Great Thar Desert

After breakfast we boarded our bus for a four hour drive to Thar Desert.  In this area, the people live a very simple life and have learned to waste nothing.  The landscape consists of scrubby trees and hard dirt.  There are crops grown here where water is available.  



We're staying at  Manvar Kumat Desert Camp, a luxury camp with permanent tents that are airconditioned and have nice attached bathrooms.  A central building includes a bar, indoor and outdoor dining rooms, a large pit area with couches to enjoy a drink and and appetizers, and an infinity swimming pool.  If you've ever been to Africa, this is very similar.

After a short afternoon siesta, we took open air jeeps to visit a couple of local families to see what life is like in this part of the world.  The first stop was at a blacksmith's home.  He makes bells and clay pipes wrapped in copper wire and his wife was spinning thread.  She kept her face covered most of the time since we were strangers.  Both their children and others from nearby houses gathered to watch what we were doing.  The housing facilities are very basic but provide everything the families need.  Goats roamed the yard and provide extra income to the family.







The second stop was with a family of 'untouchables', the lowest caste.  We were able to go inside one of their thatched roof huts and photograph their kitchen facilities.  Again children gathered to see what we were up to and also hoping for some money.  






Prior to dinner, a Muslim family of musicians entertained us while we enjoyed drinks.  For some of the lower castes the best way out is to convert since the Muslim faith does not adhere to a caste system.  They were very talented and entertaining and added a nice bonus to our visit.

Tomorrow: We head to The Blue City

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