Beatrice and I just came to Jaipur from Jaisalmer this morning and are waiting for a connection to Sawai Madhopur. That is the city nearest Ranthambore National Park where I went to see tigers last October. You can click on last October’s blog entry to see pictures. She hasn’t been there, and it’s kind of on the way to Udaipur then Diu, Gujarat. So that’s the plan. We should get in there about 7:30 tonight.
Jaisalmer is a pretty nice place, though it’s too bad that it has some of the worst tourist hassle in India. I’m pretty used to it, but they got on even my nerves eventually. There is, of course, a fort there. Unlike most of the Rajastani forts, it’s in full use as a tourist hotel, restaurant and shopping area.Â
 
As you can probably see, there is more new construction than remains of the old fort. At least they use sandsstone in the construction so it doesn’t look bad. Much of the construction down n the town is also of sandstone, so there exists a certain desert character that most people would find appealing. WE stayed in a guesthouse outside the fort because they have severe water management problems inside which are causing problems. We ate in there, but Lonely Planet doesn’t evevn talk about the attractions inside because they have done nothing to rectify the problems, even though the money has been collected. I think maybe the money has disappeared, as it is wont to do in India. Who knows? Anyway, it’s nice, different in that it’s in use, and unfortunate about the tourist hassle.
We didn’t do much in Jaisalmer, mostly walking around and having dinner in the fort, hanging out in a restaurant we liked called Little Italy which has good Italian food and espresso drinks, and lazing around in our rooms. It was hot, so the air conditioned bliss of Little Italy was nice. One day wewenttoa coupleof sites outside of Jaisalmer. One place wasan oasis with funeral cenotaphs around it. I think these sites are SO modern India. Note eternal, the old and the new of the oasis, the cenotaphs with wind generators all around.
We went on a little overnight camel safari from Khuri, a village 45 km from Jaisalmer. This is basically like going out to the backyard to sleep under the stars with your mom making you a nice campfire dinner. Beatrice and I opted to ride camels the 5 km or so out to where we slept. The adult and a young friend took us, made up a nice bed on the sand and cooked for us.
Here area few photos of the sites. First is me and my camel. From up there, it’s a downward angle to photograph the women walking along with their water pots on their heads.
Believe it or not, camels aren’t that hard to drive. At least these weren’t.
We went by a village where the water well is 300 meters deep. Here, we are giving the critters a drink.
Dunes? You want dunes?
How about a sunset?
It was somewhat cloudy, which made it be not too hot. Still, we went out in the late afternoon and came back in the morning. Midday would be a little intense out there.
So that’s the news for now from Lake Wobegon. I’ll probably write again before long. Here’s a last picture of a couple of kids. They are so cute sometimes, before hardship and sun bludgeon their faces and bodies. Be well, all of you. And count your blessings.
