When Pushkar to Shove

Saturday 19th April

- the post office with no stamps and other exciting adventures!

another day, another wedding in Pushkar.

earplugged up, we had contrasting fortunes overnight. Edd managed 9 virtually unbroken hours of wonderful sleep, but Philippa was less fortunate, sleeping poorly and again unwell. we had the luxury of no fixed plans for the day, so we did not leave the room until closer to midday as Phil finally slept and recovered. she professed to be up for venturing out later, so we strode out to a particularly hot day in search of a post office to send off some postcards.

the post office allegedly around the corner proved to be invisible, so a prolonged search for the town's GPO was instigated. after much up and down and side to side we finally found it, although they had run out of stamps and had to send someone out to get them from somewhere. always good for a post office, running out of stamps. the entire GPO seemed to be run out of a tin box behind the desk, rather ramshackle and cobbled together but, like India itself, it just about seemed to work.

traffic, Puskhar style

we found the main bazaar again in about four minutes on the way back, of course. we had a bit of a browse, but it was now tiringly hot, so we cashed in a few more guest house room hours, allowing Phil to get some more sleep and energy.

Hindu temple - no cows allowed inside!

on the way back, the same young teenage boy who has approached Edd every time we've walked along it and pestered him for food or money was at it again. Edd was finding it very tiring and was upset when we got back. it's impossible to give to everyone, and one's good natured and kind hearted principles take a pounding when you are asked so many times every day. we had invested and were investing so much in the country. furthermore, how was one to tell which of all those who asked was 'more' in need than the other? was the young boy who runs along behind you and asks for 2 Rupees more deserving than the old woman who sits on a box with our arm outstretched? it was a quandary born of Western principals and living, but in India the reality of the situation can become quite overwhelming.

street scene, Pushkar

we spent the early evening strolling the bazaar under the rays of the dying sun. Edd bought a new, second pair of sunglasses from a man who was actually selling embroidered elephant and bird mobiles, but who also had an unadvertised sideline in eyewear we discovered after a chance discussion about his shades. twice in the evening the 'I've only got X Rupees on me' technique was used to good deal-closing effect. the streets seemed notably more relaxed than in the day. we also bumped into our Pushkar Puja water ceremony priest, Nandoo.

the bazaar is full of a lot more Westernised hippy stuff, but it's also got a good range of products of all types of Indian crafts, despite the more touristy angle. we had dinner - good and well priced - at Om Shiva down the road, where we'd earlier had a snack. we may try for a sunrise over Pushkar as seen from the Savitri Temple tomorrow, on the summit of a steep nearby hill reckoned to be an hour's climb.

the Savitri Temple (it's the one on the top of the hill)

today has been slow and relaxed, in keeping with making sure that Philippa was OK and that we didn't go mad in the burning sun. off season as we are, it's an easy place to relax.

best

edd & philippa