Oct 30, 2010 - A Camel Safari Saga

The business of the camel safari has been going on since I arrived in Jaisalmer; Manni, a worker at the hotel Surja wants to take me by jeep to the best place in the desert, a peaceful place, not full of tourists, hassles or plastic trash. He says his family owns camels, good camels and we will depart from his village 60km away. I explain to Manni that I prefer to safari with a group and with a group he can offer me a better price than the 1,900 rupees he quoted. He said he will look for others to safari with us. Yesterday afternoon, as I...

Oct 29, 2010 - A Golden Awakening

I awoke this morning in Jaisalmer, the golden city. My room is at the Hotel Surja, a part of outer wall of the fortress, that is the heart and soul of Jaisalmer. My hotel room is medieval like, with marbled floors and walls decorated in a Rajasthani theme. The first thing I did upon arrival yesterday was to climb out of the large window next to the bed and seat myself on a cushion, atop the window’s ledge. I don’t know the name, but it’s like a sit down mini balcony for one or two persons or rather like sitting in the bay area of a bay...

Oct 28, 2010 - A Journey to Jaisalmer

I am on the Jaisalmer Express, traveling through the Thar Desert. As I peer out the window I see a landscape dotted with grass and scrub, planted like crops in a sea of brown sand. I’m told that it rained this year, so it’s a much greener time. Although it‘s only 8am, I’ve already had a full morning of activity. My day started with an unusual problem. I had no cold water. My bathroom had plenty of very hot water coming from the shower and sink faucets, but no cold water. I adjusted accordingly and I exited the hotel by 5am. It was a dark,...

May 8, 2010 - Aktuelle Statistik

Aktuelle Statistik Zurueckgelegte Kilometer ohne Fluege: 6950km Fortbewegungsmittel: ausschliesslich mit oeffentlichen Verkehrsmitteln Krankenstandstage: 0 wir essen fast immer auf Strassenstaenden und waren noch keinen Tag ans Bett gebunden Landschaften: Wueste Thar, Himalaya, Ganges, Mekong, Meer, ....... indische Freunde: mindestens 100 (Inder lieben es Freundschaften zu schliessen, auch wenn sie nur fuer eine Minute andauern) derzeitiger Plan: Wie ihr wisst, haben wir schon unzaehlige Male unsere Plaene geaendert. Wir wollten jetzt...

May 7, 2010 - 40 Grad im Schatten

Wir pendeln durch Rajasthan! Genug von den Bergen, ab ins Flachland! Infos zum Bundesstaat Rajasthan: Rajasthan liegt im Westen Indiens und grenzt an Pakistan. Das Land besteht hauptsaechlich aus der Wueste Thar. Hier lebten die Rajputen und dann die Maharatschas. Durch Rajasthan fuehrte die Seidenstrasse und Rajasthan war unvorstellbar reich. Seide, Silber, Gold, Kamelzucht, uvm machte Rajasthan zu einem maechtigen Staat dessen Macht und Einfluss bis in den Mittleren Osten reichte. Die Forts, in denen die Maharatschafamilien leben, sind...

Apr 19, 2010 - "Holi" - Festival of Color!

From the far west reaches of India’s Rajasthan state, my next unforgettable Indian experience, quite literally, colored my trip! Not to mention, painted, shaded, tinted and in the case of my once blonde hair, permanently dyed. “Holi”, also known as, “The Festival of Color”, is a celebration of life and harmony. A day to ignore religious and caste related separations, instead encouraging social balance and unity between all of India’s people. And what better way to portray this then with color! Smearing powdered dye’s on each other, the...

Apr 8, 2010 - JAISALMER

8 Aprile Jaisalmer- il cibo ...non europeo ed il caldo sofferto in questi giorni ha provato qualche stomaco di troppo nel gruppo ...ciò ci spinge ad alzarci prestissimo per visitare la cittadella, costruita nel XII secolo in pietra gialla ...sembra ambra Attraversiamo il portale di ingresso e .....subito una scuola con i bambini gioiosi che si allineano per il saluto iniziale..fa da contraltare ad un tempio piccolo ma frequentatissimo di indiani che come in una processione si alternano tra l’interno in preghiera al loro Dio e l’esterno...

Apr 7, 2010 - BIKANER/JAISALMER (330 Km/7-8 ore)

8° giorno * BIKANER/JAISALMER (330 Km/7-8 ore) * 7 Aprile mercoledì prima del trasferimento...il più lungo di tutto il viaggio..ci fermiamo a visitare il tempio dei topi... già..qui ratatouille ecompagni sono venerati...perchè nel 1400 una dea-santona decide che tuttigli abitanti con buonkarmasi reincarneranno nei topi all'internodel tempio... ce nesono acentinaia..bevono latte e sono rispettati più dellepersone qui dentro...ti passano sfrecciando vicino ai piedi...molti dormono su tutte lepossibili superfici di appoggio...si dice che...

Oct 18, 2009 - Jaisalmer

Diwali was great last night. I stayed up as long as I could, suspecting that I may not be able to sleep due to the immense booming, but I slept well on and off. The fire crackers went all night, especially the big ones. Once the sun came out they dropped off to just the kids with little crackers. Now most of the locals are in the temple, then big nosh up for lunch and then tonight they unleash 2x the amount of fireworks as they did last night. Leave on the 10am bus for Jodhpur tomorrow. Have been warned by a French traveller that Jodhpur...

Oct 17, 2009 - Jaisalmer

I went to the lake this morning, sat in one of the pavillions and listened to an old man sing traditional desert songs. It was relaxing. Then I went to poshest haveli in town. Built by a gold and opium merchant in the 17cent. The locals no longer use opium thank goodness. Tonights the night, all is alight and will go bang in a big way. Last night was noisy with the pre Divali ignition. The smoke from the fireworks was so strong last night that I had to shut my windows. Have connected with some lovely locals who have invited me to Divali...

Oct 14, 2009 - Jaisalmer

I have now come to the very eastern part of Rajasthan, near the Pakistan boarder, staying in Jaisalmer. This place is truely something out of an ancient story book, out in the desert where the traders on the Silk Route would visit on their journeys across the world. It took a 12 hour train ride with a large portion of the desert making it's way inside the train, despite our efforts. Each time I stood up sand would pour off my clothing. All good fun. A stunning fort is located here, intricately carved balconies and walls. The place that I am...

Jul 8, 2009 - Jaisalmer ... na pustyni - prawie pod granica z Pakistanem

8 lipca hotel w Jailsamerze, 16.50 - haslo dnia dzisiejszego - co cie nie zabije to ci wzmocni - w dniu dzisiejszym Delhi wydaje sie bardzo milym wspomnienien ze swoimi trzydziestu paru stopniami - wjechalismy w pustynie i upal stal sie nie do zniesienia okolo 47... wiec odkrylem nowy szczyt upalu - spocic sie w kilmatyzowanym aucie :-) Na szczescie wyruszylimymy w miare wczesnie bo o 8. Najpierw bylo stare miasto - targu moze nie bylo jeszcze ale lazac sobie waskimi uliczami - moglem poczuc (tez doslownie) uroki budzacego sie do zycia...