Camels, Sunsets, Shooting Stars & a Rat Temple

Last week we were able to check off one more of Jaipur's things to see before we left for Bikaner. The Hawa Mahal is also known as the Palace of the Winds. (from Wikipedia-->) It was built in 1799 in the form of the crown of Krishna, the Hindu god. Its unique five-storey exterior is also akin to the honeycomb of the beehive with its 953 small windows called jharokhas that are decorated with intricate latticework. The original intention of the lattice was to allow royal ladies to observe everyday life in the street below without being seen, since they had to observe strict "purdah" (face cover). It was definitely very beautiful, but still makes me wonder about women in India. I cannot imagine being banned to a building to view life from above.

Ireland, Germany, Mexico and Canada together at H.M. 

This weekend's trip was to Bikaner Thursday night. It started with our first train journey in India, which was pleasant enough. It brought back memories of the many sleeper trains in Europe and made me miss my lovely trainmates Aer & Ash. We awoke at 4:30 in Bikaner and got immediately into our tuk tuk, who drove for awhile and then stopped at a railroad crossing. The arms were down. We sat. And sat. And waited. And no train came. A bunch of motorcycles went under the arms no problem. But we kept sitting and waiting - for what, we weren't sure. Finally after what felt like 30 minutes the driver comes running over, pulls his seat up, pull starts the tuk tuk and off we drive.

I'm still not quite used to the randomness with which these types of events occur, but it definitely teaches you to just sit back and not question their ways. It's just India!

We got to the guest house around 5 a.m. and were tired tired, but our host sat with us and planned our weekend for us. He is the most genuine Indian host I've met so far (and a lot of them are hospitable like crazy) but he was just so good to us. We finally slept and then started our day - first to the Junagarh fort and then off to the desert on a camel for a sunset, an amazing campfire meal and chai, a sleepout under the stars and a sunrise that took my breath away. We each had camel boys leading our camels - mine was about 12 and couldn't speak a word of English so I made friends with him by giving him candy. The only English he knew was "HOLD ON TIGHT" because when the camels get up and down you must do just that to avoid going over their head to the ground. The camel ride was amazing. Lots of time to think and wonder as you are going silently through the desert. We set up camp just before the sunset and only one of the guides stayed with us. He cooked an incredible meal, homemade chipati, stew, chili chutney and rice. We giggled like little girls under the stars and shared stories. I have to say, I kept waking up and saying to the girls - they must trust that guide a lot since he was the only one with us out there. I had visions of Wolf Creek in my head (Ang!) but Elena and I were ready for kung fu if we needed it. Or if a cow made it's way over and trampled us. I really think I slept with one eye open. That meant I was awake for the sunrise though, which was unbelievable. And then breakfast in bed was served right to our sleepy bodies. Chai, toast and banana's. Mmm.

We started with the sun & arrived home early in the day (not before a stop at the Hindu Gods fun park temple -- yes you heard me right -- they are trying to get children more involved with the Gods and temples so they created a fun park.) I slept while the girls toured 'the Old City' around Bikaner and then we headed off to the Camel Farm and Rat Temple (Karni Mata temple). There are many stories for the temple I think, but one is that (Wikifriend again) according to a local legend, Karni Mata, the 14th century mystic and an incarnation of Hindu goddess Durga, implored Yama, the god of death, to restore the life of the son of one of her storyteller. Yama refused, and Karni Mata incarnated the dead son and all of the storytellers as a rat, under her protection. The villagers feed and care for the rats here as they believe they are long lost family souls.

Starting our train adventure.

Amazing intricate ceilings at the fort.

What they used to stand on. For fun I guess?
We don't know because the guide only spoke in Hindi.
I picked up a couple words. Like "Bikaner" and "Maharaja" who built the fort.
So that's about the history I know of it.

I really loved this painting in the fort.
I think it portrays a tough and yet such a beautiful Indian woman.

The camel safari started first in a village outside of Bikaner.

We had chai with the family and children with
milk straight from the goat. How's that for the 10 meter diet?

A beautiful desert day.
That's my camel straight out front.
Hamel. The camel. 

A local village along the way.

My bashful camel boy.

Climbing the dunes to watch the sunset
while dinner was cooked below.

Silk sand.

South Africa, Mexico, Canada & Switzerland
enjoying chai & dinner around the fire.

Sleeping under the stars.

The beginning of the sunrise that I was up alone for.

Chai in bed!

Elena & I at the camel farm, trying camel ice cream. (yuck) (sorry camels)
There are huge health benefits to camel milk and soon
it will be marketed to the masses. 

The Rat Temple. (yuck) (sorry rats) (and Elena, who loved it)
I stayed in there for maybe 10 minutes. Then I was done.
Elena stayed and saw the white rat (good luck) and
was even nibbled on by a couple!

Waiting for the girls outside. Ok. I owned a tarantula I know.
But rats running around your feet? I'd rather see this sunset.
Outside. Away from rats.

Dinner later at a delicious restaurant. Hot sauce baby.

Nightmare seats for 7 hours. But a must for the Indian experience!

Our train ride home was not so fun. We had 2nd class sitting seats and for seven hours sat three to a seat, with more people getting on the train at each stop. It was HECTIC to say the least and we were so happy to be home and in our own beds yesterday!

Six days left of work. Starting now. Off to shower and get to Katputli. Pyaar!