On the road early (9am) and on the 4 lane highway to Ajmer on our way to one of the holiest places in India for Hindus; Pushcar. Paid particular attention to trucks on this trip. There are trucks on the road here that must be 4 feet higher than we allow in Canada. They look dangerously top-heavy, but the only overpasses they have to get under are the very tall ones at toll booths.
Interesting as well are the huge loads of animal feed. It appears quite light, but the loads, both on trucks and tractor trailers are extremely large and appear ready to fall off.
We liked the various messages on the backs of trucks asking you to "blow horn"(as if anyone in India needs encouragement), "use dipper at night", "stop"(rather than having working lights), "keep distance", "wait for lane", and our favourite "good luck"!
We eventually arrived in Pushcar where Brahma, the creator, made the World out of a lotus flower that grew out of his stomach. Here there is the only temple in his honour in the entire World. In addition, there are many, many other temples here honouring other of the Hindu deities. Hindus come to Pushcart, visit the temple and pray and bathe in the lake.
We were guided to the temple and then down to the lake where we took part in a ceremony with a young man who said that he was a priest. The ceremony was very nice until the "hit" was put on for a donation. That would have been fine, but he tried to specify what would be an acceptable amount from each of us. Being tired of the many people of Rajastan pulling this kind of scam, we explained how the approach was wrong and we would not be donating what they were asking for. Fortunately both the priest and our guide had a decent grasp of English, so they understood our concerns.
Jim
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