Jaisalmer, Rajasthan

Jaisalmer

A giant sandcastle with a town attached, an emblem of honour in a land of rough and tumble. Founded in 1156, Jaisalmer's strategic position on the camel-train routes between India and Central Asia brought it great wealth. The merchants and townspeople built magnificient houses and mansions, ezquisitely carved from wood and sandstone.

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Jaisalmer was supposedly one of the main highlights of our trip. However, I felt that it was good, not great when compared to great places like Darjeeling, Varanasi & Bodhgaya. Nevertheless, its culture and architecture style is quite different from the rest of India.

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Jain Temple (12th-16th century)

The interior of the Jain Temple is quite amazing, the worksmanship of carving is something that I haven't seen before. Amazing. Well, Hanyang was the designated photographer to take all the interior pictures, as each camera taken in would be charged. Will upload when i got the pics from him.

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Maharaja's Palace
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Street Vendors
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Colourful Clothings
Indians can wear really colourful clothes and it looks good on them
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The Jaisalmer Fort
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Patwa-ki-Haveli
Havelis were built by rich merchants, and its carvings are really exquisite.
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Window
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Beautiful
Look at the details of its carvings
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Puppets
The focus of this picture is actually the boy.
Why isn't he in school?
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Camel Safari (3D2N)
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We had so much expectation for the camel safari, but it turns out to be okay only. Well, 3days2nites were too long, as we saw the same thing since day 1 - quite barren land without much variation.
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However, the great thing was to see sunset across the horizon, sleep under the sky that was full of stars and ponder if there are other beings in those stars, and being woken up by sunrise. Basically, to enjoy the marvelous nature.
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Shadow
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X'mas Nite
It was quite nice to sit around the bon-fire in the cold desert nite, and drink a warm glass of chai-tea prepared by our guides. Singing rajasthani song - "Pi-li-ah-pai". haha...
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Sunset over the horizon
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Day 2
(Woke up feeling cold, glad that the sun is up as it would warm up everything around us, still traveling in the desert, Camel drinking water)
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There were times when we would like to tell the villages that our name is not RUPEE.
Normally, when we reached a village, the children would approach us and say "Hello Rupee", stretching their hands forward.
I was not in the mood to talk or give money to any of the children.
they lost the innocence of a kid.
who to blame?
tourists or parents?
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18 years old Salim (one of our guides)
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Sand Dunes - our resting place for 2nd night.
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Princess Yun
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Abandoned
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Sunset over Sand Dunes
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Jodhpur, Rajasthan

Jodhpur was known as the blue city - colour of the the priest caste - Brahmin.

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While we were looking for local painting, we realised that there was a cultural difference in the perception of colour. For example: the painter told us that blue is a peaceful colour, however, our reaction was that blue-coloured painting is cold and lifeless.

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Streets of Jodhpur

(LP recommended Omelette Shop - I ate there 3 times)

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Mejerangarh - Majestic Fort towering over the city
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This fort was really well-run and well-maintained.
It has nice exhibits, good audio-guide, a good museum shop and good service.
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The main reason was that the maharja of Jodhpur is still around and is running this fort, and being educated in England, I believe he brought what he had seen & learnt back to Jodhpur.
Ironically, even Taj Mahal is not half as good in terms of operating such a tourist site.
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Traditonal Dancers in the Fort
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Interior - the royal female quarters
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Jodhpur city
(Click to enlarge)
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Group photo
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Sunset over the blue-city
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Sunset II
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At 6pm, the sun was setting, and at different parts of the blue city, you could hear prayers blasting out of its loudspeakers - creating a symphony of prayers. Then, flocks of pigeons would be flying over the city. The evening breeze was gently blowing. Everything is in equilibrim & harmony, and is very peaceful.
"Om...."

Delhi

Delhi was our last stop.

After seeing the forts in Rajesthan and Agra, the monuments found in Delhi were rather disappointing. Hence, we also didn't waste time taking much photos. But the backpacker street in Delhi was rather good, in terms of shopping and food. I had my first ayurvedic massage.

Red Fort of Delhi

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Similar patterns as those found in the Taj.
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I was beginning to think that the designer had a simple job - he just needs to replicate the limited designs.




Fun Fair in Delhi
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It turned out that the local Fun Fair was more interesting than all the monuments we saw in Delhi. Make a guess, what's the setup in the above picture for?
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It's a kinda studio, and locals would pay money to take photos with the cardboard picture of the bollywood celebrities. Indian's version of Madam Tussauds. Well, it costed around 25 rupees (approximately S$1) for a picture. It ain't cheap for the local standard, but the locals kept pouring in.


