Hotel New Park Pushkar

... is a small town there are no tuk tuks and you can get your luggage delivered by a wallah on a handcart for about 15 rupees. So we get the hand cart - as much to find the place as anything else, and he says 50 rupees no no no I say - all his mates come around look at the hotel name and say yes yes yes - look we agree 30 rupees and you pay him what you think it is worth. Okay so we get underway. <br><br>Pushkar is a sacred place for all ...

... br><br><br><br>Despite the neon flashing warning in the book of lies about said pujas, we decided what the hell if it costs us a fiver it'll still be a good experience. And it was. We were led with more sugar lumps, flower petals, sandlewood, rice, jasmine on silver plates to a set of steps leading down to the lake. Emmet and I were split up, men on one side, women on the other. Then a brahmain (Hindu priest or complete and utter chancer, who cares he played the role well) got me to ...

... his motorcycle. It was a very Indian experience. LOL! We got back to Seventh Heaven and I was able to have a nice dinner there. There were also two other Brazilians Vanessa and Dani had encountered during the day. One was named Gustavo (a tattoo artist) and Alexandre (I am not sure what he does). Alexandre was hot and it was nice having some eye candy while eating dinner. After finishing up I headed back home and had the most amazing and cleansing shower EVER. Sleep was quite good that night.

... temple, the markets, and celebrated Valentine's Day in a pizza shop with no electricity! There was one short story to share - as I went to look at a Sikh temple near the lake (I didn't enter as the rules were too strict), I walked around the side and was motioned over to have some chai. seeming friendly enough, I obliged and sat having tea with some lovely gentlemen from Punjab. We ...

... into a small room - where he lives - for chai. He explains some of the finer details of all things Ganesh and puts Tara into a correct yoga position. We have an excellent chai with him and his sadhu friend which contains a lot of pepper, which is a first. He also shows us his hash explaining they only have a "little bit" to aid their meditations. Tara mentions her disappointment at our fake puja and the priest offers to correct it. He ...

... still hear the spruiking of "water, toilet paper, cigarettes, candy, chocolate" as you reach the end of the street. Toilet paper is expensive because Indians don't use it, instead they use their left hand and water. The rule of not touching anything communal or shaking hands with your left hand is an important one. Many times i cringe when i shake beggars hands knowing they haven't washed in a very long time but i always do as a sign of friendship then remember to get ...