Jaiselmere, located in the Thar desert of Rajasthan, is what would happen if you gave God a spade and told him to build a sandcastle. The fort curls around this rocky plateau and the bastions look as if the bucket had just been lifted off them. Deepak resthouse, owned by the Deepak family for over 6 hundred years, no joke, was perched off the side of the sandstone ramparts and looked out over the whole town and the desert beyond. Paradise...apart from the bath full of mud. But our lovely waiter, Bapi, made up for any amounts of muck or keyboard keys that got stuckkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk. Affectionately nicknamed either "oi Bappers" or "ol' Baps" by Mark (just imagine it in a Manchester accent hihi!), he never once gave back three hundred rupees less than needed in the change, like most of India seems to think they can get away with.
Spent the next day meandering around the town outside the fort, checking out the "stadium" where rows of dilapidated stands surrounded a dirt field as well as a theatre. Unlike our idea of a theatre tho, I discovered through curiosity, this one contained a family of small rats and some toothless schoolboys smoking dope. One grabbed at my plastic travel watch and asked if he could have my rolex.....oh India. On the way home was dragged into a vicious street cricket match and had sewage water dumped on my head for missing the ball four times. In mock anger, I pitched it baseball style and hit one of the younger, "buffed out", kids in the head. Tried to laugh it off but the alley literally went silent...tumbleweeds and all that. Cue to leave.
Did a tour of the Maharaja's (Lord) havelis (palace) and for lack of security walked right into his bedroom and was about to jump in the pool before we were stopped. He had even set up a sign saying "swimming pool --->".... d-bag
On our tour I found a half dead pigeon on the roof, all of its mates looking down at it. Told the tour guide who laughed and kicked it a little. I felt I had no choice, should put it out of its misery... I had my foot up, the pigeons behind (or my conscience) saying "do it...."- but i bitched out. Biggest dilemma and adrenaline rush of my life and it happened on a guided tour of one of the richest men in the state. All for about 25 cents. Inditastic.
Next up: Camel safari :) but now i must go watch Octopussy on the rooftop where it was filmed and maybe find the motivation to look out at yet another sunset....tough life, I know.
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