It's ferry's wheel was damn fast lor.
And there were no doors for each carriage.
It was more like a thrill-ride!!!
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As for its Viking ride, the locals stood on the chair!!!
There were no safety precautions at all.
Damn dangerous.
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There was another performance, and you had to pay 10rupees (S$0.40) to watch it.
Anyway, to entice people to pay, they gave a short prelude.
It was rather disappointing - a pretty plump lady dancing on the stage, and shaking her fats.
But i could see the excitement in the local guys.
They were quite oppressed in this aspect.
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This was a good act, and we only paid 10 rupees (S$0.40)
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Could you imagine all these vehicles - 2 cars & 4 bikes were running on the almost vertical wall?
It was extremely daring when both cars were moving side-by-side with the drivers' body out of the windows.
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Another scary part was the filmsy structure was shaking quite violently.
I was afraid that the structure would collapse, and we were about 3-4 stories high.

After Trip Thoughts

Yes, I could make a tick to my to-do-list.

At least, i know that I would have one less regret at my death-bed.

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something great about backpacking is the experiences

and most of time, these experiences would trigger you to think deeper about your life

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On new year's eve, everybody was preparing for the countdown, the street was crowded, the restaurant was decorated and lighted up, and everybody was in holiday mood and ready to party till dawn. That evening, we were on the way to airport to catch a flight back to Singapore. As usual, when the cab stopped at the traffic junction, there would be kids running to knock your window asking for money. We gave a girl some money, and she demanded more. We did not give more, and she was quite persistent and pushed our window wider. I was abit annoyed, but after much pondering, why should i be annoyed? Would i do the same if i am in her position? Does she know that it's new year's eve evening? Does she even give a damn about new year's eve? She would be thinking how can she survive the cold winter night, She would be thinking how can I get more money from these tourists, and she would be thinking how not to be hungry tonight. To her, it's just another day of survival. I am wondering what's her dream? Does she even has a dream? What's the meaning of life for her?

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What have she done to deserve this?

What have I done to enjoy what i have?

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Along the trip, I constantly asked my travel-mates one question, and they asked me the same question also. If I am in their position, what would i do to break out of this vicious poverty cycle? There is no easy solution. Even if we could think of the solution, it will take a lot of determination and hard work. I still don't have a magical solution, and at the end of day, it's still voiced down to good clean government and good education.

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This also reminded me of a young man we met on the train from Agra to Varanasi. He was on his way to take the entrance exam for IIT (Indian Institute of Technology), and he had spent alot of time preparing for the exam. He told us that he came from a poor family in Bihar and he hoped to go to MIT eventually. Statistically, it is tougher to get into IIT than MIT. We could sense his hunger for success and he was very proactive in getting to meet foreign visitors. With his intelligence and hunger, I am sure that he would make it big. He represents the future of India.

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In the same train ride, yun and I were testing a 5 year-old girl. She is quite a genius, as she could remember alot alot of english words, and do simple mathematics addition and subtraction. I am very sure that I am not half as good as her when I was 5-years old. And she is one of the many genius-es in India.

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There is alot hope for India

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On a more philosphical and spiritual level,

there were alot of moments when i contemplate about meaning of life.

I still don't have the answers, but i have more appreciation towards life.

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When I was in my bed going to sleep soon. I felt frustrated that I was bitten by bed-bugs and that I fall sick, I started to think of the people living on the street during the cold winter night. What's my small discomfort compared to what they have to endure?

At least, I have a warm bed to sleep.

At least, I am sheltered from the cold wind.

At least, I have water and food.

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I felt very lucky and fortunate.

And stop complaining (at least for a while)

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May be all these small discomforts are ways that Buddha/God/Might-One wants me to experience, so that I could empathise with those who are less fortunates.

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Varanasi is a special place.

thousands and millions died there

how different am I from them?

We are all made of flesh

we came here with nothing

we will leave this world with no physical possession

Our bodies will go back to mother nature

I am a nobody

I am only a passerby on this face of earth

why don't I enjoy this journey before it's too late?

how do I enjoy this journey?

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Bodhgaya

I was moved to tears when I walked towards to Bodhi tree.

I was moved by the greatness and selflessness of Buddha who meditated there for the sake of all beings. And to find out the path to enlightenment for all beings.

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I was happy to see thousands of monks and nuns who dedicated their lives for sake of enlightenment for themselves and all beings.

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I am proud to be a Buddhist

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One thing that is consistent - nice people.

Meeting nice & helpful people will always make this trip memorable, and make my day happy.

We are fortunate to receive help from strangers and to meet interesting people from around the world.

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I have alot of thoughts and questions, but i do not have any conclusion or answers to many of them.

Well, i guess that's the good thing about backpacking - it makes you think constantly.