Wednesday 31 March 2010

Birthday celebrations number two

In the style of the Queen, yesterday was designated as my Indian 40th (four weeks after the original). We had the fort hotel to ourselves all day, so swam, had a massage, went on a safari then got a bit drunk and slept on the fort roof all night!!!! Had a brilliant birthday cake with Hindi writing on it and a big 40, so certainly celebrated it in style.

Thank goodness for 46 rupee anti-biotics - all well again now. Have also been exploring Jodhpur. The old fort is incredible, the best that we have seen so far.

Also we visited the local school yesterday morning, which caused quite a stir. The headmaster has taken us under his wing and even went to the local jeweller to barter for us!

Sunday 28 March 2010

Hurrah a quick trip to the chemist....

Whilst Emma is in shopping paradise in Rajasthan, my shopping seems to have taken a more practical line. New compact camera purchased, had hair cut, got torn trousers sewn and the latest great purchase - anti-biotics for a horrible bacteria diarrhoea infection (don't worry won't go into details). Now staying in a heritage fort in a tiny village almost 1 hour south of Jodhpur..it's amazing and of course we stand out there with our scruffy clothes and backpacks (Just found out that Madonna has stayed here!). Have just been walking around and were invited into a house, which was incredible - and we only popped out for some water! Have arranged to visit the school tomorrow, which will be a real exerience. Must dash to start my course of tablets.

Thursday 25 March 2010

Good and bad ......

There are good days and there are bad days ... Spent all morning in bed sick and then went out and managed to spill water on my smaller camera and now it is not working..... These things come to try us!  Still in amazing Jaipur and visited one of the many palaces today.  It's such an incredible city and it's funny how quickly you get used to the streets being full of  bikes, buses, cows and camels. Last night saw an incredible Hindu procession through town which was lucky timing.  

Tuesday 23 March 2010

Dusty Jaipur

Just driven a ricksaw along some dusty streets in Jaipur! Today the heat equals my age ... So that's quite hot. Every day has its own adventure, yesterday was sunrise at the taj mahal and today was navigating the old city on foot. Sitting on the roof top of our amazing heritage hotel with wifi access, drinking kingfisher and listening to a local band - London feels a million miles away !!!

Monday 22 March 2010

Sunday 21 March 2010

Feeling hot, hot, hot.....

Arrived at boiling hot Agra and it feels a million miles from home. Headed to the usual tourist haunts which are amazing. Great bus ride to Fatehpur Sikri today, a great world heritage site, could see the road through the open gear box! Meeting some people tonight that we met on the train a few days ago - medical students from Agra, so should be an interesting evening!

Friday 19 March 2010

On top of the world.....

Early start yesterday - up and out at 5am and walked up to Snow View...took us an hour in the pitch black walking up the steepest paths. Thank goodness for Emma's arm and my walking poles. Sadly the view of the Himalaya's was not to be as it was too misty but a great achievement to climb up and really enjoyed the cable car ride back down! Our greatest achievement of today was a serene boat ride and a walk to the temple, but ready and packed for our overnight train trip tonight!

Wednesday 17 March 2010

Up up and away

So little time has passed, but there have been so many adventures ....almost missed our train leaving Delhi, as we managed to be at the wrong station. Consequently we then had the most hair-raising ride to Old Delhi station in an auto rickshaw. That was nothing compared to the hour taxi ride later that night getting us way up into the hills to Nainital...I was gripped to my seat - but we did see a wild tiger as we headed up around the hundreds of hairpin bends......
If you have a second google Nainital Zoo - it surely must be the highest zoo in the world and we walked up and down today - a great achievement for me - especially at this altitude - I think that I left hand prints on Emma's white shirt, as I clung onto her arm for the descent!

Sunday 14 March 2010

Ready to leave Delhi

Have just spent the morning walking round the incredible streets near our hotel...not a tourist in sight!!!! Having checked out the local construction sites don't think there's any CSCS cards passed here...
Off north this afternoon for what I am sure will be a memorable train journey.  So glad to be back in India, it's so amazing.

The day that lasted forever.....

Despite having a  lack of  sleep on the plane, the amazing meeting with Emma went so smoothly at baggage claim at Delhi... then for a first there was a driver waiting with my name on a sign, just brilliant and I could get used to this.
What to say ....  well you are never short of an amazing sight or sound.  We took to the streets and had a long walk to the Red Fort, passing cows and horses, carts and cars - all life to look at and they surely looked back !!!!! Have been up on the rooftop for an evening meal - thali and a couple of Kingfishers...adventure here we come!

Friday 12 March 2010

One more sleep....

Left work on time....check
Drank too much wine....check
Too much still to do ....check

Sunday 7 March 2010

Six sleeps till India

The count down is speeding up and the to do list is ever increasing ...... this is my test message to set up my blogg. It would be great to share my adventures with those who are interested.
Perpare yourselves for laughter at my travel escapades, amazement at the things that I will do and see and sit back and enjoy my adventure.... x