Thar Oasis Camp and Resort……
Who would have thought ?!?!?!?!!? We go through life and have our “bucket list” of must do activities and then you do something new and it far surpasses all your dreams and expectations. Today was amazingly cool!! Randy came home early from work and we were picked up by a 4wd Bolero to take us out to the camp. Randy and I climb into the back, no seatbelts and cage around us as we take off cross country. We bust into the back country of soft sand and start climbing. Up and down dunes, in and out of gates, slipping through turns, cold wind running through my hair and biting at our skin!
We stopped at a traditional farmhouse and stopped for a tour. While the kids laughed at me making meow sounds to the cat and Randy and I holding their baby goats, we were shown their home. Traditional walls of cow patties and thatched roofs. A 4 month old baby sleeps in a bassinet that essentially is a baby hammock hanging under the parents bed. The walls were painted bright and they had minimal decorations. A hut with open fire for their kitchen and another hut for their straw.. They were very hospitable and had as much fun with us as we did with them!
Back into the Bolero and off we go…. Deer galore, (although these deer look more like antelope), camels eating from trees, many goats, wild peacocks, cow, water buffalo and the local children waving profusely as we drove by. We pass small villages and stores, tractors carrying bricks and more carrying straw. Finally we reach the Thar Oasis Camp.
OMG… how cool is this?!?!?! Upon arrival we were greeted with lemon water, a warm towel, flower lei, traditional sweets similar to brown sugar bits and a red dot blessing for our forehead. We are escorted to our tent in the sand and are wonderfully surprised that our tent has all the comforts of home. King size bed, electricity and heater, chair, fan, armoire and our own private brick bathroom in the back. While the tent has cloth walls and ceiling, we have "windows" and a porch with 2 rocking chairs. Now this is MY kind of camping!!
After a little down time in the dunes we hear the Indian music begin. We take our seats in cushions in the sand and watch the show. Music, dancers, fire dancing and walking on nails… wow! All while we are sipping on cocktails and enjoying veg and non-veg snacks. The bonfire in the sand kept us warm and the lanterns added more to the ambiance. Dinner followed of an Indian buffet… still not the hamburger or Mexican food that I’m craving but still not bad. The 40 tents that surround the pond are outlined by torches and sit atop the bluffs in the vast Thar Desert. Soooo very cool!
Morning came with rain hitting the canvas roof. What's a little rain? I continued over to the camels and enjoyed petting and kissing them. They were all colorfully decorated and the sherpa had me kiss my new camel friend. :) No ride this time as we needed to head back to civilization and the airport but this is the type of experience that is NOT to be missed!
What a wonderful way to end an amazing trip in the desert of India! A HUGE thank you to the staff, who have become our friends, of the @Thar Oasis Camp and Resort for helping us change our plans and continuing to encourage us to come to the camp! This experience is another once in a lifetime event. I hope everyone has a chance to come and stay and play as we have!!!
For one price we received the overnight in the camp, camel safari, 4wd safari, Traditional Indian Music and Entertainment, drinks and snacks, dinner and breakfast. 8000 Rupees, approx $160 US for 2 people.
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