When You Wish Upon A Star . . .

Sorry for the long lag between posts, but have had a combo of some epically-long travel days and then limited/no internet access when we get where we're going. Right now, that happens to be Jodhpur. Got here late afternoon and will see the Meherangarth Fortress tomorrow before we push on to Pushkar.

The last few days have been a whirl. Delhi was great, very modern and clean and unlike any other place we've been in that regard. Hired a tuk tuk for the day and went to see many great sights, including the place where Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated and a wonderful Sikh mosque where all RGs ("random gringos") were conspicuous for their bright yellow turbans (what you were given to wear if you didn't have your own head covering, which we did). Went out to a very fancy club called Q'Ba our second and last night. As I had already been drinking pints of wine (yes, you read that right - pints) and other assorted drinks, I thought it would be fun to splurge on some champagne. Their sole two bottles of Moet & Chandon, to the tune of $100+ US/pop. It WAS fun, but not so much the next day . . . the longest travel day of the trip, like 15 hours on the truck. Ugh, Ugh, Ugh.

Went to the Karni Mata Temple in Bikaner. In case you don't know what that is (and not sure why you would), it is a temple where holy rats are worshipped. There are hundreds of rats scurrying around everywhere, being fed and worshipped and . . . Double Ugh, Double Ugh, Double Ugh. You have to take off your shoes and you are walking in holy rat shit while saying to yourself "shit! I don't want a holy rat to scurry across my bare feet!" while trying to be respectful and reverent and the like.

Next on to Jaisalmer for a couple of nights and more amazing things to absorb, including the fantastic old city/fort in which people still live. Saw our first leper (handless, in case you're wondering) and I was full-on horned by a holy cow on the street. Seriously. I was turned one direction and from the other, I received a mighty push and a horrible pain in my left thigh and . . . there was a big horned cow shaking its head. Bizarre. It came out of nowhere. I have a giant bruise and various horn-shaped lumps on my leg. Will get a pix of that when it's in its full purple glory.

Last animal-related anecdote before I sign off. We took camels out into the Great Thar Desert yesterday and spent the night camped out under the stars. AMAZING!!!! My camel's name was Sonya and she was very sweet, if very gassy. It was a wonderful night . . . totally clear and peaceful and beautiful. Only saw one shooting star, so made only one wish. But it was a big one. I am optimistic that someone out there reading this blog knows what it was and makes it come true:-)

All for now . . . SRD