The Desert Jaisalmer is also where people normally go camel-trekking into the desert. I gave this a miss because I have been to and slept in far better deserts (real dunes with no scrubs).  And I’ve been on camels too. Strangely, after I had made my decision, I met a Belgian couple that told me […]

I checked out from my Jodhpur hotel after breakfast and was presented with a minor bill shock by the hotel.  I had booked online, a single room at INR500 (NZD15) per night.  I had thought the room was far too nice for that price.  The very nice owners claimed it was double that but would […]

After a breakfast of tea and a cheese toastie, I went to the rooftop for some daylight photos of the houses below and the fort above. Text continues after this gallery.     I walked to the Mehrangarh or fort alone and got lost a little before finding the winding road up.  Built in the […]

I skipped a proper breakfast and had just juice and crackers before walking to the Marwar bus station and buying my bus ticket early for Jodhpur.  I boarded the bus and waited.  Another backpacker boarded and was getting flustered as he couldn’t fit his “Kathmandu” brand backpack into the racks.  That is a New Zealand […]

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 […]

For some reason, I woke at 0230 but fortunately fell asleep again till 0800.  There was little pressure to do anything in the morning and I didn’t emerge from my room till 1000. I had a nice breakfast of muesli, papaya and curd.  The papaya was purchased by their kitchen hand after I had made […]

Journey to Pushkar My solo adventure starts today with a long train ride from Delhi to Pushkar for its famous Camel Fair.  With my Ajmer Shatabdi train departing at 0610, it was an early check-out from my Paharganj hotel. At 0530, walking to New Delhi Railway Station, I expected the streets to be deserted.  But […]

After breakfast, I treated myself to an Ayurvedic massage at 1000.  I had a four-hand oil massage by a man and woman.  She was the stronger one but despite that, now that I’ve had a few attempts with Ayurvedic massage, I should give up.  I like hard massages and to be mangled Thai-style.  Kim opted […]