Arabian Nights - V

She moved like an enigma on the floor, almost enchanting everyone present over there. She danced on three beautiful songs in a row without breaking the rhythm and then the lights came on and she called upon the ladies to come on stage. She taught them a move or two, the best one was, where she taught them how to swivel the boobs on rhythm in anticlockwise direction. All that jiggling just made up for all the day's stress and I was fresh as sugar cane juice just out of the machine (with ginger and lemon that is).

We were all so awe struck in her wake that we never realized how the time flew by and I only later realized that, there was only a Belly - Dancer, not Belly Dancers, my expectations were for a troop of hot belly dancers. That’s life I guess, you cannot get everything you wish for.

The sand felt like ice to our feet, the breeze had slowly worked up into an unmistaken intonation, the stars filled up the sky and shone brilliantly in the night sky, far far away from the nearest civilization. Sadly all these were indicators to remind us that we don’t belong here, it was time to go home. We packed our bags, took our belongings and it was time for us to head back the way we came.

The journey way back was pretty uninteresting except that I got to sit in the front seat this time and the Arab drove in the desert like the devil possessed from the camp site to the main highway. That was the only time I said a little prayer and remembered all my loved ones. After that it was just an uneventful journey on one straight road back home.

I was completely tired out of my wits as I reached home; I guess old age is slowly catching up. First thing I did was put all my clothes in the washing machine as there was sand everywhere and I so hate that. What happened next was a tragedy of epic proportions which I am trying very hard not to think about it and forget.

So that’s all folks, I hope you enjoyed reading it as much I enjoyed really being out there and writing about it.

Here is a link to all the pics.
picasaweb.google.com/narsimha.khedkar/ArabianNights#

Arabian Nights - IV

To avoid anymore embarrassment we moved on to the centre of the camp where they had neatly laid out carpets, there was this low height dinner tables with a stylish old lantern and cushion laid all around and so we decided to wear of our high by resting for some time. The camp site was so romantic, with the sun setting and a gentle cool breeze blowing across and revelry all around. (I so wished Vikram was a girl, but thank God I was not that high to think otherwise). The DJ started playing some nice Arabic numbers and the kids started dancing around. There was this little girl maybe 6 years or more, she was dancing so well with lip synch et all, a born natural performer. I couldn’t help but wonder at times how children are so incredibly innocent and this world just goes and takes all that away. Why can’t we always be kids? Why do we have to grow up? Well I am a kid at heart no matter what you say!

Anyways, we had no idea how the time flew by and it was already 7:30 when there was announcement for Dinner. It was a mighty buffet and since we both had a light lunch we both had planned on a hearty dinner. There were separate queues for men and women, vegetarian and Non-vegetarian (I am guessing it was because of the steady number of Indian tourists), as soon as the announcement was made, all the Indians rushed to the buffet like a pack of hungry wolves. Bloody Indians! I tell you, Indians and food go like Hand in Glove. We waited a while and then we jumped in too, the Buffet was enormous (I wish I had taken pictures of the Buffet table without looking scandalous), it had like 4 different types of Arabic salad, hummus (Arabic Chickpea Dip), Garlic Mayo sauce, Biryani rice, Plain rice, Egyptian Macaroni, Noodles, some kind of vegetarian curry, Dal and Raita. I skipped most of the veggie section because I was craving to try out from the barbeque assortment.

After this I headed alone to the barbequed grilled section since Vikram is a vegetarian (Waste of ticket money!), I had no idea what they served me, but it all looked delightfully appetizing. Some 4 types of Barbequed sticks and chicken curry (The little goats that I saw earlier which were tied in a corner came to mind!). If you thought this was it, you were wrong, dessert included all kinds of fruits (which I don’t eat in raw format) and what I think was Custard and of course Lime juice. It was a sight to juggle two plates; a can and my SLR back to the dinner table. You get to observe such opposite ends of the spectrum in a diversified gathering like this, for e.g.: the difference in the way, Indians fill up their plates like its the end of the world and there's no tomorrow (Paisa Vasool hone tak) and how the westerners neatly arranged theirs.

So we finished our dinner and were just relaxing and the lights suddenly dimmed down and the volume shot up with some catchy Arabic Folklore tune. And we all knew what that meant, I quickly prep up my SLR and just then she arrived like an enigma (Got some astounding shots to drool over later). She was dressed in a typical belly dancer fashion, plenty of makeup and mascara but definitely a sight to admire and to behold. Her body was agile and flexible like a Boa Constrictor, the way she danced and the moves she performed were mythical. We were all left enchanted in her wake. Even the women were enjoying and had their jaws dropped to the floor. I am sure they secretly wished to be like her.

(To be continued....)

Arabian Nights - III

We moved on after those experimentations, and Hallelujah, the camp became suddenly colorful. Enter a group of giggly hot girls, all immaculately dressed. I couldn’t make out the nationality but my guess is they were French. They came straight to us, I mean to the green room, to get dressed in an Abaya, and goodness gracious me, they looked transformed and so pretty! The one thing I always find very pretty is when Firangs wear Indian Kurtis or Full length Ghagra (Skirt). Anyways this bird watching went on for the rest of the evening.

I noticed at far end of the camp there were people doing sand surfing and that definitely aroused the kid in me. The last I wore roller skates was like when I was 14, I guess, so I decided to try it on. The first time I came down I lost my balance mid way and fell head down. But the second time I was perfect, rode the sand wave till the end. Vikram took some great photos and I even made a stop motion movie. :D.

After 3 tries I was totally exhausted, couldn’t carry the surf board till the top again so we roamed around more and found a neat shack especially for Sheesha (or Hookah in India). The shack was so strategically placed; you just sit back and watch the beautiful yellow ball of fire disappear in a sea of sand. I had tried Sheesha once when I was in India and once when I was in Kuwait (believe me you go hoarse the next day after a Hookah night) and Vikram had never tried Sheesha and neither of us smoke cigarettes, so it was pretty amateurish the way we went on about it. Vikram took the first drag and started coughing just like they show in the movies when a 15 year old smokes for the first time! And I took a gentle puff and no smoke came out! Sitting besides us were these two Arabs who were smoking like a Steam engine and I am sure they were looking at us and chuckling. After various permutations and combinations we figured it out, you need to call all your lung powers and take the deepest drag possible, hold it in a moment and then there is smoke! :D

The quality of Sheesha was nothing like I’ve had before. My throat dint hurt and there was sweet tingling sensation at the tip of my tongue. After Vikram took a long puff he said, it hit him and he is feeling buzzed. I was like 'common, this stuff can't make you high or anything' and I was making fun of him. Before I know it, after 2 or 3 deep drags, even I started feeling lighter. It was a heavenly feeling, almost felt like paradise. We both decided that we should stop and not risk getting stoned. So we started walking back and even then neither of us could walk straight, It’s hilarious to get your body to move in synch when your high.

To avoid anymore embarrassment we moved on to the centre of the camp where they had neatly laid out carpets, there was this low height dinner tables with a stylish old lantern and cushion laid all around. So we decided to wear of our high by resting for sometime......

P.S (To be continued... )