18/01/07

We slept till about 11.30, even though the horns and pigeons and the musical lift. We tried to catch a train in 3rd class to CHurchgate but found it impossible to board with masses of people pushing to get on while its still moving! We jumped on the 2nd train in first class but had to chagne after another failed attempt, this time someone pushed Sinead off. We gave up and caught a taxi. At churchgate we got our onward ticket withoug hassle and did a bit of sightseeing. We came to the gateway to India and did the tourist thing and moved on. Walking up towards Chowpatty beach along Marine drive Sinead needed the toilet so we stopped in at a bar along ther way. A lovely bar/restaurant styled on an upperclass beach hut, the bill for 2 drinks and the toilet came to almost 400 R! and expensive toilet break! Thinking that by 7.30pm the crowds might have died down, we went to the train station for our return trip home, but soon realised that these people live on trains! There was no way we were going to catch the local trains and it is easy to see how people have been crushed to death at trainstations here! We walked on after no taxi wanted our fare as Chembur, where our hotel is, is to far away. We finally found a driver who wanted our money and eagerly jumped in. We then spent the next 1 hour 15mins getting lost and fretting whether we said teh right destination or not. We finally arrived back at the hotel which is infested with many small roaches, exhausted.

19/1/07

Now we are waiting for the train. We walked around for a while and saw some pretty dirty things. First off there was some fish lying on the side of the road covered in flies drying, for the dish "bombay duck" Remind me never to try it! Then, as we returned to teh station, we saw a small boy of about 4years old squatting on the footbridge we were using, spraing the wall with diahoria and a small dirty piece of newspaper in his hand! we now have a 3 1/2 hour wait for the train. We wanterd to sit down in the sun and read while we waited but the closest thing to it which was clean was to sit in a McDonalds! at least there is noone spitting! we had dinner at a vegeterian restaurant which was lovely. The waiter walked off after taking our order, he left the longest and loudest burp out i have ever heard! Sinead and I just looked at each other, you could almost hear him laughting as he walked off.

20/1/07

3rd class on the train was dead on, apart from the roaches which kept Sinead awake all night and of course the local fella snoring all night! There was a nice hindu fella from Hinchal Pradish who just seemed to medicate the whole time and the wife of teh snorer, who were both lovely too. Id started patches and forgot to take it off, so I only had 1hour sleep. We arrived in Ahmedabad at 5.15am and all i can say is it didn't feel very safe. I ended up carrying my knife in my pocket1 We caught a tuk tuk to the travel agents but it was not open until 9am. By this stage we were very tired so decided to head out to the bus station to try and wing it. Sinead saw a bus with the travel agnts logo on it, but by the time we got back there it had moved on. We bummed around for 30mins trying to work out what to do next before giving up and going to a hote. We walked out onto the road and therewas the bus we thought had left. So of we went and checked it out. It was the bus for Udaipur thank god, cos neither of us wanted to stay in Ahmedabad, so we jumped on and off we went. Another trip and I still got no sleep. Sinead was curled up on my lap dozing so at least she got a few minutes shut eye. As we were getting close to Udaipur, I chose somewhere to stay so when we arrived the tuk tuk dirvers mobed us we could tell them withoug hassle. So off we went but when we arrived the hotel was fuly booked. So we walked around with our packs on our back for the next hour loking for rooms. We eventually settled on one and asked if there was one with a better view to which we were told "if you don't like it leave" We couldn't believe it! so off we went again. We found a lovely place with views of the lake and palace but it was 900 R. We can spend a max of 500 per night! but as we walked out they called out we could have it for 500R and it was lovely so after a hard graft, alls well that ends well.!

21/1/00\7

We spent the day wandering around Udaipur and had a bhang lassi for lunch which left me pleasantly stoned for the duration of the day! In the afternoon, we took a boat cruz around the lake which was nice as it gave a different perspective of the town. We went for dinner and I had a lovely mutton curry, Sinead however had a raw fish curry!

22/1/07

Sinead bought a lovely pair of silk pants and a shawl for 500R and then bought our flight from Kolkutta to Chennai and across to Kerala. The first price he gave us was 24000R. After check oursevels we found one for 10000 R so it definitely pays to look. WE met anice guy from Melbourne in the agents and he was talking about Nepal. for a while i would love to get there, but not enough time! oh well.Sineads body is still not adjusted to the local climate and she's not feeling well at all. Having dinner now, but been pleasantly stoned after sitting here on the roof having drinks for the last few hours at the Magur Cafe. Its magical with the setting sun giving off the last few warm rays.

23/1/07

Spent the day wandering around teh city and bought a few bits and pieces but mainly wandering aimlessly. The sun was lovely and warm by the time we went out and there was no chill in the shadows really is dramatic the temp variations between day and night. I mean who would have thought you would need to wear a jumper in India. Tonight at 9 we catch a bus on to Jaipur which will arrive at approx 5.30am. These arrivals do get to become hard work, but hey its all part of the experience.

24/1/07

That had to be the worst bus ride of my life! It was driving over corrigated iron the entire way, which didnt help my stomach, for no sooner were we off than i had to go. It was absolutly freezing up here and tomorow we head for Delhi with a minimum of 4C! Anyway we are in Jaipur now, we spent the day sightseeing and let me tell u, for being a major tourist sight, there really isnt that much to see or do! We had basicly seen everything by 3;30pm. There are some lovely old forts with amazing views, and there is church where u can see excorcisms taking place, but we missed that by a day and i cant be bothered waiting till Sat for the next ones. We spent all morning looking for accomodation as the place we booked gave our room away because we were not there for 6am! So we spent a few hours looking, but its hard to find a place when all u hear from reception is "There might be rooms but u have to wait till 10 oclock" We were meant to stay here for 2 days but with the room costing 600R a night which is 6-7sterling a night for an absolute dive, there isnt much keeping us here! so we're on the bus tomorow to Delhi, we will be there for Republican Day which will be good and then who knows from there. All the best out there and take care