Here I am in Sydney! I made the 32 hour journey from Goa to mumbai then onto Sydney. I was so sad to say goodbye to India but on the other hand I was ready to leave. Such an amazing country with so much to see exhausted me.

Arriving on the 29th of Oct I got the shuttle bus to the Wake Up! hostel where I met Team Canada! Wendy was on my bus and staying on the same floor as me so we hung out for a bit as Stacey, Debbie and Kate weren't due for another 2 hours. On returning from the supper market the 3 of them jumped out on me from the lifts and there was lots of screaming and hugging. I am sure people in reception thought we were insane not to mention poor Wendy!

With full bellies from a decent pasta dinner and heavey eyes we returned to the hostel. I went upstairs to call Gemma and James. Whilst on the phone the girls appeared out of the lift suggesting drinks?!?!?! Were they mad? There was no way I could have gone for a drink even if I had wanted to. I was beat. Kate said "are you sure cause we found something that might persuade you to come out" then from round the corner appeard a little Jenny, rucksack and all!!!!!!!!! I screamed so loudly that I woke the floor up and got told off!!! Not caring and hugging Jen within an inch of her life I burst into tears of joy (they don't call me soft as s*#t burnett for nothing). Needles to say we went out for drinks (goodness knows how). What a wonderful surprise and the most amazing end to a drained day. So glad to have you here Jen! Me thinks this is going to be the trip of a life time as it has already proved to be.

Goodbye to the 2 L's

What an amazing time we have had! Leaving Anjuna on the 25th of October we headed for Arambol further North. A minging hangover and a hot day saw me pretty fed up whilst having to lug my backpack across the beach! Lesley and Nicole went accomodation shopping and scored highly. A basic room with a firm bed and the most spectacular view of the ocean allowed my soar head to mend. We even saw Dolphines out in the ocean from our porch! Bliss!

Yahoo and Ellesie (not their real names but we couldn't pronounce them properly so made these ones up!) showed up one last time to try and persuade Lou to go south but we were staying put(old Yahoo was smitten with Lou!). Nicole then spotted a rather fine example of a man on the beach the following day. Egging her on she chatted him up and that's how we landed ourselves a dinner date with Mr Scotland and his mate Onslow! The evening was spent laughing and giggling at the most random stuff ending with Nicole snogging Mr Scotlands face off! Nice!

3 nights later and I was preparing for my next leg of the journey. Goa to Mumbai then Sydney. I was so sad to leave the 2 L's as I had one of the most memorable times of my life. Talking none stop for hours in the sea and sharing Pacorra's. Girls, thank you! It was truly amazing.

Goan Dream

My last day in Varanassi was a scary one. A nasty local kept following Mel&I around and even attempted to grope us. As he did I turned around and thumped his shoulder. He didn't get the hint and kept following us making us feel terrible and quie scared so I took my Birkenstock off, raised it above my head threatening to hit him with it shouting "GO AWAY! LEAVE US ALONE AND GET LOST!" Everyone turned to look & laughed as he ran away covering in his head fro protection. Wether at him or me I am not sure but he got the message. Looking back it's funny but at the time we were so scared.

An over night sleeper train took us back to Delhi which was the most fun I have had in ages. We all got the giggles at having to sleep in bunck beds and generally laughed all the way to Delhi.

Now I am in Goa with the lovely Lou&Lesley. I randomly bumped into Lesley on the beach. We have stayed in this shack type room for the last two nights sharing 2 beds between 3 of us! Only cost us 5 quid a night though! Needless to say after an amazing day of sunbathing, a massage on the beach and a trip to the flea market we all got wasted watching the sun go down whilst the aging hippies palyed there crazy music. Iwas a night to remember. Oh yeah and Lou has managed to find her foreign man, surprise surprise.

xxx

Nearly Over :(

I survived rafting! So much water went in my mouth I thought I might die but no! I still haven't been ill! WooHoo! Needles to say my Delhi Belly Diet has not gone according to plan but I am not moaning.

Leaving Orchha we headed east to Khajahro (sorry re spelling) which wasn't the nicest of places. Everyone hasseled us none stop but to a degree where your private space was entered and no was not taken for an answer. The guest house was crawling with bugs too. Yukk!

Onto the Ken River in Panna National Park. What a change of scene! Beautiful lush jungle where we stayed in this wicked outback lodge (Jen you would have loved it!) Here we went Tiger spotting. Sadly I didn't see any Bengal tigers and was a little dissapointed however the safari was excellent and the nature nothing what I expected.

Next place was Chitrakott (might has well be renamed shitrakoot) which is meant to be where Rama(Hindu God) spent 11 of his 14 years in exile. Although not the prettiest of places (beyond a joke) the people were much nicer here and we taught our waiter how to say "Cuppa Tea" which he responsed "but I not a cuppa tea" You had to be there I suppose! Next was Allahabad where the three sacred rivers meet and all join into the Ganges. This is where Kumbe Mela is held every 12 years ad is one of the largest religious gatherings on earth (Dad rekons he is going in 2013 but I don't think he will handle the dirt&bartering!!!!)

Now in Varanassi where at 5:30am this morning I was sat on a boat on the Ganges watching the sun rise whilst the ghats filled with Hindu worshipers coming to take their daily soak. AMAZING! Needless to say I wasn't the best person to have a conversation with but I enjoyed the views through my crust filled eyes enjoying every minute, quite moving really.

