not quite to Salumbar: green trees, corn and wheat

March 7, 2016

A startling metamorphosis of the landscape occurs from one side of Banswara to the other. Yesterday, dry brown hills with some green trees and golden wheat fields. Today, lots of green tasseled corn and young wheat fields. Lakes with lily pads, rivers and an aqueduct giving evidence of more water. Since the harvesting of crops is by hand not big machines, crops are planted right up to anything else growing in the fields. Trees look to be growing out of a sea of wheat.

Until Paloda at about 35kms, Eucalyptus trees lined long stretches of the road. Then losing elevation to the Mahi River the landscape returns to dryness and the temperature is getting hot and we lose the trees lining the road, replaced by catcus hedges.

We see the building rock fences, then tractors with wagons full of rock and finally we see the quarry. Didn't see the morning milk collection by motorcycle today. Instead, tuk tuks stuffed with produce for markets...cauliflower, onions, garlic, green beans, potatoes and tomatoes. Interestingly, the kids play cricket in empty spaces while in Africa and South America the game would be soccer. must be the left over influence of the British.

We noticed yesterday there seemed to be fewer public transportation options, the buses and jeeps are crammed full with people inside, on the roof and hanging on the edges all around the vehicle, except for the hood. We wouldn't be surprised if eventually we even see that like in Cambodia. Today, there were more tuk tuks on the road and fewer Goods Carrier Trucks.

Patrick had researched accommodations for today including reading other journals where people stayed in Salumbar. We stop 15kms from Salumbar at Hotel Karnavati that had good reviews. The room is clean, a fan, cold water bucket bath, and a restaurant.

Tomorrow we reach Udaipur and two days to explore before heading on to Jaipur and then Agra.

The day starts with a relatively quiet road through lush farmlands, shaded nicely by large eucalyptus trees.

The land is very green, there seems to be lots of water.

First food break. Chai, samosa and one more of the appletarts we bought in Ratlam.

Cement advertisement. Mazbooti translate into 18 different English words, mostly implying something is solid.

We see lots of dry stacked stone walls today. There are a couple of large marble / granite quarries and a seemingly large supply of stone.

Amazing how many people fit inside and on top of a jeep.

Today's ride: 76 km (47 miles)
Total: 14,120 km (8,769 miles)

Rate this entry's writing	Heart	0
Comment on this entry	Comment	0