With the backpacker environment, it was easy to get my kind of breakfast. Muesli with curd, papaya, banana and apple. I do enjoy Indian breakfasts but in the interest of my health, I shouldn’t have it too often.
I returned to the camel fair with Martin from Sweden around 1000. From the grandstand, I watched the horse-dancing. The horse pranced on its hind legs. I kinda expected horses to be able to do this so I wasn’t that impressed.
Then came the camel dancing. The animal’s front legs marched and it occasionally stood on its hind legs. It’s head and long neck bobbed up and down from time to time as well. Next came the camel racing.
Text continues after this gallery.
-
- Mobile snack stand.
-
- Mobile snack stand.
-
- Spectators at the camel performances were more photogenic than the performance.
-
- Spectators at the camel performances were more photogenic than the performance.
-
- Man with one leg trying to get a glance at the camel performances.
-
- Spectators at the camel performances were more photogenic than the performance.
-
- Spectators at the camel performances were more photogenic than the performance.
-
- Spectators at the camel performances were more photogenic than the performance.
-
- At the camel performances.
-
- At the camel performances.
-
- Girl performer.
-
- Colourful locals.
-
- Camel race.
While all that was interesting, I enjoyed my previous walks around the camel yards better. So I returned there for another walk, this time with Martin.
Text continues after this gallery.
-
- At the camel yard.
-
- Not potatoes but camel dung.
-
- At the camel yard.
I returned to Raju’s restaurant for lunch, this time scoring myself a seat with a view of the lake. The pizza on a chappati base was nice enough. I continued to be vigilant around the area so as not to accidentally accept a marigold and fall into the pooja trap and be tricked into making a donation.
Text continues after this gallery.
-
- Pushkar was full of holy men and pilgrims.
-
- Pushkar was full of holy men and pilgrims.
-
- Near a temple in Pushkar.
-
- Pushkar was full of holy men and pilgrims.
-
- Pushkar was full of holy men and pilgrims.
-
- Pushkar was full of holy men and pilgrims.
-
- Beggar on the streets of Pushkar.
-
- Puppets.
-
- Trinkets.
-
- View from Raju’s.
-
- Pushkar was full of holy men and pilgrims.
-
- Pushkar streeet scene.
-
- Fruit and juice shop.
Back at the guesthouse around 1500, I spoke to Kim. He was better after his tummy-bug but it was his mother’s turn from eating club sandwiches at Holiday Inn Damai Beach Resort.
In the evening, Roger and I walked up a nearby hill for sunset. He has two big cameras. On our walk, we had kids begging us for money.
I had seen some of his photos on his laptop (which he entrusts to an internet café, just on their table, for safekeeping which was rather strange I thought). His photos are pretty “wow”. The depth and the light were pretty amazing. He must also have been very patient to capture such shots. He seems like taking photos of Indian women with faces partially seen through their thin sari veils or with lighting through thin sari veils.
Raju’s restaurant appears to be my local favourite now. I returned there for dinner, ordering a Shepherd’s Pie and Limca (lemon and lime soft drink) with some lime juice squeezed in.
After dinner I showed Roger photos from my Yemen adventures. He says “No” when I show him an impressive photo. I guess it’s his way of saying “Wow”.
I returned to the camel fair by night to see it for the last time, together with the melee in the children’s fair ground. The latter was very noisy with music and very bright with lots of coloured lights.
Pushkar’s camel fair is certainly something not to be missed. It’s a combination of a stock trading yard, amusement fair and religious occasion all rolled into one. I couldn’t work out which was the main event and which was the sideshow.
-
- Looking down at Pushkar from a nearby hill.
-
- He looks deep in thought.
-
- Lantern at Chcha’s Garden’s courtyard.
