“Life In The Desert” our Jamba Village Tour. Mike, 12/28

Camels On Parade in Jodhpur

The Original Farmers Market

We departed the comfort of the houseboat and landed in the Rajasthan city of Jodhpur to make our trek to the desert region of Jamba. This is a DRAMATIC contrast to our tropical local in Kerala. During the winter the deserts of the Northwest are wonderfully temperate during the day with sun and modest winds keeping us comfortable, but at night it gets FRIGID with jackets, gloves, hats and warm tea a must!

Daybreak Over The Rajasthan Desert

Jamba-Ji Temple Priest

Our first day started with a sunrise wakeup call and a long day planned touring local families and villages of the Bishnoi people who have populated this region of Western Rajasthan for as long as anyone can remember. In the 15^th century a Hindu Guru known as Jamba-Ji unified these people and they still carry out their lives and traditions relatively unchanged with the exception the ever-present cell phone replacing previous bronze-age methods of communication. Our fist stop was to see the newly built temple dedicated to Jamba-Ji which will take a total of 10 years to build with hand chiseled stone.

While these people are joined by their connection to Jamba-Ji, they collectively form a community that is divided into small nuclear groups of families dedicate their craft handed down from generation to generation to earn income and contribute to the greater whole. The first group was a small family of cobblers with nothing more than a stick and mud hut attached to a newly built brick and mortar two room building to house this 6 person family. Their handwork was amazing and to say that these shoes are hand made is an understatement!

Stuck Yet Again

Trading Gifts With Locals

We traveled (sometimes very slowly) in deepening desert sands to see more local people and I had to marvel at how spontaneously children can play with one another even when language and world are so far apart. Luke was quick to gain lots of local friends and tried his hand at using their toys with his own iTouch far from thought. Our group was soon jumping and running in the sand dunes along at least 15 other local children who ran from huts a half mile away. We shared some pens and bracelets with them as they showed us how to jump, run, and properly use a sand dune as a playground.

Luke Playing With Locals

Cate Making Mommy Friends

Not A Cuisinart! 

Grandma, Daugher, and Grandkids

The next village looked to be out of a Disney movie set. It was immaculate with grounds and huts that seemed staged by Martha Stuart. It was explained to us that this family of 3 generations were camel herders by trade and the men (not there during the day) were managing their herd while we visited. The women were making flour from millet gathered from the local scrub and ground with a stone wheel that had been used for centuries. The children and women were amazingly happy and ever so beautiful in their traditional dresses. This was NOT staged…this is how they live each day just as so many families before them have lived. We will meet the men and camels later that afternoon.

Loom In Process

Who Can Resist?

The final visit of the day was with a weaver family who make detailed carpets, shawls, and prayer mats out of cotton and camel hair. Again, the village and huts were immaculate made from hardened mud, dung, and grasses from the region decorated with their own artwork. The family dedicated their time to weaving rugs that are then taken into Jadhpur to be sold at market or perhaps a local Pier1 Imports near you! We couldn’t help but bargain for a few to take home with us.

Carpets At Direct To You Prices! 

How Cute Is He!

Evening Water Run

Wally Farm Jamba Style

Christmas On The Houseboat. By Cami, 12/26

The houseboat was an amazing part of this trip. When we got there we were greeted by all of the welcoming staff. The boat itself looked like a little water bug the way it floated on the water, it was put together without a single nail and was tied together with rope and coconut pitch. Each room had a beautiful old-fashioned door taken salvaged from old homes. There were nine rooms all with their own bathroom.

Visiting A Local Village

Every meal was amazing food that made us very full. In the afternoons we would go on walks through the small villages and talked to the villagers who had surprisingly good English. All of the children were adorable with their big eyes and little noses. Most times we would give out small gifts, but once one was out we would get a swarm of all the village children coming over saying “Pen? Pen? One pen?” It was like the seagulls in Finding Nemo.

Handing Out Gifts To Our New Friends!

Relaxing On The Upper Deck

The first day we got on the boat we ate lunch on the upper deck and then we went downstairs to find our rooms. We would stop the boat and got off and took a walk in one of the villages. As we walked mom always said, “hi” to every person there, talking the same way she does to all of our animals with a high-pitched voice and simple words. The village were amazing with all different colors and welcoming people; everyone was so nice to us. We finished our walk and then went back to the boat and relaxed until dinner.  

On Christmas Eve we got firecrackers and other explosive things and set them off on land over the water along with every other family in the villages surrounding the boat. The sky was full of fireworks and sparkling lights. It was the most fun Christmas I have ever had.  The next morning we woke up to stockings and newspaper wrapped presents under our little travel size Christmas tree and then sat outside and enjoyed the hot weather. I never thought that hot weather and Christmas would ever be used in the same sentence before but I guess there’s a first for everything. We then drifted along the river and watched the small houses and water plants float by.

