Here's the thing. We planned to go off into the Thar Desert, which I believe is the second largest in the world. What better way to do it than on a camel. I did a little digging and found out that every grandma and her mother goes on a camel safari into the Thar Desert. I also learned that it was possible to arrange a safari for just MS2 and me, a couple of camels, a camel handler and a tracker. More authentic, I thought, so I said, "That one!"
The long-awaited day arrived and our tracker, Durga, was right on time. We headed off to our rendezvous with the camel guy and spent the next 20 minutes driving up and down the back streets of Jaisalmer, looking for our camels. At this point, a tiny bit of doubt crept into my mind. How can a camel safari guy lose his camels before we even get out into the desert? But I pushed the thought out of my head and soon we spot them lumbering down the street -- Raju and Badel and their handler!
MS2 took a flying leap onto Raju and was one with him within the hour. Badel, a bit of a rebel, suited me just fine. Deep in the desert around mid morning we spotted Durga up ahead, arms akimbo. He signaled for us to stop. He trotted up to a fenced building and came back post haste with the announcement that we would not be able to pass through this farmer's land. Unfortunately the farmer owned the largest plot of land in the Thar Desert, or so it seemed. Poor Durga explained apologetically that he had just been out here last year and for sure the farm was nowhere to be seen at that time.
That's ok. Lunch at three was fine with us, although our butts might have wanted an earlier break. MS2 and I lolled under a beautiful ____ tree, while Durga and the camel team prepared our lunch. Lovely and decadent!
End of Part 1
MS1
The long-awaited day arrived and our tracker, Durga, was right on time. We headed off to our rendezvous with the camel guy and spent the next 20 minutes driving up and down the back streets of Jaisalmer, looking for our camels. At this point, a tiny bit of doubt crept into my mind. How can a camel safari guy lose his camels before we even get out into the desert? But I pushed the thought out of my head and soon we spot them lumbering down the street -- Raju and Badel and their handler!
MS2 took a flying leap onto Raju and was one with him within the hour. Badel, a bit of a rebel, suited me just fine. Deep in the desert around mid morning we spotted Durga up ahead, arms akimbo. He signaled for us to stop. He trotted up to a fenced building and came back post haste with the announcement that we would not be able to pass through this farmer's land. Unfortunately the farmer owned the largest plot of land in the Thar Desert, or so it seemed. Poor Durga explained apologetically that he had just been out here last year and for sure the farm was nowhere to be seen at that time.
That's ok. Lunch at three was fine with us, although our butts might have wanted an earlier break. MS2 and I lolled under a beautiful ____ tree, while Durga and the camel team prepared our lunch. Lovely and decadent!
End of Part 1
MS1
A wonderful story, honey! I can't wait for Part 2.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteOh shut up! It was a duplicate.
Delete:o)
intrepidity! I'm impressed. I look forward to accounts of your adventures in that thar desert.
ReplyDeleteWas there gold in them "thar" hills?
ReplyDeleteDid the camel driver double as a taxi driver & a train berth arranger?
Saw the picture of T3's socks hanging out of the tent & am dying to hear more - particularly about the "facilities" for nature calls. T3 - I know you survived, but was it tough?
Is a camel safari still on your "recommend list"? Waiting for updates in parts 2 & "live"