On to Pushkar

Pigs owned by Untouchables

 Judhpur to Pushkar

Along the way to Jodhpur, we passed a number of gypsy carts loaded with people and all their belongings (talk about living lightly!) We stopped for Masala tea at a roadside stand, of which there are many, almost like a Dunkin Donuts or Starbucks, just not nearly as modern.  Masala tea is to India what coffee is to the U.S.  and in every place we’ve been there are many old men with carafes in one hand and cups in the other walking along the streets and selling, “Chai, chai!”  It tastes so good!

Out of nowhere, there was a huge plume of smoke coming from a huge factory.  Om told us that it’s a cement factory.  This explained why in every town we’ve driven through there are huge Bemar (?) Cement signs painted on the sides of buildings.   The cement plant was on our left and what looked like a condominium development that had been beamed over from an American suburb was on our right, surrounded by vendors selling fresh fruits, veggies and lots of other daily necessities.   The one’s needing these things would be the employees who, because they work for Bemar, get to live in the very nice condos that Bemar provides for them because in reality, they are living in the middle of nowhere. 

School yard

Mustard fields

Huge Cement Plant

Gypsies

Gypsies

Every vehicle carries a full load!

Camel Cart

Trees  along the roadsides were surrounded by metal fences painted in stripes of white-red-white, to tell people hands off.  We could see why, because the other trees were having their branches cut off for firewood and their foliage being pulled off by herders with long handled canes to feed their animals.  Animals are treated very well in India.  Although cows roam freely everywhere, they never have to go without food.    Pigs roam freely through city streets, too.  They are owned only by the Untouchables, the lowest of the Indian caste system.  As, Raj, our driver in Jaipur would later explain to us, even to this day, these unfortunate citizens can never rise above this level, unless they manage to disguise their heritage by moving to another place and changing their names.   Raj said he thinks this may slowly change over time.