The Camel lost my flip flop!

Sand Dune Festival Feb 2006
see all photos »

We have made it to Pushkar and nothing in the slightest is compelling us to leave our hotel room! We were checked in at the same time as being warned not to take valuables with you to the town and to watch out for the people trying to scam you!

However we ventured outside an booked a camel ride into the desert. As we mounted our camels (keep it clean boys! ) it became apparent that this was no ordinary ride into the desert, we'd once again become the main attraction and were making up a big part of a festival procession!

Vicki on her deformed camel!
see all photos »

4 hours later we're still sat on our camels, needless to say we were beginning to wilt by this time as the feeling in our butts was slowly disappearing.It was the festival of the dunes celebrating the new sunset point in Pushkar. Once we got to the middle of the sand dunes there was traditional dancing, singing and fire throwing to be seen. Was amazing to be a part of this huge occasion as you could imagine!!

The time then came to leave, it was pitch black and us being led by 2 adolescent boys set off across the desert. Next thing I hear...'My Shoe My Shoe!!' Vicki had lost one of her beloved flipflops when her camel decided to have a hissy fit on her and start leaping around (funny for me, obviously not for her :-)!!  ) Needless to say the flipflop had gone to the great place in the desert where all lost flip flops go and was never to be seen again.

Jenn on her camel!!
see all photos »

We thought we had escaped the scams but oh no, it came to leaving Pushkar for Agra and we were take to Pushkar lake to see the view. We were approached by 2 (fake) priests who told us it was a very special day (which we believed as Deepak had just finished telling us that today was a festival day again) and insisted we took the handful of petals they were offerring. To cut a long story short...we were screwed, fleeced for Rs 100 each as they prayed for each of the members of our families and then wanted paying.

View of the Sand Dune festival in full swing!!
see all photos »

We live and learn as Agra was soon to teach us (or Vicki at least) !