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18-19 November 2012
After an arduous and sleepless train journey, I arrived in Jaisalmer. As I sped towards the city in a rickshaw, it was an awesome sight. The massive fort of Jaisalmer rose out of the sandy plains. It looked and felt both exotic and mysterious. A place trapped in time.
After eating a delicious Rajasthani thali and checking my fantasy football campaign in an Internet cafe, I took a jeep to the desert camp I was staying at. It turned out to be a desert camp 'resort.' Something I was not expecting. I had one of twenty tents and it was like a hotel. My tent had a double bed, nice furnishings, hot water and electricity. All the other guests staying were middle class Indian families seeking a 'glamping' desert experience.
Once I had put down my bags, we were all taken to our camels down the road. My camel was called Saru. Riding a camel at first is really uncomfortable but you then get used to it after awhile. For a few hours, it was a lot of fun riding around the dunes and racing the other tourists. Although I had romantic images of riding in the deserty, sleeping under the stars like something out of Lawrence of Arabia, I did not complain one bit. I was exhausted thanks to the train fiasco so a double bed and hot shower was perfect.
Before bed I watched a Rajasthani dance and music performance around a fire which was really interesting. I also had dinner with a Gujarati family which was nice. I welcomed the company.
The next morning I headed back to Jaisalmer to do a bit of sightseeing. The Jaisalmer fort was incredible. I was told it is the oldest living fort in the world, with the inside functioning like any other town. The view from the top of the extravagant palace fort was truly something. After having lunch with a Dutch traveller called Boss, I saw several Havelis. Old, finely decorated merchant houses that are now tourist attractions.
I enjoyed my brief desert adventure and looked forward to moving on through Rajasthan some more. I took the train to Jodhpur where I stayed the night.
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