Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
bed, and chugged out in front of us. Minutes later, the jeep was off the ruts and down the
“road.” Jeep problem Number Two, solved.
Continuing on a "better" road, we picked up three more locals. This new scenario
proved to be hysterically amusing, and even
more
entertaining than the wild asses. Every
few minutes, driver would stop, shout out to people in the fields asking which "road" was
passable, e.g. not flooded by the pipeline break. The riders would leap out, move branches
and brush out of the way, and jump back in. In the meantime, heavy dialogues in Gujar-
ati took place between Niru, driver and four passengers. Moving along, we finally came to
the main road and made our way through a tiny village where a group of Rabari men were
busily twisting goat wool into ropes. People in developing countries have the most amaz-
ing self-sufficiency, and abilities.
The adorable, village children came running to see, and wave, at the "westerners"
passing through; calling out their two words of English, "hello" and
"bye-bye."
Three of
our passengers got off here. Now on a decent road, we dropped the last Rabari in another
village, a minute before the jeep developed mechanical problems.
What would we have
donewithoutacellphone?
Driver called Rann Riders and, 10 minutes later, Rann Rider's
mechanic showed up. He flipped the hood, tinkered with the engine, and got it started; this
ill-fated jeep made it back to Rann Riders around 2:00p, hours overdue. We were starving
with still
another
excursion planned today! Busy, busy, busy...
