India

Apparently Pushkar, a desert town built around another holy water body - a little lake, was going to be a bit of a Varanasi experience where we could expect to be accosted by many a "holy man" offering blessings for your family at 100 Rupees (about US$2) a family member!

Pushkar was really actually very peaceful. We ate exceptionally well - did lots of shopping (purchased, amongst others, 26 cushion covers for Janine's sister's wedding) and enjoyed our stay next to the lake.

Pushkar is also home to one of the very few Brahma temples in India. Legend has it that his wife did not pitch for some or other do he was holding there and he promptly responded (in true Bollywood style) by marrying some other woman. Wife number one retaliated by vowing that Brahma would be worshiped nowhere else. Worship activity here tends to generate quite a din! We stayed in great room with a view where we could take in all the sights, sounds and smells of this religiously active little desert town. Pushkar incidentally is also the site of an enormous camel fair but we missed that by about a month. Two nights in Pushkar and we were ready to push off again.

Culture shock: The Indians really mistreat the street dogs. There won't be a day that passes where you don't hear a dog wailing in pain after being struck by some vehicle or stone or stick, and we usually hear quite a few a day. The percentage of dogs that are maimed in some or other way seems to be astronomical.