From My Recent Journey In India
Jaisalmer, January, 2007
We Arrive at Nourah's village on the last day. He asks if I had a good time. Yes, I sure did Nourah, but there is one thing I never had a chance to do. Just once, I would like to see how fast a camel can run. He gives me a sideways look as if to say: 'you asked for it." He puts me on my camel 'Journey' and he gets on behind me. We head to an oval track on his property and away we go.
Showing posts with label Nourah. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Nourah. Show all posts
Saturday, October 06, 2007
Thursday, October 04, 2007
Nourah; Camel Driver
From My Recent Journey In India
Nourah wants to buy his own camels and do his own Safaris. We are thinking of investing in a camel with him. Camels cost about $300 to buy. 
At the end of the journey we arrived at Nourah's village in the desert. The only people who live here are his own family and brothers and a couple of aunts and uncles; about fifteen people in all. That's his wife in the green and his brother next to her. You would never know Nourah and his wife were married from looking at them in public. Indian culture does not allow public shows of affection. Muslim couples are even more strict that way. I found his family to be very polite and respectful.
Jaisalmer, January, 2007
This is our third and last day on the Safari. We arrive in a small settlement made up of a few brick buildings and goat corrals.
Nourah did a great job of guiding us through the desert. Here he is with his (my) camel 'Journey'. Many people think of camels as being unpredictable and snappy, but Nourah says that most are very docile and friendly because they are used to being around people.
This is our third and last day on the Safari. We arrive in a small settlement made up of a few brick buildings and goat corrals.
Nourah did a great job of guiding us through the desert. Here he is with his (my) camel 'Journey'. Many people think of camels as being unpredictable and snappy, but Nourah says that most are very docile and friendly because they are used to being around people.
Nourah wants to buy his own camels and do his own Safaris. We are thinking of investing in a camel with him. Camels cost about $300 to buy. At the end of the journey we arrived at Nourah's village in the desert. The only people who live here are his own family and brothers and a couple of aunts and uncles; about fifteen people in all. That's his wife in the green and his brother next to her. You would never know Nourah and his wife were married from looking at them in public. Indian culture does not allow public shows of affection. Muslim couples are even more strict that way. I found his family to be very polite and respectful.Tuesday, October 02, 2007
Desert Life
From My Recent Journey In India
Jaisalmer, India, January, 2007
We settle into desert life very easily. It's quiet out here and very peaceful. Every so often I turn around and snap a photo of Aw on her camel. We each carry one bag of personal stuff on the camel's saddle horn.
We come across a lot of these large green bushes as we travel. These are all that break up the landscape for most of our journey.
Our camels only eat once a day. Nourah spreads out some grain on a blanket for each of our pals. We carry the feed with us.
Nourah makes us dinner from scratch. He brings rice and vegetables and the ingredients for chapattis. There's nothing better than the smell of a meal cooking in the quiet of the evening just before the sun goes down.
We sit on our camp blankets and watch the sun set through the bush. For me, the Safari is all about this kind of moment. To truly enjoy the experience, we slow ourselves into the moment and enjoy what is, right now.
Jaisalmer, India, January, 2007
We settle into desert life very easily. It's quiet out here and very peaceful. Every so often I turn around and snap a photo of Aw on her camel. We each carry one bag of personal stuff on the camel's saddle horn.
We come across a lot of these large green bushes as we travel. These are all that break up the landscape for most of our journey.
Our camels only eat once a day. Nourah spreads out some grain on a blanket for each of our pals. We carry the feed with us.
Nourah makes us dinner from scratch. He brings rice and vegetables and the ingredients for chapattis. There's nothing better than the smell of a meal cooking in the quiet of the evening just before the sun goes down.
We sit on our camp blankets and watch the sun set through the bush. For me, the Safari is all about this kind of moment. To truly enjoy the experience, we slow ourselves into the moment and enjoy what is, right now.Thursday, September 27, 2007
Aw's Desert Travel
From My Recent Journey In India
Jaisalmer, January, 2007
Jaisalmer, January, 2007
Nourah loads up up camels as we head out for another day exploring this wondrous country. 
He walks ahead of us leading the camels and guiding us along the route effortlessly.
Now I can carry out my secret plan. I know that it's just a matter of time before I wear Aw down. I'll show her who has the real endurance in the desert.
Look at that desperate look in her face. I mean, let's get serious. She's just a tiny Thai woman. She is no match for a big strong (Yai jing jing krup) man from Canada. She can't possibly be having a good time on that Camel, hour after hour, trudging along the hot desert. 
Sure, she has that smile on her face and yes, I hear her laughing as if she's having a good time out here. But she's not fooling anyone. And tell that camel to get that smirk off his face!
He walks ahead of us leading the camels and guiding us along the route effortlessly.
Now I can carry out my secret plan. I know that it's just a matter of time before I wear Aw down. I'll show her who has the real endurance in the desert.
Look at that desperate look in her face. I mean, let's get serious. She's just a tiny Thai woman. She is no match for a big strong (Yai jing jing krup) man from Canada. She can't possibly be having a good time on that Camel, hour after hour, trudging along the hot desert. 
Sure, she has that smile on her face and yes, I hear her laughing as if she's having a good time out here. But she's not fooling anyone. And tell that camel to get that smirk off his face!Tuesday, September 25, 2007
MBT Desert Trial
From My Recent Journey In India
Jaisalmer, January, 2007
They say 'never judge a man til you walk a mile in his sandals. Nourah walks the whole journey through the desert. He leads the two camels like this for the three days, walking in his old black shoes.
