Oct 10 -Jaisalmer, the golden city

Oct 10 Jaisalmer

The golden city,so-called because of the carved yellow sandstone used for the fort. This is an inhabited fort, a living fort, so everywhere the new meets the old…internet is available in centuries-old carved houses. Children trail everywhere- chip tiki tiki – they want enough money to buy a bag of chips…I break down, they can always tell a sucker – the bit of money I give them almost starts a street war. One kid who keep insisting on cleaning my shoes (sandals with one strap),finally leaves when he gets his bag of chips…on the way up to the fort, beautiful patchwork, runner, bedspreads, clothes, pashminas….handiwork and crafts are the only source of income here.

After lunch we prepare for the camel ride…what is the proper attire for a camel ride? Turns out, riding a camel is easier than elephant riding…or else we had an old camel, because the others were complaining.

Not many sand dunes left..a nuclear test in Pakistan, and we are 100 km from the Pakistani border, changed the environment…now much more green, dunes are smaller. Tea served in a desert resort…again, tourists are the only source of income here now.