even cows throw up gang signs

watching mustached men equipped with swords
riding atop bedazzled camels
i am a changed woman...
the hotel we are currently staying at lets out directly onto the street, WHERE THE MR. DESERT COMPETITION PARADE BEGAN. rubbing the black crust out of my eyes, i grabbed my italk (thanks for the suggestion eric) and my camera to join the locals and other hotel dwellers to watch the procession that marked the beginning of the mr. and mrs. desert festival. while i couldn't react quick enough to really catch the subtle moments of grandeur...the street was caked with turbans, mirrors, tourists, flowers...and camel poo.
ellen, susanna and i stopped briefly to grab a coffee and some mean pastries en route to the stadium to watch the full festivities which included turban tying competitions, various dance routines that made me shake what my momma gave me, the mrs. desert competition...and of course, the mr. i have never seen such serious staches since purusing the streets of willy-b competition. the host had the courtesy to inform us what each style of stache actually revealed about its grower...i was entranced. we didn't want to leave my little spot on the lawn all day...and gosh darn we didn't. tug of war tomorrow...foreigners vs. indians.
the day after tomorrow we are off on a three day camel trek to camp in sand dunes, look at some more forts, and visit some villages and farms further out of town...i'm so pumped, i might wear flourescents. tell bijun i've been rocking my ef shirt every other day, so i'm expecting a bonus upon my return. much love. xoxoxoxo