Jaisalmer

We left Khuri and headed to Jodhpur, the 'blue city'. I've learned by now that I need to take my estimate on travel time and double it. If a city is 350kms away I figure it should take 4ish hours. Nope, closer to 7. I've learned to average 50km/hr. Wednesday we drove 550kms in 11 hours. Thursday was 350 in 7.

Before we headed out we stopped at the Jaisalmer fort: essentially a large, golden sandstone sand castle structure that looks like an oasis in the barren desert landscape. Jaisalmer is appropriately referred to as, "The Golden City". As we entered the fort it felt like I was in a magical,  imagined land. It is a tight labynthe of high, golden sandstone walls that are ridiculously soft and polished creating an incredible sheen. Around each bend there was plenty to be explored: unique, breathtaking views, a plethora of brightly coloured textiles, Jain temples, shops with goods that look like they've been waiting to be purchased since the medieval times and plenty of people. At one point we were checking out a view and a lady invited us into her tiny one room, circular house to see her view. We peered over her sleeping teenage son (I'm assuming) out a tiny window. Then she posed by squatting by her stove on the ground and, using her broken English, asked us if wanted a picture. Since we did not have any small rupee denominations we did not take the picture. She's quite the entrepreneur, really. Why not use what you have to make a buck? I'm sure there are plenty of lovely pictures of her squatting and smiling happily in many photo albums throughout the world.

A slight deterrent was the open sewer in the lovely desert climate. That doesn't need to be explained.

As we explored the fort i thought if Canada's most recent birthday celebration and of how I teach Canadian history and if I compartmentalize that I feel like our country is old and has a deep history. Then as I walk through the Jaisalmer fort I am reminded that the Canada that we know is oh so young and brand new. This fort was built in the 1100's. I'm no math teacher, but that was a long time ago. Our non-native Canadian histories could fit into the history if this town/fort on repeat, multiple times. This city was founded as it was strategically positioned on the camel-train routes between Central Asia and India as it the farthest Western city in India. This brought initial wealth. However, as Mumbai (Bombay) took over this role and because of the cutting of routes to Pakistan, this is no longer a useful port. Tourism is its lifeline. It is a fascinating little part of the world.

The drive to Jodhpur was interesting, as all drives have been. Indian driving is exhilarating but nothing I haven't experienced before. Unless you're downtown Delhi, this driving is tamer than Dominican driving but the cow element is an extra fun one. They just stare you down. An interesting cultural norm for sure.

We left the desert landscape. We left the mud and straw huts behind. We left the scads of sand brick rock walls. We left the land filled with large herds of goat and sheep. We left the land that reminded me of Biblical times. And we headed to the blue city.