We were up quite early this morning to complete the repacking and get our bags down to the lobby by 8 a.m. for Hemant to take them to the place they would be stored while we were away at Jaisalmer. We then boarded the bus with our smaller bags and headed for the airport. On the way we made a few stops. The first to a paperwork’s where paper is made out of discarded cloth, some from the fashion industry. The proprietor showed us the process of macerating the paper and eventually forming it into heavy duty paper which is in turn made into shopping bags and other product.We marveled at the skills of the workers who managed to fold and glue shopping bags with remarkable dexterity. The paper could be colored and printed. A large consignment of shopping bags for a store in South Korea was being completed as we were there. The absence of machinery to do the work, however menial that was indicated that there were jobs for people rather than automation. How long will that continue? Much of the machinery that was there looked as though it dated from before independence in 1947 but was, nevertheless, working well without computer chips. After touring the factory and seeing most of the processes we went to the company store and bought a few items as gifts
Then we moved on to a block printing works where fabrics are hand printed using the simplest of methods. Blocks made of Indian teak are carved with patterns which workers then ink and place precisely on the fabrics to render complex and colorful fabrics. Again this was a labor-intensive operation but the workers were still very skilled and managed to place the blocks with unerring accuracy as they traced the patterns over the long bolts of cloth.
Here again, we visited the company store and bought a few items including a shirt for me and some napkins as a gift for someone at home.
Then, after these interesting behind the scenes insights into the small industries in the side streets of Jaipur we headed for the airport and our flight to Jaisalmer and our night at the desert camp. We soon checked in with Spicejet and boarded the Bombardier twin propeller plane for the flight of less than one and a half hours.
After landing we soon got our bags and proceeded to the jeeps which were awaiting us from the Damodra Camp which would be our home for the next night. The jeeps were loaded up, including the roof and we set off down the dusty road, blacktop at first and then dirt-track for what was to be a nearly hour long journey. We stoped to pick up some tonic water to go with the gin which one of the group brought in a small village on the way and were able to watch the chaotic life of the local populace. Soon we turned off the hat was the ‘main’ road and joined a really rough dirt track to the camp. On arrival we were greeted by the staff very cordially and given tea and then assigned to our tents, ours was Number 6. Peacocks wandered around the grounds and two golden Labrador’s, Jessie and Bruno made us feel very welcome.
The tent consisted of a bed room with a large bed, a heater as the nights get cold and the other usual accouterments of a hotel room. The bathroom was also well kitted out and the whole was just like a hotel room except that it had canvas sides!! After settling in, we all took off for a desert adventure. This involved more rough terrain which the jeeps coped with very well but we were jostled around rather uncompromisingly but it was all part of the fun. We arrived at a point where six camels were waiting and those who chose to ride mounted up with MAC and Cathi on one, Darshana and Hament on another, Stevie and Claire and finally John and Denise making up the ‘GSIA Caravan’. We, who decide not to inflict the camels with our weights took off in the Jeep to the dunes where we climbed up to a ridge to watch the sunset and to await the Lawrence of Arabia wannabes to arrive on their camels which they did after about half an hour. They dismounted some distance away and then joined us on the ridge. Another feature of the ridge was a ‘surf-board’ upon which you could either stand or sit and ‘surf’ down the dune. After our guide showed us how to do it standing up, some of us managed to stay on the board in a sitting position to the bottom of the ridge among much shouting and cheering from the onlookers. The sun set over the desert and left a warm pink glow in the sky.
Some of us returned to the Jeep which took off and tried to surmount one of the dunes but had to have three tries at it with hilarious results for those inside as we backed up and took a great run at the hill bouncing around violently along the way. Eventually on the last try, with the help of a ‘pusher’ we made it over the top and back onto the track back to the camp.
