Rats, real rats, on our feet 1/15

We left Jaisalmer and headed out for Bikaner to break up the long drive back to Delhi. Along the way we stopped at a place out in the middle of nowhere that had thousands of Siberian Cranes. They migrated here from Russia and go back at the end of the summer when they fly over the Himalaya and fend off attacks by Eagles and such. When we got there we were admiring them, then a helicopter flew by. All thousands of birds took flight and flew around us in circles until the helicopter left. It was nuts. 

Along the way we saw huge condors. We stopped for pics of course, they were right on the side of the street eating roadkill. Speaking of, we saw more dead camels. The locals were cutting one up and putting it in a cart. Ewww. 

When we reached Bikaner we left for the camel research center. At the hotel Sanjay said OK, I pick you up for the fort. No dude, like we said earlier, we want to go to the camel center. Freakin dude is pissing me off. 

When Andy was handing the dude tickets at the camel center, the dude wasn't letting go and said, you need a guide its a big place. I think we can find the camels ourselves. Jesus back off people. Yes we found the camels all by ourselves. There were 50 camels coming into the stables from the field. We were right in their way but they didn't pay us much attention. We followed them to their stables and found the babies (not small) in the next stable. We walked past the souvenir shop and the guy was selling stuff made out of camel skin, bones, and teeth. Andy told the guy, that's weird. Yeah it's weird. This is a research center and you are using their carcasses. We got some camel milk ice cream on the way out. Not bad. 

Last and definitely least, we went to the Karni Mata Temple. Basically there are thousands of rats and people think they are Karni's family members reincarnated a dude tried to sell me food to give the rats. Fuck if you think I want them coming closer than they already will. AND you have to take your shoes off. We did. We walked in and rats ran past us. It wasn't easy. While andy was taking pictures up close, a rat sniffed and licked his toes. That's when I almost freaked. Then Andy went into the rooms. I couldn't take it anymore and had to leave after several pictures w the locals. Andy said: the front room was a cave swimming in rats w people praying. There were rats coming out of everywhere. The floor was swishy from rat shit. It smelled so bad. Rats all over the floor and grabbing his toes.

I'm so glad I got out of there. It was bad enough trying to breathe, I couldn't take the rats. Fuck that. 

Back at the hotel we discovered 8% Kingfisher beer. Yay! Andy is so annoyed that there's no meat in the hotel restaurant (and most other places) he doesn't even want to eat. Poor man. We need to get out of here stat. I ordered a rice plate w veggies thinking it was a meal, it wasn't so I put ketchup on it. I miss wine and cheese and crunchy on the outside soft and warm on the inside bread. I need a shower.