My travels in Rajasthan were in 2016 and due to my increasing age-induced memory loss, I can’t recall a ton of details. Bear with me as I struggle to capture my fleeting memories.
I’m a minor celebrity with the locals throughout Rajasthan. While visiting the tourist sites or walking through town, they approach silently and stand beside me while their friends take a photo. It gets to the point where it’s taking me twice as long to visit a landmark because I’m being constantly stopped for photos. It’s flattering, but also mildly annoying. I don’t understand why it’s happening. Surely they’ve seen other foreigners?
“Why do you want a photo with me?” I ask a girl
”Famous lady!”
”Famous? Who? Where have you seen me?”
I get a giggle and shaking of the head in reply. Hmmm, I’m no clearer to figuring out this conundrum.
I ask another why they want a photo with me and they touch my arm and trace the outline of one of my tattoos.
”What will you do with the photo?”
”Facebook!”
I’m going to roll with it and just accept my temporary “star” status.
So many forts, so little time. India is brimming with them. Amer Fort, near Jaipur, was built in the 17th century and happens to be one of the most famous. It represents the glory days of Rajput rule in Rajasthan. The amber stone seems to be glowing in the midday sunshine and makes me squint. I feel the heat coming up through my shoes as I walk up the never ending stairs. As ever, I’m dumbfounded how this masterpiece was built without modern technology.
One of my favourite things in Rajasthan is the opportunity to stay in the ornate havelis which are private homes that have been turned into guest houses. It’s like staying in a museum! The mosaics, the delicately carved wooden furniture and the coloured glass light fixtures blow my mind. The look on my face is permanently fixed to one of awe as I poke my head into all of the rooms.
Walking through the fortified town of Bikaner I feel like I’ve gone through time. Endless alleys and narrow cobbled streets are surrounded by elegant towering architecture. What does it feel like to be surrounded by this aged history on a daily basis? Does it become blasé or does it remind you that our lifetimes take up such a short amount of time? Things to ponder as I wander the alleyways.
Jaisalmer is my favourite spot so far. The yellow sandstone citadel pops up on the edge of the desert and is filled with markets, snaking alleyways and intricately carved houses. I can get lost here and be happy doing it.
I happen to be in Rajasthan during the time when weddings are prevalent, so it’s been party central everywhere I’ve visited. I’m experiencing sensory overload and can’t wait to go on an overnight camel trek into the Thar Desert for some peace and quiet. I get my camel bedded down for the night with the assistance of the guide and make a start on constructing my sleeping area with colourful camel-hair blankets. Ahhh, the silence. Night falls and suddenly the amplified jarring blast of Indian music blares from a few sand dunes over. Dammit! Spoke too soon. The wedding celebrations are following me, so time to join the party.
I visit a small farm of an elderly couple. When I meet the couple, the word regal comes to mind. They’ve been married since they were in their teens. The chunky silver bracelets on the woman’s ankles were given to her by her husband on their wedding day and haven’t been removed since. They’ve worn permanent grooves into her skin and ankle bones. The husband is using a pestle and mortar to grind a white cube. He adds a bit of water and the granules dissolve. He holds out the liquid substance to me and motions for me to drink it.
“What is it?”
“Opium.”
“Um, ok. I’m not going to start hallucinating or anything am I?”
He shakes his head and chuckles. I take a small sip and wait for the visions to begin. Nothing. I hand the mortar back to him, smiling.
