In Pushkar

This is the first town I've been to in the past week that has the infrastructure or ability to have a working internet connection. But the things that we've done and the things that we've seen!

If you look at the description of our tour on the website, it seems to warn the clients that things will be "rustic" at best. So far, we have stayed in a fort, 2 palaces and a luxurious tent by the side of a lake. Every hotel greets us with red bindis and flower garlands (today's was made of roses). This is definitely "The Princess Tour". The hot water may be touch and go, but the service and accommodations are always excellent.

But, before you imagine us living apart from the "real India", just note that most of the places we have visited so far are rather remote and not usually accessible by the normal tourist crowd (except Pushkar, Delhi, Agra and Jaipur). Anyone else been to Bundi or Madhogarh? Yeah, didn't think so.

Because of the "ethical tourism" stance of Intrepid Travel, we have also been able to shop at several NGOs, meaning that the money we spend goes directly to the people who are making the items and/or towards a charitable organization. I'll have to admit that there is such a plethora of wonderful things that it is sometimes difficult to choose. I've not bought too much for other people, just for lack of space (except for cat and hamster sitters....), so please don't feel bad if you don't get something. Proving, however, that the squeaky wheel always gets the grease, I found a nice shirt for Meron.

Right... things I've done so far:

• Pet a newborn baby goat in the middle of a dusty trail (I was on horseback);
• Bonded with a 15-year old girl who was almost sold into prostitution by her family (at one of the charity works that we visited - jewellery - bought lots there!);
• Taught a 5-minute English class in a Hindi high school;
• Danced on a beach to traditional music between a brahmin and a servant;
• Gained 10 pounds (food is excellent);
• Smoked bidis with old men at a chai stop;
• Had the most bizarre train ride of my life;
• Slept in a 16th century palace,
  
• Climbed to the top of a minaret of one of the largest mosques in the world;
• Videotaped a wedding procession;
• Eaten lasagne (this is a big deal - there is no lasagne in Korea);
• Sat on the Taj Mahal;
• Drunk my weight in chai;
• Seen a tiger pawprint;
• Spent more time than I thought possible bouncing along dusty roads in a jeep;
• Watched the sun rise over a small lake as waterbirds flocked and flew around, reflected in the surface;
• Caught a cold;
• Watched primary school children do their morning prayers to the goddess of education before beginning their lessons;
• Been duped into paying too much and/or gotten a good deal;
• Spent more time wearing a salwar kameez than jeans;
  
• Gotten a tan...

And we are only, really, at the half-way point. Tomorrow, we have a camel ride, then this tour ends for Karen and I. Our next stop will probably be Jodhpur for a couple of days. We'll hopefully get a chance to visit a very reputable fortune teller. We will also head up to the "Rat Temple" (Karni Mata), where the sacred rats run around. Should be interesting. After that... we really haven't decided.

Keep leaving comments... I read them whenever I can.

And yes... pictures... there will be TONS!