch. After lunch some people then wanted to go back to the hotel because they were done in, so they got into Tuk Tuks…but not me!! We had some more Haveli’s to look at. We walked and walked to get to them in fierce heat. They are amazing in the hand stone carving that has gone into them. They are 5 stories high and up and up went old Miss Stubborn to see it all. I was so glad I did!!
Back to the hotel for half an hours rest and then off to find the camels. As I said, people stayed behind and it wasn’t til the last minute that I decided I would heave myself up onto a camel. But I feel so good for having done it…quite proud of myself actually…it was probably thanks to the encouragement of my NBFs.
Having plodding across the dunes at sunset in what was a magnificent setting, we got back on the bus. We were all really exhilarated. Someone put on the music, Hassan brought out the rum, and the rest, they say, is history!!
Goodnight my darlings. More adventures tomorrow!! XXXXXXX