The group woke up at 6.45am just in time for the sun to rise. It rose the same way it set, no streams of oranges and reds crossing over the land, just an orange ball rising through smog. Behind me Beth points to the stick wind breaker there are big black birds stood on each post. It's so creepy. It reminds me of the birds. The camp leaders saw us wake and made breakfast. Chai, toast and bananas. There was no toilet so we had to go behind a bush. In my opinion, bushes aren't very dense in the desert. We had all slept in our clothes so 30 minutes later the camels are ready and we start our trek back. Maddie, Beth and Susan went in the jeep instead. They were still in pain from the ride the day before. Doms camel was tied to my saddle, Dylan's to Brian’s, Jess was flying solo and so was JohnMiller. Jess was at the front but we all were riding along side each other. Brian and Dylan overtook us, then JohnMiller, we were coming last. I turned and said it to Dom, suddenly we pick up the pace. We storm pass JohnMiller, Jess had started dropping back, so we overtake her, Dom’s camel is trotting to keep up. We were gaining on Brian and Dylan. We over took them! The boy leading my camel turns to me and says “Michael Jackson will win!” He understood us! This kid is power walking, Brian and Dylan's leader catches on and they're gaining. COME ON MICHAEL JACKSON. JohnMiller’s leader takes a short cut! Sneaky. We’re coming down to the final twenty feet….we win. God job kid. He looks proud.

We get into the jeeps and head back to the fort. We smell, we are covered in sand and are all a bit tired. Two hours later we are showered and meeting in the hotel foyer for a small tour of Jaisalmer. Through the golden pathways, navigating around the cows, ignoring the looky looky men, we leave the fort and walk around the town, ending up in Saffron restaurant for lunch. Raj recommends a mutton curry which I try. It was a very skinny animal, but the sauce was really tasty. And the garlic naan was the best I've had. A relaxed, easy lunch and the clouds we can see in the distance look grey helping us decide to head back. We walk out of the sheltered raised area we had eaten dinner and glance to the left to see a sand storm rolling in. Waves of orange and beige sand billowing and rolling like waves over the land and houses, the wind is blowing hard and the storm is getting closer. So what did we do? Took photos. Raj then says, casually, that we should make our way to the hotel. By the time we had walked downstairs and out of the restaurant, the storm was upon us. Sand whipped your face and blinded you and the sky turned a dark beige, we started to run but couldn't see where we going. Blocking the sand with sunglasses was pointless because it already dark. The sky got darker and eventually turned red, the sand hitting your face harder and harder. The headlights from the bikes that hurtled down the windy roads blinded you, as you avoid them you end up bumping into the running cows and dogs. Shop owners were pulling their shutters down and the large pieces of fabric which hang overhead providing shade were violently fluttering, electrical wires sparking against poles and buildings. The sky still getting darker, it's pitch black at 2pm and the wind and sand is making walking and seeing difficult. We run from Saffron uphill, pass the closing shops and cows in shelter, all the way to the fort gates and regroup, the sand still whirring around us. We run again up the hill turning to the right under an arch, holding hiding pigeons, bearing left, mouths filling with sand as breathing becomes difficult, and approach a second archway where people are seeking shelter. We run through the arch way into the square and the rain starts, heavy rain pelts the ground and gathers up the sand making the floor slippy on the smooth floor slabs. As we get into the narrow walk ways it creates some shelter from the sand, just wind and rain, cows and dogs to contend with now, we make it to the hotel and the door is locked. Raj pounds on the door and the hotel owner comes to the door. He's been salvaging his roof deck restaurant and the power has cut out. We all run to our rooms to check on the state of our rooms and belongings. Dylan and Jess had left their bedroom windows open, the room was flooded and everything covered in sand. Dom and JohnMiller, and Beth had a little flooding. Brian and Susan had left their veranda open and had lost clothing and their room was flooded. Despite closing our windows, my bed was covered in wet sand and the windows rattled while the wind tore against the fort. Water seeped in around the window frames and the drainage holes were having water blown into them back into the room. Towels were thrown onto the window sills and we all waited in the lobby with a battery powered light waiting for the power to come back on. An hour later, power came on and Raj said that as the weather was so unpredictable it would make sense to stay in tonight and this afternoon instead of going around the fort. Dylan took go pro footage of the whole thing and it was nuts.

Maddie and I showered and went to Raj’s room to watch Delhi Belly (sp?) with Beth and JohnMiller. It's an Indian film and I definitely recommend it. 

The group meet upstairs at 7. I have a beer. All the beers I've had here are 650ml and the most I've paid is 250 rupees. (Kingfisher if John ever looks at this page?) A music man plays some traditional songs on an instrument similar to a harpsichord. The sky is clear and the roof top is bone dry. I order a caju curry and realise that I have had the same meal as Dylan every time so far. Great taste- literally. During dinner we discuss music and Raj mentions he likes The Doors, Dylan claims to have not heard them so Raj puts on the best of and we sit on the roof top, eating curry, drinking beer and listening to The Doors. A big chocolate birthday cake is then bought out by the staff for Jess’ birthday, and fireworks start in the street outside. Impeccable timing. As they finish Dylan says “500 rupees well spent I think". Strangely the fireworks looked like they were being set off in the middle of a road and we couldn't understand what the celebration was. Dylan and Jess are getting married in November, being a girl, the first thing I asked was how Dylan proposed. It was in a hot air balloon, but he couldn't undo the zipper with the ring in the pocket so it wasn't as romantic. The way they both tell it is so funny. They compliment each other so well. I go off to sleep in a bed for the first time in three nights.