On our return to the camp, we showered and dressed and then joined the group in a large central concrete ‘arena’ where there was a large log fire in the center. By now it had become quite chilly. There was a small combo who played raga music and they were extremely talented playing a sort of small organ which was operated by a hand fan-type arrangement and played with keys and one musician who played an Indian version of castanets by clapping two pieces of, what seemed like wood, in each hand in a very fast rhythmic clapping sound. The music was very infectious and had most people swaying or moving to the beat. Then a lady dancer twirled and spun and gyrated attractively on the arena culminating in her dancing with an array of ceramic pots on her head and then balancing on small cups while still dancing. There was also a very entertaining puppet show which one of the performers manipulated the puppets with some skill. This was a very pleasant interlude and snacks and drinks were served while we watched. Then it was off to a buffet dinner of Rajasthani dishes which was delicious. Dinner over we retired to bed in our tents.
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| The paper factory where high quality paper is made from rags and fashion scraps |
Here again, we visited the company store and bought a few items including a shirt for me and some napkins as a gift for someone at home.
Then, after these interesting behind the scenes insights into the small industries in the side streets of Jaipur we headed for the airport and our flight to Jaisalmer and our night at the desert camp. We soon checked in with Spicejet and boarded the Bombardier twin propeller plane for the flight of less than one and a half hours.
After landing we soon got our bags and proceeded to the jeeps which were awaiting us from the Damodra Camp which would be our home for the next night. The jeeps were loaded up, including the roof and we set off down the dusty road, blacktop at first and then dirt-track for what was to be a nearly hour long journey. We stoped to pick up some tonic water to go with the gin which one of the group brought in a small village on the way and were able to watch the chaotic life of the local populace. Soon we turned off the hat was the ‘main’ road and joined a really rough dirt track to the camp. On arrival we were greeted by the staff very cordially and given tea and then assigned to our tents, ours was Number 6. Peacocks wandered around the grounds and two golden Labrador’s, Jessie and Bruno made us feel very welcome.
The tent consisted of a bed room with a large bed, a heater as the nights get cold and the other usual accouterments of a hotel room. The bathroom was also well kitted out and the whole was just like a hotel room except that it had canvas sides!! After settling in, we all took off for a desert adventure. This involved more rough terrain which the jeeps coped with very well but we were jostled around rather uncompromisingly but it was all part of the fun. We arrived at a point where six camels were waiting and those who chose to ride mounted up with MAC and Cathi on one, Darshana and Hament on another, Stevie and Claire and finally John and Denise making up the ‘GSIA Caravan’. We, who decide not to inflict the camels with our weights took off in the Jeep to the dunes where we climbed up to a ridge to watch the sunset and to await the Lawrence of Arabia wannabes to arrive on their camels which they did after about half an hour. They dismounted some distance away and then joined us on the ridge. Another feature of the ridge was a ‘surf-board’ upon which you could either stand or sit and ‘surf’ down the dune. After our guide showed us how to do it standing up, some of us managed to stay on the board in a sitting position to the bottom of the ridge among much shouting and cheering from the onlookers. The sun set over the desert and left a warm pink glow in the sky.
Some of us returned to the Jeep which took off and tried to surmount one of the dunes but had to have three tries at it with hilarious results for those inside as we backed up and took a great run at the hill bouncing around violently along the way. Eventually on the last try, with the help of a ‘pusher’ we made it over the top and back onto the track back to the camp.
On our return to the camp, we showered and dressed and then joined the group in a large central concrete ‘arena’ where there was a large log fire in the center. By now it had become quite chilly. There was a small combo who played raga music and they were extremely talented playing a sort of small organ which was operated by a hand fan-type arrangement and played with keys and one musician who played an Indian version of castanets by clapping two pieces of, what seemed like wood, in each hand in a very fast rhythmic clapping sound. The music was very infectious and had most people swaying or moving to the beat. Then a lady dancer twirled and spun and gyrated attractively on the arena culminating in her dancing with an array of ceramic pots on her head and then balancing on small cups while still dancing. There was also a very entertaining puppet show which one of the performers manipulated the puppets with some skill. This was a very pleasant interlude and snacks and drinks were served while we watched. Then it was off to a buffet dinner of Rajasthani dishes which was delicious. Dinner over we retired to bed in our tents.
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