Day 8 felt like we have been in India for a long time but it has been just a week – however, we all know that the beginning of a trip is always overly excited with new environment, people, customs, sightseeing etc. At the same time, Jaisalmer, known as the Golden city, was the place where we would celebrate the New Year so new town, new impressions, new adventures.
Jaisalmer is a really nice place and its fort is nice and bright especially in the evening and night when the lights are on. You can find a lot of shops in and outside the fort and it is the next place where you feel harassed by shop owners and army of sellers… A place which we visited though was a co-operative where we had pretty much a show with explanations about different textile technics, materials and products, bed covers, applications, scarfs etc. etc. we were served even samosa, drinks and chai and after an hour or even longer, most of us left the place with purchases. In my case, a scarf and a textile application, special piece for the wall so it felt like a shopping spree.
The group decided that the New Year’s eve will be spend in the nearby palace-hotel with dinner and culture program.. well, most people thought it will be inside, but it was outside meaning another night with fire close by and smoke and feeling chilly.. Nevertheless, it was unique experience – a band playing some hits/songs, some of the western but performed in Indian manner meaning you can hardly understand which the song is. Then traditional dances where the female dances are performed by men which had been the tradition many years ago but I have to admit that one of the guys, impeccably dressed in a costume and make up, danced amazingly and you might be fooled that this is a woman! So after sitting outside a few hours, getting the smoke in our clothes, listening some guests also singing out of rhythm and out of tune, dances etc., New Year arrived without countdown and no champagne which was a killer for me. Most of the people in the group agreed that this has been the most sober New Year ever! But it is a good start of the year I guess ..
Next day was dedicated to the desert and a camel safari in the afternoon. The camp was only an hour drive from Jaisalmer and the camels and tents were awaiting us. The tents were Ok – nothing special but it was clear that it would very cold and shower will not be used. The camel safari was like an hour – the most challenging part was when the camel sits down and the when it stands, the rest was like a piece of cake. The view of the dunes was amazing, the camels on the desert background on a late afternoon was perfect to watch and enjoy.
The dinner was accompanied by a cultural program performed by the traditional band and main dancer from the New Years and everything was in a court with 1 fire where the winds and the draft was sooo strong that it felt much colder than in the open but we survived somehow also eating hot and spicy food. Sleeping in the tent when it was around 0 meant lying with most of your clothes and using layer after layer, trying to stay warm and hide under the blankets. That evening we did not know that the day after will bring us the next challenge and unique experience which was not planned at all…
Jaisalmer is a really nice place and its fort is nice and bright especially in the evening and night when the lights are on. You can find a lot of shops in and outside the fort and it is the next place where you feel harassed by shop owners and army of sellers… A place which we visited though was a co-operative where we had pretty much a show with explanations about different textile technics, materials and products, bed covers, applications, scarfs etc. etc. we were served even samosa, drinks and chai and after an hour or even longer, most of us left the place with purchases. In my case, a scarf and a textile application, special piece for the wall so it felt like a shopping spree.
The group decided that the New Year’s eve will be spend in the nearby palace-hotel with dinner and culture program.. well, most people thought it will be inside, but it was outside meaning another night with fire close by and smoke and feeling chilly.. Nevertheless, it was unique experience – a band playing some hits/songs, some of the western but performed in Indian manner meaning you can hardly understand which the song is. Then traditional dances where the female dances are performed by men which had been the tradition many years ago but I have to admit that one of the guys, impeccably dressed in a costume and make up, danced amazingly and you might be fooled that this is a woman! So after sitting outside a few hours, getting the smoke in our clothes, listening some guests also singing out of rhythm and out of tune, dances etc., New Year arrived without countdown and no champagne which was a killer for me. Most of the people in the group agreed that this has been the most sober New Year ever! But it is a good start of the year I guess ..
Next day was dedicated to the desert and a camel safari in the afternoon. The camp was only an hour drive from Jaisalmer and the camels and tents were awaiting us. The tents were Ok – nothing special but it was clear that it would very cold and shower will not be used. The camel safari was like an hour – the most challenging part was when the camel sits down and the when it stands, the rest was like a piece of cake. The view of the dunes was amazing, the camels on the desert background on a late afternoon was perfect to watch and enjoy.
The dinner was accompanied by a cultural program performed by the traditional band and main dancer from the New Years and everything was in a court with 1 fire where the winds and the draft was sooo strong that it felt much colder than in the open but we survived somehow also eating hot and spicy food. Sleeping in the tent when it was around 0 meant lying with most of your clothes and using layer after layer, trying to stay warm and hide under the blankets. That evening we did not know that the day after will bring us the next challenge and unique experience which was not planned at all…
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