Tourist Central...Pushkar
Trip Start
Jan 08, 2006
1
18
24
Trip End
Apr 07, 2006
I wasn't thrilled with Pushkar. My high hopes of an exotic oasis in central Rajasthan were dashed as soon as I arrived. While it is colorful (where in Rajasthan isn't?), Pushkar is less about authentic spiritual discovery than getting stoned with blitzed out Americans (in the continental sense), Europeans, and half of the planet's population of Israelis on their end-of-military-duty world tours. Sorry Danny (one of my best friends is from Tel Baruch), but you couldn't throw a falafel (and they were on all the Hebrew menus along with humus, bang (made from cannabis) lassis, and "Israeli salads") without hitting a tripping 20-something from Haifa. The locals weren't the friendliest either, hurling accusations of your being disrespectful if you didn't let them take you down to the lake to offer yet another puja offering. (Afterwards, they demand an insane "contribution" for this, and it can get ugly. Best to just smile, even laugh, tell them you're no fool, and walk away, ignoring them. Saying that, people are going to thing I stiffed the locals out of some money. No, I certainly contribute to the local economy, but refuse to let someone's rehearsed rant make me cough up more cash. No, I didn't care for Pushkar. I can see myself going back for one more try someday, perhaps during the annual camel fair--which is way touristy, I am told, but still a sight to see!
