39. Mystic Jaisalmer

Mystic Jaisalmer

Wow.

The Indians love to use this word. Wow. Just as much as South Africans use ‘hectic.’ 

Oki doki..soooooo…Mystic Jaisalmer hotel – what a place! WOW J This hotel has got to be the finest place in India, certainly the best we have been to! It’s breezy inside, clean and is honestly a home away from home! On our first day we had lunch on the rooftop overlooking the fort and that evening – after a day missioning around, doing a bit of light shopping, checking out the ‘town’ - doing our best not to get stained with color – holy is in the air.. trying the ‘special lassies’ and then getting lost in the evening.. AND having a cow charge at us – which I must say was a rather nerve racking experience – but some strange Irish man helped us find our way – and all was well.. we got all fresh and cozied up in the lounge on a bunch of cushions, and ate a delicious cashew nut curry while we watched the most sensational Bollywood movie – “Ddlj” The man with the heart will win the bride.. 

The staff at Mystic are one happy family – only too pleased to welcome you into their beautiful home! Mr Ashraf is the head of this household and is destined to be the king of all hostels in India! He floats around smiling and chatting, giving all of his guests his undivided and individual attention- all the while running the show.

A group of us were in the desert (note it had taken a good few hours riding our camels to get there) and suddenly – there appeared Mr Ashraf.. Dressed in white, he glided towards us,”Hello..” J He stayed with us for dinner – eating by the fire, chatting about life and meditation.

I personally have never been one to sit and hum my way through an hour, although I understand the appeal to others. But Ashraf was talking about meditation as a part of your life – an action – you can dance! In fact he encouraged it, “There is no one here to care, so when you feel like it, get up and dance. If you fall, it’s ok – the sand is soft. So just dance.” As long as you are present in whatever you are doing, THAT is meditation.

We had great conversations about life and how much we can learn from the people who come into it, even just for a fleeting moment, or perhaps for a two day venture into the desert :)

It was such a ball, a group of us from all over the world – chatting under the stars, eating spicy delights and drinking chai tea!

I learnt a lot about the Indian culture which was incredibly interesting – to be able to sit and natter with two new friends! Surbh and Anjani  are both from India and I had such a nice time with them – 
we stayed up into the wee hours chatting about different cultures, communities and customs, different social and political issues – like the transgender community here. I can’t get into that right now it would take up way too many pages but it was fascinating. Still is :)

Riding a camel is certainly an experience I will never forget. We unquestionably had enough time on the camels which I was thrilled with since I had heard that so many tours gave such little time.. we we’re lucky! It’s rather uncomfortable and of course you have to get a feel for this foreign animal but it’s just so much fun!

They have such individual personalities’. I did not connect with my initial camel – I can’t remember his name and I guess that shows how close we got. During our tea break, which was after an hour or two into the trek - I asked to change – because try as I did – I could not connect with him – he was not interested in being my friend – no matter how much love I gave – I got nothing in return. So when our tea break was done, I swapped camels with one of the guides “Sonny” and got “Akia” who was a sheer gentleman! He just went about his business, mozing along – and he loved my cuddles and my sweet coo’s in his ear. We were the perfect fit – right from the start. At one point we passed a little village where some female camels were roaming around and Akia when nuts for them! Their tongues blow up – right out of their mouths – it’s rather disgusting but the strangeness of it all is wonderful . I like having to push myself through moments when I’m out of my comfort zone and feeling nervous or uncomfortable.  And I had my moments on the camels, even with Akia, when I had to breathe my way though a minute or seven.

Never the hoo I loved everything about this experience! So far my best in India! Delicious food and beautiful company. The guides on this tour just love their camels and just love their desert and are more than happy to share it with you. They really were the cherries on top – singing and playing the drums from whatever plastic bottles and pots we brought – this little boy Sameer sang a few (on demand) solo’s for us - the voice of an angel!

Jaislamer itself is a very small place, and can be walked in a day, the fort is exquisite and I got an aovetic massage that trumps any kind I’ve ever had!

Nunu and I met an American girl Caprice on the train from Jodphur and we were all going on the same train to Jaisalmer, booked to stay in the same hotel, for the same amount of time, and to get on the same next train to the same place for the same time again.. and so the three of us hit it off and because the ‘mixed vegetables’ 

Right now as I write, the five of us, Sian, Caprice, Surbhi, Anjani and I are all sitting in our train compartment – chatting about our camels personalities and the Holi festival we’re about to enjoy in Jaipur. Eeeeeek! I’m so excited for that, but right now I’m just so in love with Rajastan – and Jaisalmer in particular. And the goats. The goats and I understand each other.

 As Surbhi said,”You and the goats really connected.”

The following quote by “Rumi” is at the entrance of Ashraf’s Mystic Jaisalmer:

“Being human Is a guest house. Every morning a new arrival. A joy, a depression, a meanness, some momentary awareness comes as an unexpected visitor. Welcome and entertain them all. Be Grateful for whoever comes because each has been sent as a guide from beyond.”