Pushkar

Well today we were alone, no Sud as Pushkar is only about 1.5km big so he said we didn’t need him and we would be able to walk around on our own. We had a small sleep in and after breakfast headed out to explore. We spoke to the man at reception to get a few tips and directions and set off. First stop was to the post office to send a few post cards! It was only about 300 metres from the hotel but we got lost about 3 times and had to ask people each time and eventually found it! Neither of us were game to lick the stamps so we asked for the spongy thing which got thrown in front of us. We then asked them to stamp the stamps in front of us because apparently if you don’t they take them off and re sell them and the post cards don’t get sent! In Pushkar is the Brahma temple, one of the many Hindu gods and on separate mountains either side of the Brahma temple are temples for his two wives. Against advice from reception we headed out to climb the smaller of the two mountains. We eventually found the way up with the help of some locals! It was a pretty steep walk up, not too bad though but it was very hot, exactly the reason we were advised to do the walk later in the day rather than the middle of the day. It was very secluded we saw only one other couple on the walk and a couple of guys that live up the top of the mountain when we reached the top. The temple was quite simple nothing special to look at but the view from the top of the mountain was amazing! We spoke to the guy at the top for awhile and took lots of photos then began the decent! We had found the lake from the top of the mountain so we headed in that direction and we found it quite easily. As Sud had warned us we were greeted with people trying to sell us flowers. We agreed and got a plate of red and yellow colored powder, rice, sugar, flowers and some cotton. We were then followed down to the lake and I was taken one way and Rudi another and told women and men could not go to the same part. I was a little scared but I could still see Rudi as we were not far apart. The man then sat down with me and told me to repeat after him - half in Hindi and half in English, I guess we said a prayer for our family and long life and good marriage etc. He washed my hands in the dirty lake water then started piling the stuff off the plate on my hands and then I had to make a wish and throw the stuff in the water. After this he asked me for lots of money…..a blessing for my whole family. I gave him 500 rupees about $10 and he told me this was not enough. After arguing with him for awhile I stood up and walked over to Rudi who was having the same argument with his man. We escaped without giving anymore money. We then kept wandering and found the main market which had heaps of shops similar to all we have seen everywhere else. We bought a few more presents and stuff for ourselves as well, of course! We decided to head back as it was getting late afternoon and we hadn’t had lunch! We passed a barber shop and Rudi had been wanting a proper shave for awhile now so when they asked him to come in and he refused I asked how much for shave and they said 30 rupees…not even $1. Rudi although rather scared of the razor agreed and when we walked in the other guy told me to sit and asked would I like a head massage? He said 30 rupees and I bargained them down to 50 rupees for both ($1) and we had a deal. So Rudi escaped with no cuts from the blade and my head massage although kinda rough was really relaxing. We headed back for a good Indian style vegie burger and chips at the hotel and just chilled. Again there were kids everywhere on all the rooftops flying there kites, it is such a nice sight seeing them all out playing and not in front of the TV! We then had a monkey really close to us and when I tried to take a picture the restaurant guy said would you like a better picture and went and got some bread and the monkey came running right up to us! I took some pictures and then asked if I could feed it. I held the bread out really scared it was going to bite me but it was so gentle and calmly took the bread out of my hand. Its fingers were so soft and gentle. After a few more photos I told Rudi to have a go and he also fed it! Was pretty cool! We then headed back down the street to get some more red bull to polish off the vodka we had left and now just chilling in our room before we head up for some more dinner. Overall it has been rather a relaxing day but also quite busy! We are going to sleep well tonight! Probably the best hotel room we have had so far!

LESSONS LEARNT:
* Wear earplugs even if it isn’t noisy when you go top sleep as the morning ritual of the Hindu or Muslim I don’t know who… is to spew there guts up of last nights food. Not a nice sound to wake up to EVERY morning.