Traditionally, the monsoon months in India are July and August - refreshing rains sweep across the country, easing summer temperatures and reviving the landscape. September flourishes and everyone prepares for the influx of visitors, marked by the moderate temperatures from October through to March. In Rajasthan, a predominantly desert state the monsoon rains are much anticipated, the life source for agriculture on which its people depend. In the six years leading up to 2010, the annual monsoons had been something of a disappointment leading to scarce supplies and even more than usual revealing dried up river beds and empty lakes. Vast swathes of land revelaed themselves where once massive bodies of water had stood. And so with great trepidation, everyone waited for the 2010 monsoon.

Water has been the overriding theme of today which is a little strange when we're in a the 'desert state'. Last night's mild precipitation (ahem...) left the entire region reveling in slightly lower temperatures and water levels elevated from zero to a swimmable depth. And it's not only the humans enjoying the wet stuff - in almost every village we've seen water buffalo, with a rare opportunity to live up to their name, swimming alongside children in the local pond.