08/01/22 - too many animals to count

 08/01/22  kittens, cows, snakes, dogs, rats

The appreciation of our privilege continues. Before leaving our hotel, the shop keeper opened the hotel boutique. He had no guests/sales for the last 28 days. He had to close his business completely due to minor eye surgery. 

Our “pee pee stop” during the morning drive confirmed the devestation of the tourist industry. The once busy and flourishing roadside business had been shuttered for nearly 3 years. We were the 2nd guests they had welcomed since the closures. We did our best to “contribute to the local economy.” None of us feel the urge to barter for lower prices. 

We stopped at a “cow hospital”. Cows are revered in India and cared for at this hospital by donation. Any cows capable of milk production are milked as a revenue stream. Newborns are also sold to farmers as a revenue stream. 

Emma has been advised that while she can HAVE a cow at home, she cannot TAKE a cow home.  We’ve had to check her pockets for squirrels, kittens and now cows. We also encountered a snake charmer - but took a hard pass. 

R-rated photo to follow. Skip ahead to avoid the two books I found on the same bookshelf at the “pee pee stop” gift shop.  I felt these two books together was worthy of a photo. 

Back to your regularly scheduled programming…

Our adventures took us to the Rat Temple. The story shared by Bhanu our travel guide is that a widow had only her son to live for…sadly he too passed. In her grief she took to meditation and prayer. The God Brahma would not restore life to her son, but would return him to the world in another form.  She asked for her son to return as a rat, for it had been a rat that had helped and guided her during her mediation. 

The temple serves the local community who worship the widow turned goddess. Today, thousands of rats reside in full-tummy glory within the walls.  

Our visit was certainly eye opening, as we didn’t want to be the cause of an untimely and unplanned rat stomping. The rats tend to gather near/around the food and water sources. 

We did NOT need to check Emma’s pockets here. 

Sugar cane juice is a “refreshing” drink. It’s not a flavour that I quite appreciate. It vaguely reminds me of rhubarb dipped in brown sugar. So really, it is the sugar flavour with some bitter flavours that follow. 

Next we wet off to the Red Fort in Bikaner. It was a very warm day, so we were a bit sluggish. Thank goodness for fans we bought earlier in the week for 50 rupee (about 80 cents).I love this “Rain Palace” room. Is was painted with the sky reaching from ground to ceiling for the children of the palace, who seldom saw rain. While visiting a Havelli later in the day, we discovered modern lamp shades painted with the same design.

Thank goodness for swimming pools. I’ll admit that getting checked in and changed for a swim is the highlight of some days. We are staying at a Palace and this is the indoor pool. 

Along with a Royal foot and head massage at 10:30pm, I’d state that today was an “above average” kinda day!!