Christmas Day Outfits

Catholic Church In Kerala Backwaters

After relaxing we went for a walk in another village where we went into a Catholic church, which was breathtaking. The ceiling had intricate drawings of angels and Jesus in beautiful colors. Around the side of the church there was a graveyard, instead of gray boring tombstones that we use they had many multi-colored crosses over each grave. Since the graveyard was so small not every body could fit so they would eventually dig up the bones of people who had been their a while and placed them in the corner of the graveyard under a large cross and another body from that family would be put in that spot. That night we had Christmas dinner, which consisted of GIANT shrimp like things that we had bought at a small store along the river that we stopped. We asked for candles to put on the table but that must have gotten lost in translation because we ended up with the lights being covered by orange napkins and not to mention the little bugs flying around that would once in a while get stuck in your food, a few times I found myself questioning weather or not their was a piece of pepper in my food.

Shopping Excursion For Christmas Dinner..fresh Fish Perhaps?

Leaving The Boat For The Next Adventure

The next day was our fourth and last morning on the boat; it had been an amazing time. We stopped off in one last village and unloaded our bags and the staff carried it over to the bus. We then had to say goodbye to the boat and all of our wonderful staff, I will miss this boat and everyone on it. I just want to thank Sanjay Saxena and everyone else with Destination Himalaya. More to come!

-Cami    

Sunset On The River. Christmas Day! 

At The Resort! By Luke, 12/23

Cochin Airport At Last!!

After going on a LONG day of traveling we finally got to a fly on a “good” Air India plane with lots of actually good movies. The next plane on IndiGo was very boring except that I was with my friends. We got to the Cochin airport only to have to take another 3 HOUR bumpy bus ride and my head was soaked by the water from the air conditioning above me.

The COOLEST Pool In The World!!

As soon as we got to the resort hotel we were given fresh coconuts to drink from and Mom and Hollie were already there. For dinner I had a lobster pizza which was VERY good. After that me and my friend Seth went to the half mile long pool that was RIGHT in front of our hotel room door. As me and Seth were getting into the pool the lights were turned off because it was after 10:00, but we still went swimming.

Making A Reed Mat With Seth

Luke Lands A Big One
The next day we had lots of fun doing pottery and matt weaving. Later we found out that you could go fishing in the little river that was in the resort and I was the first one to catch a fish. It was especially fun to be at the resort with my two friends Seth and Arjun!

Luke Teaching Numbers To The Locals

On one of the days at the resort we went on a small boat to visit the school that Mom and my sister were volunteering at before we came. Everyone was very excited to see me, Seth, and Arjun because we were the first American boys their same age that they had ever met. I helped them learn numbers in their class that was the same age as me. Their school was very poor and they can only afford one room and each grade is separated by a cardboard wall. They did not have many books to teach with and we had a hard time finding chalk to write on the boards with.

Traveling On Kerala Boat To The School

Riding Fast!

After staying at the hotel for four days we had to leave but we got to go on a speedboat instead of the bumpy roads. I liked it a LOT and Seth and I sat in the very front. When we got to the other side of the lake we went to a school for children that are mentally retarded (editors note: their words) that helps them learn very simple things and to be able to better live with their families. After this we got on another bus to take us to our Houseboat! 

Very Special School In Kerala

On our way to India…try a visit to a Bavarian Christmas Village! By Mike, 12/18 -20

Cami, Luke and I left California on 12/17 to meet up with Cate and Hollie with a 2-day stop at my Sisters home, which is about an hour south of Frankfurt. The goal here was to get a dose of classic German Christmas and the last blast of cold weather before heading to the tropic of Capricorn and we were not disappointed!

Michelstadt, Bavaria

We FINALLY landed in Frankfurt in the morning with Luke and Cami staying awake nearly the entire flight…needless to say, they were extremely tired when we landed and any plans for shopping and eating were soon put on hold as each traded off jet lag power naps. 

Cami and Luke with my Sister, Renate

That evening we went to a Bavarian village called Michelstadt where they deck out the entire town as a Christmas Village where vendors set up craft booths and Gluwine! We had a wonderful time visiting, eating, and even a little more shopping to buy last minute gifts before the flight to Delhi at 10:00pm on the 19^th.

Luke with Seth and Arjun Saxena

We met up with the Saxena family at the airport and commenced another sleepless all night flight landing in Delhi at 9:00am. Upon arrival we me the Destination Himalaya team who lavished us with drinks and an Indian flower necklaces as we transferred to yet another 4 hour flight to Cochin.

In Cochin we got into a bus that took us the rest of the 2.5 hours on BUMPY Kerala roads filled with bikes, motorcycles, busses, and Tuk-Tuk’s. We ended up at the resort in the dark but ready for a hearty dinner and FINALLY meet up with a very relaxed looking Cate and Hollie!

The Ayurveda Experience....India Style. By Cate, 12/19

Ayurveda is a special type of massage in Kerala, specific to this area – one not to be missed. Although it has its quirks, but doesn’t everything in India?