Have just had a massage (an expereince needing a post of it's own!) I am stressing a little that I still can't upload pictures. Internet just isn't powerful enough :(

Hope everyone is well. xxx

Land of Plenty

Sat in an internet house, bare foot waiting endlessley for the slow system and my photos to be burned to disc, life couldn't be better! So much has happend since my slightly anxious afternoon in Delhi that I sadly wont be able to share all :(

Currently in Orchha for 2 nights where the people are a little more harrassing but not intimidating The best bit about today was that I saw my first monkeys just lounging around Orchha temple. Their tales were so long! Loved them!!! We arrived yesterday from Chanderi where we travelled 5 hours on the bus. Nightmare.

Chanderi was a small village where we also stayed two nights. This place was amazing. Not for the sights but the people. Never before had I meet such happy welcoming people. They treated us like film stars when we arrived. Shouting and wanting to shake our hands. The kids were the best. All they wanted was their photo taken. When I showed it to them on the digital camera they went crazy. Their little faces were such a delight. We also ate dinner with a local family. The food was out of this world!! We were also treated to traditional henna designs on our hands and feet which I must say are very beautiful!

Before Chanderi was Agra where the Tag Mahal is. What an experience. We were there for sunset which made the building change in colour several times. The only down side were the crowds, so many people were there that it spoilt the atmosphere a little. We were also joined by a couple in Agra, Martin and Abigail who are really nice. The four of us have been haggerling in the market already! So now it's an afternoon of rafting down the Betwa River before our cooking class this evening. Apparently it's the cleanest in India - Yeah RIGHT!!!

Chelo! (Let's go!) xxxxx

P.S. Photos are coming, aslong and Mr Orchha hasn't deleted the all! EEEkkkkk!!

Julie sets fourth into the unknown

Sensory Over Load!!!

I made it! Here I am sat in New Delhi having found a "cyber cafe" not quite believing that I am here. I can't begin to discribe what I have experienced so I will just try and explain by listing the random things I have been up to.

Arrived on Monday 8th around 6:30am. The taxi ride to the hotel was an experience in it's self. None of the roads have markings and when they do no one sticks to one lane. On arrival at the hotel I had a sip of some (sealed) bottled water which after 2 minutes made me lose my stomach! Nice welcome to India. So when my room became fee I just slept after adding the good old purification tablets to the bottle water. Around 2pm there was a knock on the door. I was in such shock that I opened the door with my eye mask half way up my forehead with all my hair askew to be meet by another traveller, Melissa! She must have had the fright of her life seeing me in that state. I was shocked to know someone was sharing my room as there was only one double bed!! Good job we get on!!!

Sanjay (Don't you just love his name, adds to the experience!) our group leader took us for our first meal in Delhi last night. Very apprehensively we ordered and were surprised how good it all tasted. Lots of locals were eating there too which is always a good sign. We tried Lassi (Rach, it's so nice!) and the whole meal cost a whoppping 3quid! Dead chuffed&still no Delhi Belly.

Today we hit Old Delhi with Sanjay. The bus journey was the funniest thing, no different to the tube with crowding but the chaotic order in which it operated was fasinating. You have to get on at the back and leave by the front. We got on at the front though as the conductor let us. Don't think most of the passengers were happy about this but then they never seem to be happy anyway. They love to stare at us too. This is odd at first but after a while it's ok, I suppose we do look like aliens with our cameras and pale skin! Visiting Old Delhi& the tiny back alliways, Sanjay had us taste ginger tea off a side stale. I was so British about the whole thing at first, having my reservations, but Mel was more enthusiastic so I went with it. After all the liquid was boiled within an inch of it's life!! Surprise Surprise, it was lovely (James you would have liked it due to the Ginger) and no want to vom so I was happy :) He then had us try some food further down the bazarr. I totally freaked but smiled and said ok! (am I mad...YES!) so we had chipati with mint and cauliflour. Again really nice and no signs of dysentry or fever!

Having visited the largest Mosque in Asia (apparently) we went on to the Sikh temple which was so beautiful. We had to take our shoes off again but this time they had to be washed at the door. We also had to cover out heads. Inside was so ornate, everything covered in gold and strewn with strings of orange&yellow carnations. The singing also was wonderful, wonder if they would flog me a CD?!?!?

So now it's free time. Mel and I are alone while Sanjay does some paper work? Oh I forgot to mention, Mel and I are the only ones on the tour so far! We meet another couple in Agra tomorrow but at the mo we have had our own private guide. In some ways this is great in others a bit weird as it would have been good to meet other travellers. Either way we are here and about to venture out on our own. We have decided to get an autorickshaw to India Gate and then another to our hotel to get over this sensory expereince! Luckily the hotel has hot water for a shower! Yeah!!!

Tomorrow is a 6am start(I must set the alarm!)to board a train to Agra where we will visit the Tag Mahal and the Red Fort! Eekk! Sorry no photos yet and also for the bad spelling. You wouldn't believe how sticky the keyboard is...ok maybe you would but hey! I have antibacterial gel, I am fine!!!!

Narmastar (goodbye!) for now.