Pushkar

Hi Y’all

I am sat sipping chai in a cafe at the top of Jaipur Ghat by pushka lake. For those of you that ain’t been to india ghat means steps down to water. Scale is not implied so the term is sometimes used for hills and mountains (eg the Weston Ghats Mountains) but usually what is meant is the classic Indian steps by a river used for washing and bathing ect. Pushka lake is completely surrounded by 52 separate ghats and over 500 adjoining temples all tucked away in every space as the lake is really not that big. It’s hard to believe it was ever a natural lake at all. The town almost feels like a caricature of itself with all the Brahmin Priests trying to get you to put flowers in the lake, traditional buskers and colorful statues of deities under each tree or in any available alcove.

Alcohol is illegal here. Strangely this means its 100rs cheaper than the other places I’ve been and comes wrapped in tin foil, a stealth technique I was previously unaware of. (bring on the tin foil ninjas)

Met a tour bus load of people last night and played some chess over dinner with there driver who was from south America. Sounds like a cool job, just driving a Merc Truck from place to place on a 11 week circuit for a few months then when the season changes switch to a different continent and repeat. Tiring tho as you only spend 1 or 2 nights in most places.

I have a camel ride and desert this afternoon with diner out there after sunset. I didn’t do a camel ride when I was in morocco as all the animals seemed so badly treated, but here they seem well looked after. There is a wild cow, Near the hotel, that’s ill so people are running out with food and things for it.

Off to Ranthambore national park tomorrow. Hoping to shoot some tigers (with a phone camera).


Pushkar lake: