Monday, 3 November 2014
Pati and BeeBee got up at the usual 7 am and had the usual breakfast in the usual place. During breakfast, Rohit, who is the nephew of the manager, spent some time talking with them about the land and religion (there are 400 temples in Pushkar). The manager's father owns the land around the B&B as well as several other adjacent B&Bs. He is a retired secondary school physics teacher and spends his retirement working on his garden plots. These plots grow the grains and vegetables used for the food in the B&Bs; the grandmother (omo) grinds their own grains to make the bread products (e.g., chipatis) that they serve. Right now, the fields are planted and watered, but they will not be ready for harvest for three months. The fields must be beautiful at harvest time. There is also a greenhouse on the property and many flowers, especially marigolds and roses. Pushkar would be a pleasant place for an extended stay in the winter months; Rohit told about people who have stayed in the next-door B&B as tourists for 8 or 10 years. Technically, it is only legal to stay here 6 months.
After breakfast, Pati and BeeBee took a tuk-tuk to the bottom of a hill, in order to climb to Savitri Temple. Savitri is the first wife of Brahma. Papmochari Temple, for Brahma's second wife, is farther away. Rohit said they should visit Savitri Temple, because the climb only takes one-half hour, instead of Papmochandri Temple, which requires a one-hour climb. Good choice. The climb to Savitri Temple took them one hour, with many stops to rest. The incline was at least 45 degrees as they neared the top. The climb begins and ends with concrete steps, but in between the path is made of large rocks set roughly as steps. Quite a few people were climbing, men and women, and many of those were elderly and barefoot. Many were chanting as they climbed, repeating the same phrase with every other step; perhaps it encouraged them. There were also goats and monkey families along the path (Pati wondered if the coffee bean sized "offerings" that covered the steps came from the monkeys or goats but didn't have time to wait and see.) Pati and BeeBee spent a few minutes at the top, visiting the temple and enjoying the breeze. The walk down took one half hour. The tuk-tuk driver who agreed to pick them up at 12:15 was gone by the time they got down at 12:30. (They saw him later in town.)
They then walked to the carnival to see the rides. Despite some misgivings, they bought tickets for one of the 4 very tall ferris wheels. They agreed to hold on tight every second and only take pictures when it was stopped and they were on the top. Finally enough people were on for it to start; Pati took pictures until then. The ride cost 30 rupees (about 50 cents US). After 12 revolutions, they expected the ride to end.. It didn't stop, so Pati began taking pictures on the move, but with both of them still holding on tight. After 24 revolutions, they were amazed at the good deal. At 34 revolutions, the car began to rock. BeeBee told Pati to stop it; he said it was the wind. At 38 revolutions, the car sped up and rocked. They were ready to get off! Finally, at 42 revolutions, their turn was up and they got off.
They then walked until they found the craft fair they couldn't find yesterday. There were some nice things there, but nothing they wanted. It was nearly deserted.
They then walked to the market and had lunch at the Rainbow Restaurant, where they had excellent seats overlooking the lake and ghats. The other patrons in the open air seating area where they were seemed to be mostly Americans on a tour together. The waiter, a pleasant young man, brought around treats for all the diners. Once it was a desert sample and the second time (for Pati and BeeBee only) a cool minty drink. As they finished their meal and he had cleared the table, he slipped Pati a handwritten note in English: "If you like the service, please tip the waiter. Do not tip at the cashier." Pati and BeeBee had already totaled up the bill; it came to 780 rupees. Pati happily gave the young man a 100 rupee tip. At the cashier, the bill was 860 rupees. So the cashier got his tip anyway.
Leaving the restaurant, they shopped as they walked through the market and bought some hand-colored cards they will use as Christmas cards. Walking on toward the B&B, they encountered their earlier tuk-tuk driver who said he had come back for them at the foot of the hill. They explained their slowness, and since he already had a fare, they took another tuk-tuk back to the B&B.
