Forts, Camels, & Rooftops

This week we explored Rajasthan with Rhishi, Hetal, Devsmita & Lata. We started in Rajkot and traveled overnight by bus to Jodphur, where we visited an incredible fort that is about 500 years old. Check out the pictures – we wonder whether people who lived in structures like this realized tourists would someday swarm through with cameras.

We then went to Jasilmer (sp?), which is about 100 km or less from the Pakistan border. It was odd to trade cows, tractors, and motorcycles for military convoys, tanks, etc. as our roadside companions. There another fort, accurately compared to a giant sand castle, dominates the desert town.

In Jasilmer, we celebrated Rhishi & Hetal’s 11th wedding anniversary by taking an overnight camel safari. We were granted special permission to go on the “non-tourist” version … they set up safaris for all the foreigners, but the Indian travelers have their own. So we set out to the sand dunes via camel to catch the sunset before turning into camp where we were treated to Rajasthani music, dancing and dinner. We were even convinced to try a dance or two … Hetal is a good teacher! We had such fun with Rhishi & Hetal, laughing (both at those dancing around us and then at ourselves) and playing & ending the evening gazing up at an incredible display of stars … an entire canopy, stretching from horizon to horizon, teasing you with the impression that if you just went far enough to the “edge”, you could simply reach up and grab a star in your hand.

Perhaps to the surprise of our hosts, some of our favorite times have been late nights out on the rooftops of the hotels … just getting to talk through life and faith. The other night we were privileged to share the good news with our new but already dear friends. We explained to them that it’s been difficult for our hearts to watch man made images receive worship. To see religion swarm around us without the personal relationship we know the Father desires with each one of His children. We’ve been committing Acts 17:22-31 to memory, where Paul lays such a strong connection between ways in which man seeks God, and the Truth by which He has made himself known.