Our driver Girish was great we chatted most of the way and he was telling us all sorts of story's about previous clients good and bad. The car was the perfect size and because there are only 2 of us it meant we could take turns having a sleep in the back. Air Con was defiantly a godsend Phew it was hot.
The first evening Dave wasn't feeling to well so we didn't venture far. We headed up to a roof top restaurant to get a great view over the Holy Lake. We ate Felafel's and pitta bread which was a nice change to Indian (not sick of it yet though i have to say!).
After a terrible nights sleep for Dave we decided it was best for him to spend the day in bed. Actually he didn't have much choice as the Delhi belly had caught up with him!
So i went out to explore the town. I had heard that Pushkar could be a bit pushy so i prepared myself by not taking much money out with me. I headed down to the lake and the touts must had seen me coming and immediately my shoes were removed, I had a Hindu priest on one arm and a metal plate with flower petals, red and yellow powder, rice and a hairy coconut in my hand. The Priest got me to repeat after him and finally added bright red Hindu spot, with his thumb, slap bang in the middle of my forehead. Before it dried he also added some rice! He tied a white and red band around my left wrist which is know as the famous Pushkar passport. Then the inevitable happened, he wanted money. Not just 100 Rupees either he said that if i didn't give him 1000 (nearly 20quid) Rupees for each member of my family that is alive then bad luck would come to them. I pretty much laughed in his face and asked if he thought i was stupid. I soon walked away from that one.
Next stop was a woman who grabbed my right hand and started applying a henna design to my palm. I said i had no money and told her to stop but she said "it's OK...just a small one for free." I didn't want a half finished flower on my hand so gave her a few seconds just to make the petals even and then i pulled away. Stupid woman then started demanding money and when i said no she smudged the design so it was ruined and i was left with a messy orange mark on my palm. More fool her as she got it all on her beautiful Sari...Karma!
After being constantly hassled in the street i found refuge in a high up cafe and had a lassie (Yoghurt drink) and an Aloo Paratha (potato bread). Yummy! I just sat in away from the heat and watched the world go by.
Because Pushkar is a religious place there were lot's of regular pilgrims as well as tourists which made the most colourful show of people i had ever seen. The small alleyways were filled with pinks, purples, oranges, blues and red's of the bustling ladies. Like a rainbow!
I headed back to Nurse poor Dave for the rest of the afternoon. He really was in the wars and not well at all. Unfortunately for him the power had gone out in the hotel which meant that not only was he minus Air Conditioning but also without a fan! Not nice in +30C especially when your ill!
That evening i went on a Camel Safari (more like a camel ride actually). My Camel was called Romeo and i know why, he was a romancer and loved all the lady camels! I hopped on and when he stood up i realised how high i was! It was a bumpy walk through the town but i felt like a queen and all the locals were waving up to me! We joined a convoy of other camels and headed out of town and into the desert. I saw the most magnificent sunset and was really sad that Dave wasn't there to see it but i took lost of photos to show him. My Camel decided to have a lay down in the sand on his side and then had a roll around which was a sight with his gangly legs all over the place. After the sun had set we headed back into town and i was dropped back at my hotel where i scoffed my face with curry!
Next stop Jodphur....
To see our pics from Pushkar please click on the link below;
https://picasaweb.google.com/112941139607408893724/PushkarIndia29thTo31stOctober2011?authkey=Gv1sRgCKPYo7vV4JuTzAE#
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