Friday 18th January, 2013.

Today we travelled to Dasada it was a long day and journey
but worth every minute.  Except for the villages the roads were
very good and sometimes even new.  The countryside was very
pleasant, fields immaculate, crops newly sown or well of the
way to maturity.  There was irrigation and water and power are
gradually being installed.  We went through the 2001 earthquake
zone which has not as yet been cleared.  The villages and villagers
are so poor.
Glad to arrive in Dasada.

Saturday 19th January, 2013.

We are staying at the Rann Riders which is located on the fringes of
Little Rann (desert) of Kutch.  We are in a large lodge, pretty basic
but clean and has hot water.
This morning we set of at 7.00 in the dark and cold to explore the
Little Rann of Kutch which is a geographically unique land that was

 Life if hard here and modes of freighting can be very strenuous work.

 No one has ever heard of giving away or slowing down.

 Our happy little group in our fully air-conditioned chariot

A gentleman collecting dung which will be sold for fuel.

 This lady was fighting a losing battle with the dust.

Geoffrey outside our lodge.

once an arm of the Arabian Sea and is now a vast plain of salty clay.
This now vast desert has a  thriving salt industry.  Our drive there was
in freezing temperatures and into freezing winds.  We were given quilts
so I sat in mine and folded it around me, tied my woollen shawl  over
my hat (a) to keep it one (b) to stop my ear falling off.  Our jeep was
completely open to the elements.  As the sun rose we saw hers of Khur,
blackbuck and flock of birds.
We stopped to watch as men were loading bags of salt and the extensive
salt pans.
In the afternoon our excursion was in warm, brilliant sunshine and shirtsleeves.
This time it was to the wetland area. Of course, another death defying drive
which was only interrupted by sightings of various birds.  Once in the Reserve
the pace slowed.  The bird life was sensational. Pelicans, flamingos, bustards,
cranes and ducks.  We moved around the lake and stayed until the sun set, which
was equally as splendid as the sunrise.
The drive home was in the pitch black.  Here "give way" or "slow down" does not
appear to be in the road rules.  Our driver, whom I think thought that he was in
contention for first place at the Grand Prix took them all on.  The dust was
appalling, especially along the stretch of road which was under serious
reconstruction.  Dinner was most welcome.

 Cheers!!!


Vivienne.