The past day my schedule has been too tight so no time for me to write anything. On my last day in Pushkar, I ran out of things to do. The fair became too loud and too dusty for me. The programming seems to be too touristy. I did find a music school and had my hands for the first time on a sitar. It is a complicated looking instrument, but after a few instruction, I was able to play some simple stuff. The teacher told me it can only be played in C, and there seems to be some notes missing from the tab; or perhaps the teacher didn't teach me everything.
On the same day I met Michael from Toronto, he is also touring India alone for more than a month. Just when I thought this camel fest was too much for me, I met another girl from Japan traveling also alone, decided to stay for another 3 days for the fest. I start to feel I'm getting too old for this. Maybe my mentality is just not like before. I keep wondering why this trip has been so tough for me, even more tough for me than Cambodia...
After that, I took a night bus to Jaisalmer in the western part of Rajasthan. It was a wild ride. I chose not to look too much outside. I did manage to sleep for a while. We arrived safely at around 9am. It is a hot place, it is really a dessert town. I was dead tired. It was like jet lag all over again. I had only the day to tour the city, so no time to rest.
I was skeptical about coming here because of not so good review from the guide book, but I'm glad I did. It is a small town and not as stressed. I found the most amazing craving at the temple inside the castle here. The cravings are detailed and complicated. I toured the castle museum and it was one of the most organized ones. After that I went for the touristy camel dessert ride to see the sunset. It was absolutely touristy. The dessert was full of people, garbage, camel crap, and people trying to sell you stuff. At the end I was able to find a quiet spot though.
There, I was 60km from Pakistan. Suddenly I feel so far away from home, and I've made it a long way. For a brief moment, I felt I was truly away from everything, but only for a brief moment. After a while, I see people again, and asked me which country I'm from,... etc.
That was yesterday. This morning I took a morning bus to Jodhpur. So far every hotel offered me free pick up service. But for this one, they asked me to call them when I arrive, 'cause the bus never stops at the same place... It was a disaster when I arrived. They dropped everybody off at a gas station. I had no idea where I was. As soon as I got off, the gas station staff tried to kick us out of their property, at the same time ricksaw drivers surrounded me (the tourist) and tried to take me to the hotel which they can receive commission. Even if you give them the address, they would take you to some obscure place and tell you the hotel doesn't exist anymore. At the same time still, street kids grabbed my clothes and hand and begged me for money. It was the most helpless situation, but I know I cannot lose my cool. I took a ricksaw with another Chinese couple to the train station so at least I knew where I was. Then I tried to call the hotel, but couldn't get through. I didn't know here I have to dial zero first! Nobody told me. At the end, I took a chance with a ricksaw driver. Thank God he was honest. (at least with the location. I know he overcharged me.) All this make me feel sad that people could become so selfish here. In India, you basically can never know for sure whom you can trust, and no one is really willing to lend a hand. Everybody looks after their own interests, and you are absolutely on your own. The more helpless you are, the more people see it as opportunities to take advantages of. If there is one thing I've learned from this trip, it would be never be selfish. Go the extra miles for a stranger in need; because I don't want the place I live in become like this.
Anyway, got to my hotel safely. It looks pretty nice. It is at a school area, at the end of a dead end street, very quiet and relatively clean.
I had my first non-vegetarian meal tonight. And I feel good. From Jaipur to Pushkar, to Jaisalmer, nowhere could I find meat.
I've been having diarrhea for the past few days. Had my first Pepto Bismal in Pushkar, had my second one this morning. Thank God so far it only happened when I was back to the hotel, so at least I have a clean washroom to go to. I still do not know for sure what is causing it.
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