Pushkar

Hello all,
We are in Pushkar another day as we love it here...slower pace...great shops and a chance to upload pictures and email.

And now for what we've been up to--

Camel Ride!! We mounted camels and took off for the local desert. Talk about feeling like you were in the Lawrence of Arabia film! The ride was a slow up and down movement when they walked and when they took off trotting--it shook every bone until I relaxed and just bouced along. We were on the top of a dune at sun down--showing our guides how to play tic tac toe in the sand. Rog also showed them how to juggle with some stones we found. Guess he wants to teach the world to juggle!

Have you ever felt you made a bad decision?? One of the palaces we toured took 12 years and about 20,000 workers to build--and after four years was deserted due to lack of water!!!

Food: We've been experiencing with the help of our driver, Noor. Rog has found all to his liking--aren't you surprised?? I so far have liked the chapatties(flat bread), a potato/onion bread and a banana/coconut pancake. A couple days ago, I declared a no Indian food day--to give my stomach a needed break. A couple Cipro helped also. It amazes me that food can be so different! Last night, Noor arranged with our hotel cook to give me cooking lessons. I rolled chapatties, fix a vege stir fry with plenty of spices. We devoured both on the roof under the stars--with a coke!!!

Roger is feeling very special as Raj means king so everyone makes a fuss over his name!!

Also, Noor calls us Mommy and Poppy now. Several locals thought Roger was an Indian and that we were his parents!! He gets a big kick out of calling us that and hugs us tightly when introducing us as his parents!! Ben, Bek & Jake--meet your new brother!!

Bogglehead: At all times, one must look around for speedy motorcycles & small white cars, must look up for unique architecture and down to avoid manure piles!! It makes you feel like a bobble head.

Laws of physics: How does a motorcycle driver keep balance when his wife who is holding a baby rides side saddle on the back while a sleeping child sits on his handle bars??? And why doesn't that sleeping child fall off??? Mind you, they are going 40 -50 mph!

And often I wonder... how can I help this begging child, this woman with no teeth with her hands outstretched, the man with no legs. I am hoping to find this answer at Mother Teresa's. I know if I give to one--I will be mobbed within seconds. I have handed out many books but only as we drive away from the area and still, the children run after us.

And I think... that perhaps the reason the woman wear such ornate jewelry, decorate their faces with vivid colors and wear sari's that defy the colors I've seen anywhere...trucks are painted with fancy designs...and temples are filled with beautiful flowers...give these people a sense of beauty within as they walk the streets filled with trash, manure, sewage and poor. They can look beyond it all and smile.

Time for lunch.
Take care and be thankful.
Jane