Camel Ride!

I wasn’t able to blog yesterday; we were in the middle of nowhere, with no connectivity. We left our hotel for a long drive and wound up in Sadura. On the drive we saw lots of cows and goats and water buffalo meandering across the road. Sometimes they were ones and twos, sometimes in large herds.

We stopped in at an artist who makes great block printing textiles. It was a typical Muslim house and I was intrigued to see the women getting water from their well. The house, like most homes we visited, had no running water or cooking area.

We came across camel caravans. I was amazed. I couldn’t believe they are still used. But we saw them. Migrant workers on Camels taking their possessions with them while herding goats from one place to another.

They grow different crops in this area, Cotton, and Caster Beans were very predominant. The fields are interspersed with large industrial buildings. On the long hours of our ride, our guide explained to us the various ways that the multiple religions of India co-exist (or not). He discussed love vs. arranged marriages and the different customs of the states of India 28 very diverse states.

We finally arrived at our hotel. We have a little separate house to ourselves and it is very primitive.

We were then taken for a camel ride through the surrounding villages. It was similar to a hay ride, but with camels, not horses, pulling the wagon. Camels are very smooth walkers. They have two speeds: slow and a sort of trot. The village alleys we went through were all dirt paths. As he was pulling us the camel would take a bite out of any low hanging tree branches that looked good to him. I am glad they are vegetarians. The villages are mixed: Muslim and Hindu. There are many Mosques and Hindu Temples even in the smallest villages. None of the men seem to work very hard. There are children everywhere. Both Hindus and Muslims love to have their picture taken – especially the mothers with their young children. None of the women wear Burkas, a few cover their entire face, most just wear a scarf. They then love to be able to look at the camera and see themselves after we have taken their picture. Everyone likes being a star the world over. A very few Muslims prefer we don’t take their pictures, most have no problem being photographed.

The alleys were drove through were very narrow, and the camel cart would have to navigate through the throngs of people, cows, dogs, goats, kids, motorbikes, etc. Somehow it all works out. It is amazing to spend so much time around Muslims that are not at all westernized. They look like every picture you have ever seen, and they are smiling, waving, and totally friendly. I was wearing an Obama Tee Shirt and they responded well. They are not like the stereotype enemy they are made out to be. All of the women wear saris, very colorful for the Hindu women, black for the Muslim women. The Muslim women have tattoos.

We then camelled (if that is word) to a Gypsy encampment. I have never met real Gypsies before. They are like everyone else - trying to sell us jewelry, and other things. Lots of Gypsy children were playing and running around. I was uptight walking around among them, thinking at any moment I would be pick pocketed, but I quickly came to feel totally safe and they knew they would get our money anyway from sales. Once again we were all charmed by the goats. Damn they are cute.

In these villages the main things that they sell are bracelets and weavings.
We then were driven back through the very narrow streets to a cacophony of sound as both the Muslim call to prayer was wailing from the various Mosques loudspeakers while simultaneously the Bells and Chants from the Hindu temples reverberated down the alleys. Everyone from the village, and especially the young kids who ran alongside of us would wave and say Hi. Even the old Muslim men would respond and wave back to us. We couldn’t figure out who was having more fun, us on our camel excursion through these tiny villages, or the Indians looking at the crazy tourists pulled by camels. I think it was fun for all, Indian and tourist alike.

Although the state is a dry state they allowed us to drink the wine that we had brought with us. I will always bring a wine opener with me on future trips. It is hard to find one in a dry state! Back at the hotel they had a dinner for us, followed by demonstration of men doing local dances. The dances were performed with long sticks and had a martial arts flavor to them.