Okay, so here goes another attempt at blogging. I love the blog-O-sphere. I have located a half decent keyboard except that all the keys are in Hindi.

The textile industry is insane here. You are lured into so many shops if you happen to fall victim to the world renowned 'Indian hospitality'. I could tell you so many things on, 'how to tell if your wool is real,' if your silk is real and whether it is mixed with synthetic materials. In Canada it is simple, things are regulated. They have to print what the shirt, shawl, scarf, whatever it may be, is made up of. If they lie or cheat you can return it and take legal action. Here you can be clueless, have no idea what you are being sold, buy it, be cheated and there is nothing you can do about it. Where we are from people might over charge you, but at least you are getting what you paid for. I have heard so many tourists' horror stories about buying fake wool, fake silk, and they had no idea. Who would be the wiser? Unless you are in the business of buying these materials you would not think twice. Me, being a skeptic, not really wanting to buy things, and not knowing anything about the materials happened to be lucky and meet someone that wanted to show me how to tell these things apart. Silk and cotton are both made of protein, like our hair. If you burn hair it smells like hair, if you burn plastic, it.... you guessed it, smells like plastic. I will stop boring you with information that will be of no you use to you in the near or distant future. But, it was interesting to learn. The man, Barsa, explained to me all the different types and mixes of materials which vary greatly in price. What were his motives? His view was not like others, he did not wish to rip off tourist, his shop was in a less touristy place. No one led up to the shop or pressured us into buying. He did not care if tourists bought, he had regulars, Indian people who bought from him. We left his shop with nothing but much more informed that we have ever been about, patterns, natural colouring, materials and so on. Again, I say what I have said in past blog posts, there are good people all over the world.

Cows eat anything. They eat paper, they eat clothes left on the street, it is incredible. Here in a cow eating what may seem like green plant-life, but really, it is just a green shirt.

It is hot out today, almost too hot. The desert sun is beating down and a tall kingfisher is in order. I have to make it until 5 p.m. though.

The Jain temples here in Jaisalmer are more than beautiful. The street are lined with havelis, beautiful homes. All decorated in hand carved sandstone.

Here is a picture of the rat temple I went to just outside of Bikaner. As the title states, it is full of rats. When they run on your feet it is considered good luck. If you happen to see the white rat you should count your lucky stars, they are rare and very sacred. I was not lucky enough to see one but I was definitely surrounded with thousands of your typical grey rodents. Another short post. I will try to embark on many more adventures in order to entertain you.