Oct-Nov 2013 Travel to North India and see this incredible region’s best-known sights. Journey through Rajasthan’s picturesque deserts, along the River Ganges watching local life unfold, across dense jungle greens at Bandhavgarh and Ranthambore national parks and into cities filled with character, culture and incredible food. Giving you a taste of everything – camping on river banks, staying in castles, witnessing unparalleled heritage architecture, meeting an array of locals and soaking … [Read more...]

16 Oct 2013 I was struck by how many interesting people I met on my long day of travel to India. It was a long day because the flight left at 1.15am and I worked the day leading up to it and then had to get an earlier shuttle to get to the airport in time to pickup my rupees before the exchange closed (for some reason the bank couldn't order rupees for me). … [Read more...]

17 October 2013 I was grateful to have had a good night's sleep and woke up feeling refreshed. I had plenty of time to have a shower, sort out my things and write up my diary. Brian and Eke didn't have a good night so it was a slow start before we headed out to breakfast. There was no breakfast at our Swati so we decided to walk to the other Swati as they had a food court. It took a while for us to find out how it all worked but eventually we tried all sorts of unknown but tasty dishes. … [Read more...]

18 Oct 2013 An early start today as we had to be checked out by 7.30am before heading off for breakfast and our orientation walk around Old Delhi. We felt like we had things under control as we went back to the food court and knew what and how to order. Then it was back to the Metro Station and our familiar line change. This time we got off at Chandri Chawk and headed out into the bustling streets where there are vast numbers of people busy going about their lives … [Read more...]

19 October 2013 We arrived in a very muddy & chaotic Varanasi (it has been raining although it has stopped now) and loaded ourselves and bags into tuk-tuks for the most hair-raising journey I’ve ever had – full speed over all the bumps, through the ‘gaps’ and with horn blaring the whole time. … [Read more...]

20 Oct 2013 4.30am wake-up call today as we climb into yesterday’s clothes for our pilgrimage back down to the ghats for a dawn ‘cruise’ on the Ganges. It is much quieter at this time of day but there are already groups of people chanting and making music as they head to the river and at the river groups of women are sitting around a low table making clay figurines and chanting. … [Read more...]

21 Oct 2013 Another early start as we are woken with a cup of chai at 6.00am, followed by breakfast of porridge and toast while our tents are dismantled and re-stowed. Yvonne managed to overbalance getting into the boat and got a full dunking in the Ganges! … [Read more...]

22 Oct 2013 For some reason I am wide awake at 4.30am and as there is a wakeup call scheduled for 5.00am, I decide to have a shower and do some much needed laundry. Unfortunately the shower is freezing cold but I decide that being clean is worth it. … [Read more...]

23 Oct 2013 We have a sleep in today but I wake early anyway and have another cold shower. Sometime later I hear voices behind my cottage and discover that they are lighting the wood fire under the water tank to heat the water for my shower! After breakfast we meet the new owner of the lodge we are staying in (and have to complete visitor forms in triplicate). … [Read more...]