Am I looking relaxed yet? 

I have had about 4 massages while I’ve been here – mostly when we go away for the weekend. They tend to only cost $30-$40 for a 1hour and 45 min session including a steam and shower scrub – and you are assured to sleep like a baby the night after.  Each one has been different; each one has its “special” quality. I’ve gone from my first experience of being slathered with oil so thick I slide off the table like a wet seal, to the experience where I go with my driver to a spot that is “cheaper” than the hotel (not a good idea…) to my latest experience of being left awkwardly in the shower when the water turned off.  As I sat contemplating in the shower I thought I would share the experience – it helped pass the time.

Hollie taking in the Munnar views

We were in Munnar at our beautiful hotel on the rim of an expansive tea plantation spread below us. I took the 20-minute hike to the top of the hill for my much-anticipated massage.  I was welcomed and brought into a room where I was expected to drop everything while being watched closely.  I had the hot oil poured on my head and massaged into the roots of my hair for 15mins – feels so wrong and so right all at the same time. Then I was asked to lie on the leather table slathered in oil and the massage part begins, it starts with your feet and ends with your face, flipping over like a well-oiled fish in between. When the massage is finished you carefully get up making sure not to go ass over teakettle as you make your way to the steaming box. They open the box and shut you inside with your head sticking out – thank the Lord for that bit of genius seeing as inside the box can easily reach 120+ degrees. Seriously, it is so hot you want to scream by the end of it, but we don’t complain in India, things are what they are and accepted gracefully. 

I began to worry when my little massage lady (they were all very little..) kept going in and out of the shower looking quit concerned.  At this point I had been in the hot box for longer than I had anticipated, but every time she came in the door she refused eye contact. I had visions of dying in that hotbox, and Hollie having to deal with my body, and of the inconvenience that would cause her. I struggled to stay focused and not faint from the heat as she continued to run in and out of the bathroom avoiding eye contact. Finally, as my head was slowly starting to sink into the hole and my life was flashing before me she rescued me and opened the box – I have never been so relieved.

Little did I know the torture had only just begun.  Now, mind you, the massage was fabulous, I have no complaints – probably the best one I’ve had and they have all been great.  But, the shine began to dim starting with that hot box and the lights went completely out once the shower came into the picture. Going from the hot box to the cold bathroom made me look forward to that warm shower. The problem here, that I chose to ignore, (because it just couldn’t be), was that NEVER has a shower in India been a satisfying experience. Though THIS shower had two heads and jets coming in from all directions – this was a high tech shower, it had to be able to out perform any of the other showers so far! I stood in the shower naked as a jaybird as she tried desperately to get the water hot. Finally she gives me the head waggle and I step in…CRAP!! HOT!! But, I don’t want to complain because she worked so hard to get the hot to come out, but I just could NOT stand it and had to have her readjust the temperature. After some time of turning the nob in what I was sure was the wrong direction, she gives me the go ahead and I get in. It’s FREEZING cold, like glacier cold!  I tried so hard to just deal with it, but in the end I just couldn’t get under the water. I start fiddling with it myself – not wanting to upset her by calling her in again.  As I step out of the flow of water I have the idea to just lather up and rinse off as fast as possible and get the hell out of there.  I shampoo my hair, with what I think was actually oil, and lather up my body, a nice BIG lather to get all the oil off. As I gather up the courage to step under the ice-cold flow I look up and I watched as the water slowly dissipated to nothing…no water…desperate situation. I try to call my little friend back to me but my calls go unanswered as I stand there naked, all lathered up, with nowhere to go.

She finally comes in and is trying to ask why I turned off the water, and I tried to explain that I didn’t, that it did it all by itself (so hard to communicate sometimes), especially when you are standing in a shower naked, freezing cold with soap in your eyes. Then the panic I had seen in her before began again…….she would come back every two minutes and tell me two more minutes – but in India two minutes can mean 10 or 20 or an hour, just depends on the day. I try practicing the patience I have acquired while in India and think that in my normal life I might get frustrated or upset sitting in a shower with no water, stark naked and realizing I’m actually paying for this experience. Then, I receive a gift; the answer to the one question I have had this whole trip was answered. The purpose of the bucket and pitcher becomes clear as my friend re-enters the bathroom…… it’s for those special moments when the shower actually doesn’t work (which I am realizing is most of the time). The bucket is filled with boiling hot water and then there is another bucket filled with cold.  The pitcher is to combine the two and rinse off manually. Never have I been so grateful to have that bucket!!  I was most eager to get the soap out of my eyes and I was almost complete with the rinse when she comes back in and turns the shower on.  She is so happy it works she takes my bucket away and motions for me to finish in the shower.  I get under the shower for my final rinse and it’s the very same cold water it was before.

I suck it up, looking at my abandoned bucket and call it a day.