Days 11-14: Jaisalmer

The final major stop on my India itinerary was Jaisalmer - a sandlecastle fort on the edge of the Thar Desert. Without a doubt, the highlight was a 2-day camel safari, riding during the day, cooking naan and curry over a campfire, and sleeping out under an astounding canopy of stars.

A surreal globalization moment: taking a call from a Beijing friend (who may have been in Turkey at the time) on my cell, via my U.S. Skype-out number, while riding a camel in the desert in India...

My camel, Johnny Walker

Days 9-10: Jodhpur

Jodhpur is known by two nicknames: the "blue city" and the "sun city". The first comes from the blue-painted homes clustered in the old city, especially around the Mehrangarh Fort. Blue was traditionally the color of Bramin (the highest caste) homes. The second name comes from the city's geographical proximity to the Thar Desert, which means mostly clear and sunny days all year round.

Kelly and I spent a couple days here, doing a little shopping, exploring the GREAT fort, taking a miniatures painting class (I painted a camel!), learning the rules of cricket from local enthusiasts, getting bit by a grumpy camel (that really did happen to me! left quite a bruise...), getting our picture taken with random schoolchildren, chatting with Korean tourists, and checking out a pretty cool temple complex and some awesome fort ruins outside the city at a place called Mandore.