You Want Camel Trek?

Well, that’s the question I have been asked once too often. It’s hot and sultry here in Jaisalmer but compared with the sky high humidity in Delhi, its more bearable. I had one good nights sleep in Delhi but it’s not enough, so hopefully here in Jaisalmer I’ll get the sleep I need to catch up on.
The 18 hour train journey took me through the Rajasthan tourist hotspots of Jaipur and Jodhpur and across the desert to here. Looking at the map it doesn’t look like the well over 900km that it really is. While I filmed the passing shrub and desert land, sand was billowing up from the track creating a mini sandstorm.

Jaisalmer is a pretty unique place. The whole fort area is literally a living museum of things of yesterday. Today thousands of people live within the walls but only a few 100 years ago it was a thriving wealthy town on the main camel trading routes of Asia. The final decline came when India was partitioned in 1947 which created a closed border with the newly formed Pakistan. In wandering the narrow lanes and alleys it is easy to see where the money comes from now. Cafes, shops, restaurants and hotels all point to one thing – tourism. It is summer here and this is the off season so being a tourist can be a bit harrowing with salesmen of all kinds chasing too few travellers. But I think I can survive in this giant manmade sand castle.

Street life in this far flung town is not symbolised by horrendous traffic jams because there doesn’t seem to be many cars here. It’s pretty laid back with only the odd scooter of rickshaw to deal with and even the ever present camels.

The temperature rises during the day, with a hot wind that carries sand everywhere. Not the kind of weather to be moving very much, or at all. So, quite happy to take things as they come. There is always tomorrow.

Family group on a railway station while travelling here and the entrance to Hotel Paradise last night. Cheers