After the first day, he shows me one of his shoes. The sole is split open and it has thorns in it. Fortunately I have a second pair of sandals so I give him my best pair to wear for the duration of our trip. The irony is that these are very special sandals. I got them through my friend Vivyan in Toronto Canada. They are MBTs.
These shoes were designed by studying the Masai tribe in the African desert. The shoes are bow shaped so that the we must unconsciously adjust our posture to walk straight. It is a total body work out but after a short time it causes you to walk in a healthier way. 
So here we are in the desert of India and our guide is wearing the exact footwear that was designed by people in his exact situation. They costs about three hundred dollars a pair; the same price as a camel. 
Nourah loves wearing them and asks if he can keep them, but I have to say no. I do give him my other pair though. It's nice to have been able to give him the gift of comfort for the three day Safari.
Jaisalmer, January, 2007
They say 'never judge a man til you walk a mile in his sandals. Nourah walks the whole journey through the desert. He leads the two camels like this for the three days, walking in his old black shoes.
After the first day, he shows me one of his shoes. The sole is split open and it has thorns in it. Fortunately I have a second pair of sandals so I give him my best pair to wear for the duration of our trip. The irony is that these are very special sandals. I got them through my friend Vivyan in Toronto Canada. They are MBTs.
These shoes were designed by studying the Masai tribe in the African desert. The shoes are bow shaped so that the we must unconsciously adjust our posture to walk straight. It is a total body work out but after a short time it causes you to walk in a healthier way. 
So here we are in the desert of India and our guide is wearing the exact footwear that was designed by people in his exact situation. They costs about three hundred dollars a pair; the same price as a camel. 
Nourah loves wearing them and asks if he can keep them, but I have to say no. I do give him my other pair though. It's nice to have been able to give him the gift of comfort for the three day Safari.Thursday, September 20, 2007
Would You Like Chicken With That?
From My Recent Journey In India
Jaisalmer, January, 2007
Jaisalmer, January, 2007
Our Camel Safari takes us for many kilometers into the Rajasthan dessert. The loping speed is very relaxing and peaceful. We stop after 3 or 4 hours to let the camels rest and to have a meal. Our camel driver; Nourah, lays down some quilts so we can have a short siesta while he gets out the supplies for our afternoon meal. 
He makes the japatti himself and all the ingredients are fresh. I could be a vegetarian very easily. This food is wonderful. It's just vegetables and rice and some spices.
Tonight we have a delicious meal of noodles, japatti and chicken. Nourah sets everything out around him on the ground and puts our whole meal together while sitting in this one position. I only have one regret about my choices of food for this Safari.
When they asked me if I wanted chicken on this Safari I had no idea they meant...
He makes the japatti himself and all the ingredients are fresh. I could be a vegetarian very easily. This food is wonderful. It's just vegetables and rice and some spices.Tonight we have a delicious meal of noodles, japatti and chicken. Nourah sets everything out around him on the ground and puts our whole meal together while sitting in this one position. I only have one regret about my choices of food for this Safari. 
When they asked me if I wanted chicken on this Safari I had no idea they meant...Monday, September 17, 2007
Desert Paradise
From My Recent Journey In India
Jaisalmer, January, 2007
Nourah, our camel driver, brings us here to this sand dune for our first night in the desert. The whole trip is worth it just to be here. This dune is like something from a movie. We were warned that much of our trek will be in scrub, but this is wonderful.
I take Aw to the top of a dune just as the sun is setting. 
The Sun sets very fast in this part of the world. Where we are here is very close to the Pakistan border. 
I thought that a Camel Safari would be all about the wonderful sights we would see; and it is, in a way. But the best part is just the peace and quiet as we ride along in this mystical land. Nourah is quiet by nature and the three of us have no trouble just looking around and enjoying the Peace and quiet. I love waking up in the cool morning and smelling the smoke from the fire as Nourah makes our morning chai and a simple breakfast. 
At night, we lay blankets out in the sand and sleep under the stars. I sleep on my back and I wake up every few hours and look up at a new configuration of stars over head. Canada has wonderful night skies but I have never seen anything like this. There are no lights to detract from this heavenly view. It's magnificent out here.
Jaisalmer, January, 2007
WE ride from about 10am until around 6pm. I am in a panic inside for the first few hours of the Safari. I honestly don't know if I can endure the ride. I have always considered myself a very strong person but my legs are working way too hard with every step the camel takes, just to maintain my balance. We stop for a nice lunch under some shade trees and when we get back on the camels, suddenly it's all different. My brain seems to adjust to the journey and now at the end of the day it's no problem at all. I know I can ride indefinitely. It's all so easy to do now. Sigh
Nourah, our camel driver, brings us here to this sand dune for our first night in the desert. The whole trip is worth it just to be here. This dune is like something from a movie. We were warned that much of our trek will be in scrub, but this is wonderful.I take Aw to the top of a dune just as the sun is setting. The Sun sets very fast in this part of the world. Where we are here is very close to the Pakistan border. I thought that a Camel Safari would be all about the wonderful sights we would see; and it is, in a way. But the best part is just the peace and quiet as we ride along in this mystical land. Nourah is quiet by nature and the three of us have no trouble just looking around and enjoying the Peace and quiet. I love waking up in the cool morning and smelling the smoke from the fire as Nourah makes our morning chai and a simple breakfast. At night, we lay blankets out in the sand and sleep under the stars. I sleep on my back and I wake up every few hours and look up at a new configuration of stars over head. Canada has wonderful night skies but I have never seen anything like this. There are no lights to detract from this heavenly view. It's magnificent out here.
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