Ever since our first trip to India in 1996, I'd dreamed of attending the Pushkar Camel Fair. One of the biggest livestock fairs in India, the Pushkar fair features thousands of people, camels and horses. Buyers and sellers from all over northwest India come to negotiate deals over their prized animals. During this particular fair, there were very few tourists present due to the September 11 attacks two months earlier. So in many ways we were a novelty at the fair, with camel traders and children eager to meet us. It was a magical experience.

	View of Pushkar lake from our hotel at sunrise.		The same view, but a little later in the morning.
	Powdered dyes for sale in a local shop.		A local girl hanging out near the Brahma temple.
	A girl we met along the road to the camel fair.		A woman and her baby heading into town.
	Walking towards the camel fair, just on the outskirts of the city.		Puppets for sale at a tent along the main road to the fair.
	Two boys running over to say hello to us.		The boys are collecting camel dung, used as a fuel source -- a valuable commodity.
	A man sporting a classic Rajasthani moustache cooks breakfast.		Andy introduces himself to a camel.
	The local equivalent of a traffic cop, this man was directing arriving camel herders to open plots to park their camels.		Another local kid collecting camel dung.
	Same girl, different photo width.		Herders and their camels settling in at the fair.
	Everywhere you look, more camels.		This camel has been shaved with intricate geometric patterns.
	A closeup of the camel.		Taking a midmorning break.
	Camels as far as the eye can see.		A woman selling snacks along the main road at the fair.
	The local woman were generally very open about letting us take their pictures.		A camel buyer paces around the hillside.
	A camel seller.		This camel herder spotted us and invited Susanne to sit and chat; he didn't speak a word of English but was very eager to meet us.
	Another girl collecting camel dung.		Posing with her sister.
	This man is selling colorful pompoms to decorate your camel.		A troupe of dancers spotted us from a distance, came charging over and started to perform for us -- expecting baksheesh, of course.
	Another dancer.		This camel has also been shaved to make it prettier.
	A father and son getting ready to make a campfire.		This woman's family was selling pottery.
	The woman in charge of a large camel dung-collecting operation.		Another camel herder.
	Taking a smoke break.		Along with the thousands of camels up for sale, there were some beautiful local ponies.
	Carrying sacks to the outer edge of the camp site.		A young man takes his camel out for a ride -- the races would start after we leave Pushkar, unfortunately.
	Strolling through the camels.		Riding off into the sunset.
	Pushkar Lake at dusk.

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