Pati and BeeBee got up at the usual 7 am and had the usual breakfast in the usual place. During breakfast, Rohit, who is the nephew of the manager, spent some time talking with them about the land and religion (there are 400 temples in Pushkar). The manager's father owns the land around the B&B as well as several other adjacent B&Bs. He is a retired secondary school physics teacher and spends his retirement working on his garden plots. These plots grow the grains and vegetables used for the food in the B&Bs; the grandmother (omo) grinds their own grains to make the bread products (e.g., chipatis) that they serve. Right now, the fields are planted and watered, but they will not be ready for harvest for three months. The fields must be beautiful at harvest time. There is also a greenhouse on the property and many flowers, especially marigolds and roses. Pushkar would be a pleasant place for an extended stay in the winter months; Rohit told about people who have stayed in the next-door B&B as tourists for 8 or 10 years. Technically, it is only legal to stay here 6 months.
After breakfast, Pati and BeeBee took a tuk-tuk to the bottom of a hill, in order to climb to Savitri Temple. Savitri is the first wife of Brahma. Papmochari Temple, for Brahma's second wife, is farther away. Rohit said they should visit Savitri Temple, because the climb only takes one-half hour, instead of Papmochandri Temple, which requires a one-hour climb. Good choice. The climb to Savitri Temple took them one hour, with many stops to rest. The incline was at least 45 degrees as they neared the top. The climb begins and ends with concrete steps, but in between the path is made of large rocks set roughly as steps. Quite a few people were climbing, men and women, and many of those were elderly and barefoot. Many were chanting as they climbed, repeating the same phrase with every other step; perhaps it encouraged them. There were also goats and monkey families along the path (Pati wondered if the coffee bean sized "offerings" that covered the steps came from the monkeys or goats but didn't have time to wait and see.) Pati and BeeBee spent a few minutes at the top, visiting the temple and enjoying the breeze. The walk down took one half hour. The tuk-tuk driver who agreed to pick them up at 12:15 was gone by the time they got down at 12:30. (They saw him later in town.)
They then walked to the carnival to see the rides. Despite some misgivings, they bought tickets for one of the 4 very tall ferris wheels. They agreed to hold on tight every second and only take pictures when it was stopped and they were on the top. Finally enough people were on for it to start; Pati took pictures until then. The ride cost 30 rupees (about 50 cents US). After 12 revolutions, they expected the ride to end.. It didn't stop, so Pati began taking pictures on the move, but with both of them still holding on tight. After 24 revolutions, they were amazed at the good deal. At 34 revolutions, the car began to rock. BeeBee told Pati to stop it; he said it was the wind. At 38 revolutions, the car sped up and rocked. They were ready to get off! Finally, at 42 revolutions, their turn was up and they got off.
They then walked until they found the craft fair they couldn't find yesterday. There were some nice things there, but nothing they wanted. It was nearly deserted.
They then walked to the market and had lunch at the Rainbow Restaurant, where they had excellent seats overlooking the lake and ghats. The other patrons in the open air seating area where they were seemed to be mostly Americans on a tour together. The waiter, a pleasant young man, brought around treats for all the diners. Once it was a desert sample and the second time (for Pati and BeeBee only) a cool minty drink. As they finished their meal and he had cleared the table, he slipped Pati a handwritten note in English: "If you like the service, please tip the waiter. Do not tip at the cashier." Pati and BeeBee had already totaled up the bill; it came to 780 rupees. Pati happily gave the young man a 100 rupee tip. At the cashier, the bill was 860 rupees. So the cashier got his tip anyway.
Leaving the restaurant, they shopped as they walked through the market and bought some hand-colored cards they will use as Christmas cards. Walking on toward the B&B, they encountered their earlier tuk-tuk driver who said he had come back for them at the foot of the hill. They explained their slowness, and since he already had a fare, they took another tuk-tuk back to the B&B.
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| Ferris Wheel (note Savitri Temple at top left) |
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| Demon |
Common chant heard while climbing... "My feet hurt, my feet hurt"
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