playing with fire

I've spent the afternoon walking around the alleyways of Jodhpurs vibrant old city. There are motorcycles, rickshaws, camels, cows, people, people and some more people everywhere. The majority of shops tend to specialize in one particular thing only, for example plastic bags, or tin cans. The shop next doors will be selling incense. The one across the street might be trading ceramic pots etc etc etc. It is fascinating to watch the Indians practice their craft with skillful hands. I can't imagine having to spend my life doing the same thing, day after day, month after month, year after year. But this is the crude reality to the majority of Indians, and not a choice.


One person who has turned his trade into a huge success is the omelette man, who for 36 years has been making omelettes from a stand next to the Jodhpur clocktower, and is mentioned in the Lonely Planet. In fact, his address is "The omelette shop, near clock tower, Jodhpur".

It might be the world's smallest restaurant: one plastic chair and a rickety plastic table, placed out in front of a sizzling frying pan. The masala cheese omelette was delicious, I will however probably find out pretty soon if this was a risk worth taking, or if I once again have been playing with fire...