Camel Safari

From Jaipur we went to Jaisalmer where the done thing is a Camel Safari. We weren't quite sure what to expect but we had a great time - largely thanks to meeting some really nice people - Diane and Simon, Dylan and Jamie (from Canada), and Mike and Sarah (from Ireland) - they had travelled in the other direction around India so as they had already been through Delhi and Agra and were able to tell us the good places to eat and stay....and most importantly where to avoid!

Our 2 days on camel safari involved a similar pattern both days....ride to a small village and then go and play with all the kids who clammered for attention...then get back on to the camels until lunch at 12. Our guides (who walked all the way) cooked for us and then we had a siesta until 3pm as it was too hot to go anywhere. A couple more hours from 3 til 5 and then we set up camp for the night which simply involved the guides making a fire on a dune for us to eat around, and a few things to lie on (with a blanket). Our guides also sang a bit for us - they encouraged us to do the same but no-one was keen, least of all me and Michelle - anyone who has heard our singing voices will know why!

We had to cover up from the sun while we were on the camels so as you can see Michelle was her usual stylishly dressed self, while I looked like a bit of an idiot with her scalf covering the back of my neck from the sun. It wasn't a fashion contest!

On the whole our camels, Simon and Papu, were well behaved, but when Papu (Michelle's amle0 saw women he started making noises like a dinosaur and foaming at the mouth as it was mating season - this left Michelle and our guide trying to stop it from going after wild females (and avoid any flying spit when it shook it's head around). But the main thing that the camels did was fart....all day and all night - there is something surreal about waking up in the desert in the middle of the night to the sight of beautiful stars and the moon above, and lots of camels farting!