By happy coincidence we discovered that our visit to Jaisalmer is taking place at the same time as the famous Desert Festival. It boasts such attractions as camel polo, best decorated camel competition and by way of variety, tugs of war, wrestling, air force drill team and things we didn't understand but probably involved getting your opponent's face in the sand. Here is the Border Security Forces camel polo team in their pre-match line up. They were playing against the Camel Polo Association Team. This is the only place in the world where camel polo is played, so feast your eyes on the action shots because you will probably never see it again.
I don't suppose there are many other best dressed camel competitions in the world either,so here's another one to savour.
Now you can meet the winner of the decorated camel competition.l suspect that his garb and demeanor was a contributing factor as well. He was certainly in demand for selfies.
I snuck into the press photographers area to get these action pictures of the polo and it was great until I was rumbled and sent packing.
They played two chuckas and the white team (camel polo association, remember) won 2-0. I hope the Border Security Forces can improve their defence.
The mallets are 6 foot 6inches long, add to that about a yard of arm and it is a wonder that they ever hit the ball.
Camels always seem to me to give the appearance of arrogance,but maybe in this case with good reason.
We found seats under this canopy which had various reserved areas. We qualified for the foreigners section. Look more closely and you can see a really great example of Indian hyperbole. Very Important Persons is usually sufficient distinction to segregate the elite but here in India they always have to take it that one step further hence we have the VVIP section right at the front, centre of the stand.
As you can see there's a good crowd both under the canopy and standing around the perimeter. Let me tell you a little more about the tugs of war competitions. Both were locals verses the foreigners and there was a man's pull and a lady's pull. I've no idea how the locals were recruited, but the foreigners were just volunteers out the crowd. The men pulled just before we arrived so I can't tell you about it however the foreign women prevailed 2 pulls to nil. They were all later presented with generously large cups. Heaven knows how they were going to get them home. The Air Force drill team were entertaining in a dangerous kind of way. Each carried a shiny chromed rifle complete with a 12 inch fitted bayonet. These they blithely chucked one to another. At one point the rifles were thrown backwards overhead, spinning to the man behind who had to catch the thing but avoid being cut to ribbons by the knife edge. I am still not sure how the last man coped. Before they started it was announced that their motto is "Brill to Drill" In retrospect that might have been "Thrill to Drill". It's not easy to tell with an Indian accent. Nonetheless typical of that doggerel that the Indians love. By the way my favourite is "no hurry no worry".
Whilst we were watching the Festival we got talking to a couple called Andy and Holly. They were bravely doing their own thing for the first time in India. They had lately come up from Goa, specifically Palolem to whence we were heading. They were able to give us some good tips. If you ever read this, thanks.
I don't suppose there are many other best dressed camel competitions in the world either,so here's another one to savour.
Now you can meet the winner of the decorated camel competition.l suspect that his garb and demeanor was a contributing factor as well. He was certainly in demand for selfies.
I snuck into the press photographers area to get these action pictures of the polo and it was great until I was rumbled and sent packing.
They played two chuckas and the white team (camel polo association, remember) won 2-0. I hope the Border Security Forces can improve their defence.
The mallets are 6 foot 6inches long, add to that about a yard of arm and it is a wonder that they ever hit the ball.
Camels always seem to me to give the appearance of arrogance,but maybe in this case with good reason.
We found seats under this canopy which had various reserved areas. We qualified for the foreigners section. Look more closely and you can see a really great example of Indian hyperbole. Very Important Persons is usually sufficient distinction to segregate the elite but here in India they always have to take it that one step further hence we have the VVIP section right at the front, centre of the stand.
As you can see there's a good crowd both under the canopy and standing around the perimeter. Let me tell you a little more about the tugs of war competitions. Both were locals verses the foreigners and there was a man's pull and a lady's pull. I've no idea how the locals were recruited, but the foreigners were just volunteers out the crowd. The men pulled just before we arrived so I can't tell you about it however the foreign women prevailed 2 pulls to nil. They were all later presented with generously large cups. Heaven knows how they were going to get them home. The Air Force drill team were entertaining in a dangerous kind of way. Each carried a shiny chromed rifle complete with a 12 inch fitted bayonet. These they blithely chucked one to another. At one point the rifles were thrown backwards overhead, spinning to the man behind who had to catch the thing but avoid being cut to ribbons by the knife edge. I am still not sure how the last man coped. Before they started it was announced that their motto is "Brill to Drill" In retrospect that might have been "Thrill to Drill". It's not easy to tell with an Indian accent. Nonetheless typical of that doggerel that the Indians love. By the way my favourite is "no hurry no worry".
Whilst we were watching the Festival we got talking to a couple called Andy and Holly. They were bravely doing their own thing for the first time in India. They had lately come up from Goa, specifically Palolem to whence we were heading. They were able to give us some good tips. If you ever read this, thanks.
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