Jaislamer
Chloe Writes: Jaislamer is mostly desert surrounding a small town. Its center piece is a fort made from sandstone just like all the buildings surrounding it. On our first day we ambled round the fort which was full of narrow passageways all harboring some very colorful little shops – surprisingly enough I didn’t do any shopping.
In the evening we went to an all you can eat Thali restaurant, with very good food. On the way out, the sandstorm from a little earlier had turned into one of the most impressive electrical storms I have ever seen, with heavy rains to match – shame the washing was on the line.
The next morning we started our camel safari in the desert. The camels were fantastic, we even had a little baby one in tow. Our guide was lovely and made us some excellent curries and roti’s from the most basic of equipment on a wood fire.
The evening however was a different story. I started to get some red itchy bumps on my arms and legs which I had first put down to bed bugs at the last place we stayed, but as the evening progressed they started to cover my whole body. After deciding to abandon the safari at about 9pm to get me to a doctor we had to first pack up and head to the nearest village. From there we waited for the safari organizer to pick us up by Jeep and head to the town.
By this time my face had started to swell and I resembled (as Pete told me later) the elephant woman. After having an anit-inflamitory shot in a small, filthy hospital in Jaislamer (the first doctor we went to didnt want to know) we were advised to go to the nearest city if we were to see a good doctor. So the safari organizers drove throughout the night (doing the 6 hour journey in 3 and a half hours) to get us back to Jodhpur.
To cut an already log story short, I had an allergic reaction to an insect bite possibly in the desert or something I had eaten. I am absolutely fine and Pete looked after me well. I was a bit disappointed to have to leave the desert and the safari but I don’t think I will be going back in a hurry!!
Pete Writes: We arrived early in Jaislamer and got picked up by our guest house. In the morning we were at breakfast, when we were approached by one of the owners with regards to camel safari’s. We were promised that we would have a 3 day 2 night safari, and we would be going with another couple from New Zealand. We thought it would be a perfect time to meet new travelers, and share the experience. The couple were apparently ill on the morning of the safari, so they would not be joining us until the evening. We later found out, after meeting another couple in the dessert that they too were promised another couple would be with them on the safari. SCAM.. It winds me up.
The actual safari was good fun, and I managed to get to grips with my camel, going off every now and then for a canter. After dinner, We began to get ready for bed when Chloe said that the bites she had were getting really itchy. I had a look, and her face had started to balloon up. I said that we better get back to the town. Our guide was really concerned as well and we started to pack under the light of the moon.
It was about an hour away from the nearest telephone, and then another hour each way to Jaislamer. We eventually got to a hospital 3 hours later, where in the meantime I had managed to get hold of Charlie (Jims Dad) who is a doctor in England. I checked that what they were about to inject Chloe with was safe, and gave them a needle from our first aid kit (that Chloe said we would never need!) Charlie had a quick chat with Chloe and she seemed to feel a lot better afterwards.
We then missioned it back to Jodhpur, so we could be closer to a bigger hospital just in case the symptoms got worse. We also checked into a nice hotel and had a nice 3 days R & R after our ordeal.
Next stop Taj 
Page Gallery
Royal burial ground in the desert
Mother & Baby
You can lead a camel to water…
Chloe skillfully riding her camel
It’s all about the lonely planet guide book in India, if your not in it or get a bad review, your pretty much stuffed!
Tags: India
September 27th, 2007 at 3:25 am
Hi PJ
I notice that you are trying to get the same hair colour as your sister!!
Hi Chloe
Glad you are feeling better, and able to continue with your travels.
Take care
Mum & Dad xx
September 27th, 2007 at 10:03 pm
Hope your having a fab time in Germany, quite a disstance to travel from the US!
We are both well, looking at booking our next adventure to Nepal :o)
Talk Soon
Pj and Chloe x
October 1st, 2007 at 5:36 am
Hi desert rats,nrnrJust got back from Sicily where the weather was fabulous.Got back to England in the rain…very depressing. I had a touch of Sicliy belly on holiday but still a bit gripey.nrLove the pics of the camels and Agra and glad you are better Chloe..bet you had a shock.nrnrLoving you both.
October 3rd, 2007 at 7:14 am
Hi Mum,
Glad you had good weather in Sicily, shame about the weather in England - Thailand’s only 3 months away :o)
Being ill in the desert and away from home was very scary, we do take a lot for granted.
Speak to you soon,
Lots of Love xx
October 5th, 2007 at 3:46 am
Hi Pete & Chloe, all sounds amazing, the pic at the top makes pete look like lawrence of arabia, with his dashing bride !!nrnrhope you are all well!!nrnrLovenrnrnick & tribe!!nrnrxx
November 10th, 2007 at 10:05 am
Okay so I’m very late on this but… aw! Poor Chloe :o( But then, it’s all about those stories!
And they can’t blame Lonely Planet; only their own incompetence!
November 12th, 2007 at 5:18 am
Hi Rupert,
Pete & I were discussing scary moments from the trip so far and for Pete this was at the top of his list, mine trying to negotiate round an avalanche of fallen rocks with a 100ft drop on the trek.
I bet you Laura have got a few, the trip wouldn’t be the same without them.
Lots of Love,
Chloe x
November 13th, 2007 at 5:02 pm
The Cambodia crossing was freaky, but only us to blame for crossing at night.
But being ill to the point where you have to be rushed to another city - and knowing that city doesn’t necessarily hold the peace of mind your hoping for; after all, your still in India! - has got to be the worst situation to be in when out in a third-world country.
I’m so glad we never had a scare like that. At least you’ve got it out of the way early ;o)