day 5/6

Day5/6


I had a lovely mutton meal with chicken biryani, dahl and
flat bread at a suppliers house 2 nights back. We all sat on the floor, or at
least the male family members and ate a lot. Infact 2 hours solid eating. The
meal was finished with countless bowls of fruit and rasmalai, sweet curd
dumplings in a yellowy sweet aromatic milk.

Next day was a buying of jewellery day. I used to buy silver
and gems. As we have a retail show coming up in May I thought I might buy a few
necklace and bracelets designs. These are now being made and having rhodium
plating put on, this is so the silver doesn’t oxidise – go black as all silver
tends to. Hopefully they will be ready in 3 days time. I have had pieces made which I will be
able to adapt to the wholesale market.

I caught the train last night to Jaisalmer, noth west India
quite near Pakistan. It left at 12 midnight and arrived at 11 am midday.
Wonderful journey. 2nd class AC compartment. 4 beds to a room albeit
without the 4th wall. The girl on the bed below mine had a fright
with a rat or two and kicked up a big fuss. She was ordering her husband to go
and get the guard etc, he sheepishly went and I swear he was mumbling curses to
himself under his breath whilst walking away. Myself and another fellow traveller,
an old French man who was on the bunk bed opposite mine were giggling together.
It all made for some very happy colourful dreams. I woke feeling great at 9am
and quickly went and opened the door to the train between compartments, sat
down and watched the shrubby desert fly by. A wonderful way to start the day
whilst chatting to Frenchy who has been visiting the area since 1978.

Jaisalmer is a beautiful fort town, in the middle of the
Thar dessert which runs into Pakistan. Tourism seems to be the main income
although we are not in high season. I am currently sitting on the roof terrace
eating eggs and goats milk, cheap and healthy. The weather feels to be about 30
and the cheap room that I have found, is all I could ask for, well sort of . It’s
large, has a double bed a single sofa a large bathroom and loads of windows.
The walls are clay inside and the feeling is of a simple solid room with just a
few lovely pieces in it. The hotel is part of the fort so the views from my
many windows are quite astounding looking
over this shrubby desert,all for £4.50.

I shall let the weather cool down a little then stroll in to
the warm evening and start asking around for the bits I am after.

Good day from India,
Dominic.

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