Last day in India

Survived the overnight train from Jodhpur to Delhi. In a country that at the moment is so hot, our carriage felt like a freezer!!! There were a few government VIP's in our carriage also, so the armed guards on the train added some reassurance to our travels.

Have spent a dusty day walking around Delhi old town and as always was in awe of life unfolding before our eyes. An 'electrician' was standing in a van roof leaning up into the multitude of falling electricity wires on a pylon to fix a fault. In the same street there were ox drawn carriages, rickshaws, beeping cars and people carrying more on their heads than I could in my arms.

It will be sad to leave India (but I will return soon). We have met so many wonderful people, from the student teacher on the train who wanted to be a writer to try to highlight the social injustices to women in India, to the lady who shared her lunch with us on the train as we travelled north to a hill station, so many people who have smiled and made us feel welcome, whether we were visiting a temple, lost on the street or ambling along a train platform. India has been amazing, but like most things in life you get out what you put in!

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!

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.