Pushkar

5 AM comes early no matter which side of the globe you happen to be on. Our train left very, very early from the station in Delhi but we did get to see the sun rise on the way. The station was packed with people – families, beggars and businessmen. We boarded our rail car, which was surprisingly comfortable, and readied ourselves for the six hour ride. Tea and breakfast (a tasty Indian-style vegetable cutlet) were served and we spent our time relaxing or taking photos out the open rail car door, which was especially wonderful as we reached each new station along our route.

When we finally arrived at our destination – Ajmer – we were met by our drivers and a luxury coach (actually…more of a “short bus”) in which we would be touring around for the next two weeks. We drove for about an hour through Ajmer and over a mountain to reach our hotel in the Holy city of Pushkar, which would be our home base for the next five days.

As I mentioned, Pushkar is a Holy city – which means no meat and no alcohol. Fortunately, that didn’t also mean no fun. We were able to pack in a lot in between our days Volunteering in Ajmer (which I will cover in a separate post). Lots of shopping, great eating (I recommend “Little Italy” for thin crust pizza, espresso and “special” drinks served in tin-foil), sightseeing, photography and, of course, some truly random adventures.

A few of us crashed a “Gypsy Dance Party”  on our first night and were warmly welcomed with food, live music and spectacular dancing under the moonlight.

Another highlight was a camel safari – riding a few hours into the desert to watch the sunset, eat some delicious Indian food cooked by our guides on an open fire and some live entertainment by some local gypsies. This is a must-see for anyone visiting Pushkar.

Pushkar is also great for shopping. I struggled greatly with what to pack for my trip to India. Knowing that it is important to dress conservatively, with shoulders and knees covered…in the blazing heat of the sun. However, I now would highly recommend bringing a few basics but buying the rest on arrival. The clothes are extremely cheap and there are many cute Western-ish styles that work well. I quickly became addicted to the brightly coloured “ali-baba” style cotton pants which work well with a simple T-shirt and scarf. At only about $3 a pair, it’s a steal. And they are beyond comfortable and great in the heat. Also - you must please fill your backpack with the beautiful and affordable jewellery, colourful pashmina scarves and handmade shoes. I regret that I didn't ship a whole box of Indian jewellery back to Canada before I left. 
Here are some photos from the market in colourful Pushkar...Enjoy!