Of Camels and Magic shows

Our group was entertained by this wily rajasthani magician on a recent outing. He modestly claimed that there is no magic whatso ever in what he was showing us and it was all 'sleight of the hand' or 'Haath ki chamatkaari' as he said.

As things magically appeared and disappeared from no where, we tried really hard to spot whether they were coming /going from the folds on his sleeves or into his colourful turban.

We had to come away very baffled in the end , without learning any tricks of the trade :-)







Meanwhile, there was a camel meant for fun rides close by which was enjoying a short rest in between trips. I had the chance to examine at a close range. I found it to be a gentle animal curiously trying to understand what i was trying to do getting upclose with a camera.

I have never rode a camel , though i have had the amusement of watching people ride it for the first time. they are unusually tall and when they walk, which is usually with swinging up and down motion, you have to hold on to something , lest you suffera 10 feet fall !

Death Speaks

I am sure this is a popular one and I love retelling it though it is not one of my own. Its an old persian story that also it comes up in one of Archer's own short story books as a preface. Like many Archer stories , the last few lines pack the punch: Enjoy !

There was a merchant in Bagdad who sent his servant to market to buy provisions and in a little while the servant came back, white and trembling, and said, Master, just now when I was in the market-place I was jostled by a woman in the crowd and when I turned I saw it was death that jostled me. She looked at me and made a threatening gesture; now, lend me your horse, and I will ride away from this city and avoid my fate. I will go to Samarra and there death will not find me. The merchant lent him his horse, and the servant mounted it, and he dug his spurs in its flanks and as fast as the horse could gallop he went. Then the merchant went down to the market-place and he saw me standing in the crowd and he came to me and said, Why did you make a threatening gesture to my servant when you saw him this morning? That was not a threatening gesture, I said, it was only a start of surprise. I was astonished to see him in Bagdad for I had an appointment with him tonight in Samarra.

Welcome to the Inn

Welcome to the Winding Road Inn !
the highway is far away and so is the city
I have lit up a fire to warm up the evening
The music is not too loud either
So relax and have a drink !

I am the Bartender !
Relish the hospitality ,
Enjoy the conversation
there's lots of it around