While in Jodhpur, I met 2 separate travelers who said I really should visit Pushkar, especially after discovering I hailed from San Francisco. So, I changed my plans (which were tenuous at best) and agreed to go there with a Korean student named Han-Sol who was here on holiday with her sister (her sister was to stay in Jodhpur to do some volunteer teaching).
But! Before I reached Pushkar, I had one of the best 5+ hour train rides of my life! I happened to be amidst 130 (one hundreds and thirty) very jovial family members who were traveling from Jodhpur to a small village in Madhya Pradesh (southeast of Jodhpur), via long train and bus rides, to celebrate the founding of a Hindu temple by the family's grandfather. I was adorned with a wreath of marigolds and ultimately a red forehead mark with silver sprinkles (for good luck, I was told)...
The energetic kids ranging from 5-12 years of age:
The family fed me fantastic Rajasthani food the entire way...they were so generous, fun and full of happy energy!!! Thank you, Sancheti family (Dinesha, Varun, Arun, Kumal and other names I have thoughtlessly forgotten!!). :-)
One thing I learned during this trip was that Snickers are NOT vegetarian...they contain dried egg matter. I offered my mini-bars to the kids and Dinesha carefully inspected the label and pointed out that they could not eat them (I felt a little sheepish). However, my peanut M&Ms were vegetarian-approved. :-)
Pushkar was a nice change from the craziness and VOLUME that the rest of India has been thus far. It is like the Haight-Ashbury but in India! Plenty of white hippies, young and old alike.
Other images from Pushkar and surrounds:
But! Before I reached Pushkar, I had one of the best 5+ hour train rides of my life! I happened to be amidst 130 (one hundreds and thirty) very jovial family members who were traveling from Jodhpur to a small village in Madhya Pradesh (southeast of Jodhpur), via long train and bus rides, to celebrate the founding of a Hindu temple by the family's grandfather. I was adorned with a wreath of marigolds and ultimately a red forehead mark with silver sprinkles (for good luck, I was told)...
Grandmother Sancheti
Granddaughter Dinesha with her grandma
Dinesha (hopefully spelling is correct?) applied henna (art of mehndi) to my right hand during the trip. It was beautifully done!!
Henna on another family member's hands--beautiful!!
Henna on another family member's hands--beautiful!!
The energetic kids ranging from 5-12 years of age:
The family fed me fantastic Rajasthani food the entire way...they were so generous, fun and full of happy energy!!! Thank you, Sancheti family (Dinesha, Varun, Arun, Kumal and other names I have thoughtlessly forgotten!!). :-)
One thing I learned during this trip was that Snickers are NOT vegetarian...they contain dried egg matter. I offered my mini-bars to the kids and Dinesha carefully inspected the label and pointed out that they could not eat them (I felt a little sheepish). However, my peanut M&Ms were vegetarian-approved. :-)
Pushkar was a nice change from the craziness and VOLUME that the rest of India has been thus far. It is like the Haight-Ashbury but in India! Plenty of white hippies, young and old alike.
Other images from Pushkar and surrounds:
I'd never seen a camel resting like this...had to pause to check for breathing. Its coat isn't in the best shape. :-(
Various monkeys are common in both urban and rural areas here...they can be ornery and a bit aggressive!! This one was seen on a climb up to Saraswati temple, which is 30-60 minutes of an Indian version of Stairmasters. Would not be easy for arthritic knees...
No property maintenance necessary for this barber shop! (in Ajmer).
I've seen the term "Freedom Fighters" a few times at the train station lines designated for foreign tourists...still not sure what this means, but it's funny!
I admire the bluntness of this particular brand of birth control pills. :-)
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