Pushkar (3 nights)

My night in Jaipur was tormented by a funny tummy. No rushing to the loo, thankfully, but uncomfortable to stop me sleeping properly. In the morning I was so tired that I was tempted to stay on another day, but eventually resolved to just plow onward. I packed up and walked twenty minutes to the bus station. By 13.00 I was on a bus and on my way again.

The bus journey was....bumpy! But I coped, and 5 hours later I arrived in Pushkar. The hotel I had intended on staying in was full, but the owner rang his friend who came and picked me up on his motorbike and two minutes later I was at his place. It was nice and relaxed and the room had a window with a bit of a view (it was rather nice to have a window at all). Unfortunately, I was so utterly exhausted that I failed to realise that the room with the window was more expensive than the room without and would later have an argument with the owner that I would lose.

The first thing to do was to have a nap. Then I set out to explore. Pushkar is a small, touristy, town scattered around a little lake. You can walk around the whole place in less than an hour. I walked around to the far side of the lake and sat down on one of the stepped bathing ghats to enjoy the sun-set. I would have pointed you in the direction of my pictures, but photography is prohibited. Interestingly, 'priests' come and offer to do a puja (prayer) with you and then ask for a somewhat large 'donation' after which you are given a red ribbon know as a Pushkar passport. I was amused by the man prowling the ghat for unsuspecting spiritual tourists, who claimed that once you possesed such a passport then photograpy is possible, as if it suddenly stops being disrespectful! He shoved a couple of flowers in my face and insisted that I must perform the puja, that I couldnt not simply sit there. I told him where to go! Further instrusions into my peaceful sun-set included a hopeless musician who played me a tune on his thingamajiggy and a few loud and obnoxious women selling bangles, though thankfully not to me. However, I have been travelling long enough to be accustomed to this sort of attention, and though it grates after a while, I kept my smile and relaxed.

The next day I slept in......ah! Then I had a lovely breakfast of toast and rose jam, chocolate & nutmeg coffee, and banana and walnut bread. Indian food is great, but sometimes it is nice to take a break. Then I went shopping and bought a couple of hippie shirts and baggy pants. I chilled out for the afternoon and then made my way up a hill to a small temple for sun-set. Just as the sun was dropping behind the hills, up popped Trever who I had met in Varanasi. I also met an English couple, Jamie and Laura, and had dinner with them. I had an enchillada that turned out to be curry in a pancake!

Next day I was up horribly early to meet Canadian Laura (Trevor's sister) at 5.00am. We were heading up the even bigger big hill with temple on top on the other side of the town for sun-rise. We were joined by Trevor and together arrived much to early. Happily, this worked to our advantage as we watched the valley appear slowly as the light faded in. Later we ate at the same lovely cafe where I had breakfast the day before and spent the rest of the gloriously warm and sunny morning sitting by the lake and watching the people come to bathe and to pray.

In the afternoon I had my first experience of Yoga. It took the teacher around ten minutes to identify me as the least flexible of all nine body types! Still, he was a very very funny guy who instantly made you feel at ease and I enjoyed it none the less.

Having really liked Pushkar, but feeling like I had done all that I wanted to do there, I booked a bus for 07.00am the next morning to Jodhpur.