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We Landed in Bangalore, a mad modern metrapolis with every modern convinience from McDonalds to huge shopping malls. We then trained out to Chennai on an 8 hour journey to another hot bustling, dusty, dirty, urine smelling coastal city. From here we flew to Andaman Islands on a 5 hour flight and landed in Port Blair. Port Blair is the capital of the Anadamans and it is another dirty grotty place. From here we took a 6 hour ferry ride to Havelock Island and then headed to village no 4. This is where the holiday began. We stayed in a lovely resort called Cafe Del Mar, a bit of a divers hangout, but our two storey bamboo pad made up for it.
We stayed on the Andaman a few weeks and ate fabulous fish and drank the finest mango juice. We lay on the almost deserted beaches and swam in the crystal clear water. We hired a scooter that would not go up hills as it was a bit useless. We trekked through the jungle and snorkelled over fine reefs seeong the technicolour fish and giant clams. The beach was absolutely covered in hermit crabs, no shell left empty. We would find shells and watch the hermit crabs fight over the potential new home and quickly hop in.
Within a week or so the rain began and the temperature rose and sea swelled, so it was time to get back to the mainland. We ferryed back to Port Blair and then flew back to Chennai and then flew a few days later to Delhi. I have never been any where as hot as Chennai we lived for air con.
We floated around Delhi for a few days seeing some of the sights, but the day we were there most were closed, typical. But we did find a fabulous resturant our hotel recomended, Alpha Spice. We will return there when we hit Delhi next month.
From Delhi we took a 10 hour taxi ride to Dehra Dunn, we hated it there and got straight in to another to go to Mussorie. Mussorie a fine hill station full of Indian honeymooners. Fine views and nice food, but with the atmosphere of Gt Yarmouth. Shops full of tat and tourist gifts and candy floss. But what a relief to be out of the heat. We stayed in a nice hotel over looking a huge valley and watched the thunder stroms light up the hills. We stayed a few nights and from here took another taxi to Rishikesh.
Rishikesh the Yoga capital of the world. Set on the river Ganges, lined with temples and ashrams. Full of holy men and travellers who have been stuck in India for to long, who could do with a wash and haircut. We stayed in a fab resort on the hill side and here we relaxed for nearly a week. The place had a fine German bakery and excellent resturant serving great indian dishes as well as pasta.
Next destination was to Shimla, the capital of Himichal Pradesh, another fine colonial hill station. We are hitting all these hill stations to keep out of the heat. Here we stayed in the YMCA with a fab English garden and excellent views down the valley. The whole city looks as if it is sliding down the mountain. A real mash up of old and modern concrete monstrosities. We will stay for a few days and then we will bus it to Dharamsala and from there get to McClou Ghanj
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