We have added camels

I arrived Jaipur, India yesterday. The flight was 29 minutes, on time and served lunch! The streets, like in Delhi, are full of people, cars, cows, elephants and to add a twist, camels. The annual Pushkar camel festival - attended by 200,000 people, ended yesterday and many people have come to Jaipur. This is also the time of weddings. Yesterday evening grooms on lavishly decorated horses, elephants and in cars were making their way through the streets to the wedding ceremonies. Brightly outfitted small orchestras were in the streets, awaiting their entrance to the wedding place. Bright lights adorned the outside areas and greeted the guests - many times 500 people and more - as the festivities were to begin. My dinner last night was a feast served outdoors with wonderful torches surrounding the gardens. I dined on, first, a Thai seasoned peanut broth with crab wontons followed by butter poached prawns and ended with a wonderfully rich chocolate torte. Have no fear that I am returning with a great loss of weight. For those who know me, you are familiar with my love for Africa and its people. I have always found the people to be warm, open and giving. India, though, exudes a graciousness I have never experienced before. The kindness and gentleness of its people is beyond anything I have witnessed anywhere else, and to find it, generally everywhere, is a great mark of how truly genuine it is. Micato Safaris (I won't give the telephone number, you must call me) has produced an amazing trip and the name, Micato, is so well respected here that a feeling of calm and comfort envelopes this entire experience. I have had many great supporters in friends - John, Gaston, Marti, Cathy, Deb to name a few - who have encouraged me to experience this destination and I must thank them all, for this is undoubtedly a very remarkable and endearing destination.