I've just travelled from Jodhpur, the blue city, called so because well almost every house in the city has been painted blue. From what I learned, this blue colour used to preserved only for the priestly caste, their homes in the old sector of the town where the first to be coloured with indigo. Now though, almost every home in Jodhpur is blue. Except for the mighty castle up upon the hill overlooking the city. Jodhpur is chaotic, very chaotic. The very narrow streets are in use by people walking about, carrying goods, food, but also by cows, goats and motorcycles, auto rickshaws, cars... well you name it. But, it's fun!All very much alive. There are people everywhere.
In fact, I think that there isn't a place in India where you can look and not see anyone! Which reminds me of the train ride from Delhi to Jaisalmer (a desert town quite close to border from Pakistan). It was a night train and it was supposed to take about 14 hours, well make that 21 hours... but ok. Anyway, you can reserve seats for the train, and so seats where reserved. Not that this mattered very much. Upon leaving we were with six people, three people in one row of three seats in the compartment and another three on the other three seats. By the next station however we where with 8 and by the next 12!! Very crowdy! - but interesting. Jaisalmer itself is a small city in the middle of the desert built around a huge fort. The place used to be a major trade center along the silk route. Sitting on a rooftop terrace looking at the fort, and the desert, you can almost imagine the caravans coming by.
It also the place to book overnight camel trips into the thar desert. Camels are smelly btw! But the scenery more than makes up for that. And the stars, I don't think I've ever seen so many in my life. It was like there was a dome filled with lights above you...
