Day 33 - Pushkar

Had as slow start to the day today because we’re spending the whole day here and, to be honest, there’s not a lot of big attractions in this town. Apparently it’s a “happening scene” if your a little alternative, a truth probably borne out by the number of “hippie” looking white folks, both young and old, getting around the streets. The word is that Pushkar is the place to be if you’re after some “chemical stimulation”, if you know what I mean. To be fair though, it’s also the place to be if you wish to pay homage to your Hindu god. I read somewhere that Mahatma Ghandi’s ashes were scattered in the lake.

After our simple breakfast of toast and tea, Kerry and I trotted off into town, following more or less the same route as yesterday. The air in Pushkar is very dusty because the streets are very dusty which makes for a not so pleasant walk, made worse by my less than optimal respiratory situation thanks to my cold. We walked the length of the main street, also known as the Sadar Bazaar, towards the Brahman temple at the end thereof. According to Anant this temple is quite rare, but I can’t remember why. The curators impose strict entry guidelines which include no leather, no shoes (of course), no bags, no water, no cameras so, for us, we decided no entry. Irene did check it out and reported that the ones we saw in Jaisalmer were infinitely better. I’m sure any member of the Brahman caste would disagree.

Next we went in search of a set of camel figures hanging from string (sort of like a linear mobile) that Kerry was keen on. Plenty of shops sell them. She found one she liked, we bought it then she spied a similarly arranged set of elephants bit larger in size so the camels were traded in. When we get back to Delhi the famous Hindu celebration called Holi will be on. This is where people gather in large groups and throw multi-coloured dye at each other all afternoon. To prepare for that we went in search of some clothes we could wear for the occasion and then throw them away. Humorously, our paths crossed with another couple about our age, Scott and Paula, travelling with a rival tour company doing exactly the same thing. Anyway, after much searching and haggling we acquired a couple of white tee-shirts, some trousers and a skirt for the occasion.

It was time for a coffee and a bite to eat so we walked over to the Sunset cafe where we ate last night. Along the way our journey was momentarily halted by a wedding procession making it’s way through the Sadar Bazaar. A golden carriage, a noisy band, a group of girls dressed in lovely saris and two white stallions bedecked in magnificent regalia made their way along the street ahead of us. The Sunset cafe has a German bakery attached to it (don’t ask me why) so we enjoyed a coffee and a couple of freshly made cinnamon scrolls. From there we walked back to the main street and caught a tuk-tuk back to the hotel as Kerry’s Achilles was getting a bit sore. We paid 150 rupees for the trip which  was a bit steep I reckon bit the driver would not move on his price. Once we got halfway down the rocky and pot-holed road to our hotel I reckon I would not have taken anything less than 150 rupees to take my tuk-tuk down there either.

We rested for a couple of hours the met the group in the lobby and walked back into town for dinner at an Italian restaurant, of which there are lots in Pushkar. The place we chose was a former haveli which, through the narrow street-side doorway, opened up into a lovely, fully-enclosed courtyard with open roof  and flanked by tall coconut trees on all sides and other greenery down at the floor level. Pushkar is a completely veg town, so no meat of any sort is available. I had spaghetti bolognese with soya cubes where the minced meat usually is. Apart from the rubbery-ness of the soya you couldn’t really tell. Kerry had the biggest pesto pizza I have ever seen. It made a family-sized pizza look small. None of our other traveling companions who also ordered pizza could finish theirs so carried the remains home for tomorrow’s breakfast. Kerry finished hers – ‘cos I helped, a lot. Back through Pushkar’s streets we walked, picking up some ice for Kerry’s Achilles along the way.