Horseback Riding Vacation in India (Day 5)
Day 5 – The day dawned clear and much warmer as the cold snap had passed. After breakfast we headed to the fair by jeep so that we could visit it on foot to get a closer look at the camels, cattle and horses. There were also tents set up in some alleys where tack, cooking utensils, clothing, spices and many other things were for sale. People had come from all over Rajasthan to attend this sale and it is the biggest event in the area. Camels have played a large part in the economy for thousands of years and there seem to be more of them than ever despite the advent of tractors and cars which are beyond the reach of most people. Camels sell for $300 to $3,000 and live for years. They seem to keep well on things like tree branches, leaves and straw and are extremely well adapted to this desert country. The owners obviously care very much for their animals and many of them are clipped in patterns and have their faces painted.
That afternoon we headed out again on horseback in another direction and again we had some good gallops side by side across the near desert landscape. We passed a gypsy encampment some distance from the town. Apparently they are not allowed to make their camps too close to town because of their reputation for stealing. We returned to camp as the huge red orb of the sun was setting in the west. One can look straight at it as it drops near the horizon because the light is so filtered by haze and dust.
