Today was a moving day from Bikaner to Jaisalmer which is approximately 60kms away from the Pakistani border.
Jaisalmer, known as the Golden City because of the colour of the stone used in construction, sits in the heart of the Thar Desert and the dominant feature is the fort which rises above the city and can be seen from the rooftop dining area of our accommodation.
At our lunch stop Sherry was looking in the “souvenir” area when the young male attendant asked her age. He was, jokingly, told that you never ask a woman her age but Sherry told him what her age was. He looked at her for a moment and then told her that no, you look … (& proceeded to state an age range 5 - 10 years older). He was told that that was an insult. The lad has a lot to learn in how to charm a woman!
A road sign seen on today’s drive ACCIDENT PROHIBITED AREA!
Late this afternoon after booking into the hotel, which is very nice accommodation, Ashok took us to Bada Barg, a cenotaph built during the period 16th 20th century to honour the Rajasthani Royalty. Over time as a member of the Maharajah’s family died another chattri or cenotaph was erected in honour of the departed.
On the way back into town we got Ashok chatting again, he had been somewhat subdued during the morning drive, as I asked about a water storage tank we passed. This allowed us to direct the conversation back to him – is that the same as your water tank? How do you store the water? You are a very good businessman?
When he wants to say something “profound” he stops the car and turns to face us as we sit in the back (just like royalty we wave to the kids as we pass through villages) – I have another business he says with a broad grin which usually turns into a laugh, I have a restaurant, I’m a good cook!
It transpires that during Covid the only business allowed to operate were restaurants so Ashok started one to serve his village. Now that things are back to normal he leases the restaurant out in return for 500 rupees per day rent. He searched through the photos on his phone and showed us one of the restaurant signage.
Together we ran through his income stream:
Tourist Driving
Selling mustard and wheat
Selling water (200 rupees per hour, unlimited volume to surrounding farmers)
Selling buffalo milk
Lease from restaurant
And he then tells us Gita, his wife, earns as a seamstress when she has free time.
Our Ashok is quite the entrepreneur!!
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