The drive to Tordigarh was a rough tide as you can imagine. The sheer lack of sleep, bumpy ride, and an unsurmountable hangover kept me in an exhausted state on the verge of vomiting. The road to Tordigarh was a one laned road, so we were constantly having to straddle the road so another car could make it down the road. It was like a beginner roller coaster ride, for 6 hours. However, the town of Tordigarh was the most peaceful place we have been to yet. The drive in was very rural. We drove past a lake where there were people bathing then I saw a lady using a water pump to fill a big pot of water. Yeah, the water came from the lake where the people were bathing. So that's how you get Delhi Belly.
A noble family in Tordigarh owns a palace on the mountainside with a fort on top of the mountain. We got to stay in the palace. It was truly amazing. There was a rooftop terrace and a handout spot a floor up with a great view of the town. Once we got settled in, Yash led us through the town and explained to us a little about their rural life. We eventually made our way to the local potter. With no electricity, we watched how he threw pots. I have thrown pots before and it is very hard; he was cutting out cups and bowls on the fly, making it look way too easy. All the locals were extremely nice, we had no beggars come up to us, it was just all the local kids running up to us saying "hello!," with a huge smile. They all wanted us to take their picture. The locals rarely see people other than their neighbors, so they were very excited by our presence.
When we got back to the palace, there were three camels pulling carts waiting to take us out for a sunset cruise into the desert. The ride out there was truly surreal; one of the Norweigen girls put it best, "I feel like Ali Baba." I never expected to see sand dunes in India, but they exist. Drinking Indian tea on a massive sand dune while watching the sunset in India... Just another day in the life of Darnall Bailey.
We completed the night with dinner on the rooftop terrace under the stars. After the dinner, the man who owns the property brought out an assortment of rifles and swords. The swords had been used in battle by his grandfather and great grandfather. Now they are used for ceremonial purposes, mostly during weddings. During the whole trip, Yash has been wearing all of these custom made Polo shorts. At first I thought it was cheesy that he had them made, but then I learned that he plays on the national Indian polo team. Pretty cool.
To end the night, I stayed up with Yash and the man who owned the property for a few night caps. I talked with the owner about hunting and showed him some of my photos on my last hunting trip to Agentina. It turns out that duck hunting is illegal in India but there are ducks. He does go hunting but will only kill 2-4 ducks, just enough for him to eat every once in a while. He showed me some pictures of his hunts. Of course I had never seen those types of ducks before, but he was enthused we both had a common interest that he doesn't find among many other people; being away from the south, I have yet to meet someone that shares the same passion either.
From Tordigarh, India to South Carolina, USA a similar interest has been found, what are the odds? I am experiencing things that I could have never dreamed of while reading about these countries behind a computer. Second hand knowledge just doesn't due justice. First hand knowledge, being right there soaking it all in, is the only way that one can wrap their head around all that this world has to offer.
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