Indelibly Rajasthan Part 12 – Pushkar ( first posted on thebarefootfoodie.org on 26 Nov 2014 )

 

Indelibly Rajasthan Part 12 – Pushkar

NOVEMBER 26, 2014BAREFOOT TRAVELS, INDIA

This is a totally unknown factor and the longest stretch of our sojourn in Rajasthan – 7 days, just to stretch out a time-share exchange about to expire. Nothing much is mentioned in the guide books, save for the annual camel fair held here, which was over a month ago. For starters, the driver commented that it’s a “nice” resort, but shrugged when told how long we were staying in Pushkar.

It turned out to be the best part of our trip. Time grinds to almost a halt here, and a hypnotic state of limbo sets in. We wake up deliciously late in the morning to catch the local bus ( at IDR 10 compared to IDR 400 charged by the resort )to Pushkar town, about 2 km away. It is a place defined exclusively by the lake, and lays claim to the only Brahma temple in the whole of India, apart from the numerous other temples dotting the town. Everyday, pilgrims from the neighbouring city of Ajmer make their way here, traveling some 15 km by bus, to do their pujas (religious rituals) in Pushkar. We know about the journey because we hopped onto the wrong bus one time. From the unexpected detour, we watched a beautiful sun-set along the way, and jostled with a fresh bus load of very interesting characters back from Ajmer to Pushkar.

Meals take at least 30 to 45 minutes to prepare, so we wait languorously in the hippy-styled cafes, enjoying the free wi-fi, catching up on FB posts and with my scramble game, watching the world go by. ( which inevitably includes target practice at walls ) The ES will diligently read his emails and catch up on work. As it is a holy city by definition, all meals within the city are vegetarian, BUT they do serve beer, which the ES gulps down with delight, making up for his meat deprivation. At least he gets his meat fixes over dinner back at the resort, outside holy city limits.

In between , we walk up and down the streets while I indulge in my passionate pursuit of exchanging cash for dash. Shopping here is much more predictable after you have spent 6 days checking out every shop and their goods. I have never been to a place where I never bought anything, and this one ranks quite high on the success scale.

 

Besides the locals going about their lives, there was more fodder for the senses provided by the has-been hippies who looked somewhat spacey and forgot to return home. Standing outside a stall selling incense, I soon became light-headed and a wee bit disorientated – honestly, I wonder what goes into those sticks and what stuffs do to your mind… This was confirmed by a local vendor when I casually asked whether one can get a joint here. He replied unflinchingly – ganja, hashish. ” This one good for…” giving a cheeky grin. I smiled and quickly said, “just asking”

                     

More halcyon days were spent on a sunset camel safari (bumpy- meaning your buns hurt afterwards ); visit to a hairdresser ( got fleeced by this one ) and ayuvedic massages. We spent some time in search of the alternative massage treatment at a more palatable rate, compared to the IDR 4500 before taxes rate offered by the resort.  We found one at Pushkar for IDR 1500 in a hotel room and  booked it for two days in a row. It must have been a good rate for the hotel and the masseurs who beamed from ear to ear and were very happy to serve us.

 

Ayuvedic massages are meant to be messy and sensual. The last time I had one such massage, I was given a skimpy loin cloth for modesty. Do not assume that this happens everytime. I made this mistake once, the rest is sensored, while a matronly woman slathered oil and ran her nimble fingers over every un-oiled part, trussing, turning, until I felt like tenderised kobe beef. I wised up for the next sessions and kept something on.