After our rickshaw putt-putted its way back from Deshnok, we did make it to the camel farm in time for the 4:30p return from grazing…only to find that this time of year, they return at 3:30p. Thanks a lot, Books! Oh well, we still got to see more camels and got to hear the babies carrying on wanting milk from mom before they were let in for dinner. That was worth the trip – they were pretty funny with their growls and complaints on the other side of the fence! They sound like dinosaurs. Baby camels are cool.

After we’d had enough camels (like THAT’S possible!), we got dropped off by our rickshaw at the station as planned and happily, the driver didn’t try to extort an additional fare as we feared he would, feigning ignorance to the fact that we had in fact wanted to go to the world-famous rat temple in Deshnok, not…some random building in the middle of the desert with three rats. So no harm no foul, and we thanked him for the rides –and made mental notes to ourselves that despite rickshaws being fun to ride, two hours in a row is a bit much- got our train tickets with considerably less fuss than it took in Agra, and readied ourselves for Jaisalmer. An overnight camel safari in the desert sand dunes awaited, as well as our first couchsurfing experience in Asia – and Ray’s first one ever.

It was something he’d once considered with a sort of horror – trust…a STRANGER?? Why would anyone let you stay with them for free? They must want something from you. I had had some great experiences with couchsurfing all around the world since the site first started up several years ago. I had found that people do let you stay with them for free, but they DO want something from you – the chance to show some hospitality to a visitor and guest, and some cross-cultural exchange. I’d stayed everywhere from a mattress on the floor in a basement in Rotterdam (but with fresh sheets and blankets!) to a van going through New Zealand with a Finnish guy who had broken his back and was never supposed to walk again (but does!) to an air mattress on the floor of the newly-moved-into apartment of Mansquito himself, and I had some really interesting, different, offbeat experiences (and friends!) to show for it. I hoped Ray’s experiences with CS would prove as different, unusual, and interesting-friend yielding. But…this is India.

With any plan, like a rickshaw ride through the city, you can really only just close your eyes and hope for the best.

But check out the album of the Bikaner Camel Research and Breeding Farm first!