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Ranthambore- We arrived here mid afternoon and were greated by a rather grubby looking swimming pool, but did we care.. HELL NO. After a 7 hour drive we were so excited to strip off and feel like we were actually on holiday rather than some crazy adventure through the middle of no where. We spent the afternoon laid in the gardens crying with laughter over Karl Polkingtons Idiot Abroad books, the things he say's are sooo true and even more funny when your experiencing the things he is talking about.
Tonight we had our second taste of Indian food, which I have to say is not really living up to much after our expectations fro home. James once again had noodles and plain chappatis where as I ventured out and had vegetable curry and chappatis..exciting I know. We spent the rest of the night pretty bored as there was literally nothing to do so bought some playing cards from a local shop. The following day we were up at 5.30 am for our 3 hour tiget safari. To be honest we we'rnt really expecting much it was just something that came with our tour, but off we went in a little open top jeep. We arrived at the park and drove throught what seemed to be the size of yorkshire over rubble and boulders, at one point I had to get out as I though I was goin to be sick but it soon passed. We drove up and over hills searching for tigers but all we saw were a few paw prints. By this point I thinkwe both had got usd to the idea we wouldnt be seeing anything. UNTILL.... a car came passed and they had seen 2 tigers, it was like a seen out of a film as the driver raced back the way we had been to try to find them and i'm honestly suprised we didnt fall out. When we got to the spot there was already 4 or 5 jeeps parked up watiching the 2 tigers. It very hard to see as there well camouflaged which you wouldnt think but so good to them them in their natural habitat. We took some photos but its really hard to see them. When we got back to the hotel everyone was really pleased we saw 2 and have since then spoken to a guy that has done 12 safaris and not yet seen a tiger so much of been our lucky day.
Now for the next stop on our tour, Agra we spent ye another 6 hours driving down even worse roads this time, their version of the M1 was just a dirt track with huge bouldres, cows, camels and all sorts strolling around. We arrived at the next hotel at about 4pm and headed straight to mc'ds once again for some home comforts. Again there was very little to do so spent the night playing cards.
Today we visited the Taj Mahal it is AMAZING, I dont think either of us expected to be blown away but we really were, well untill we got inside and because i'd had no breakfast was feeling really sick and faint so had to dash out as I dont think the locals would of been to happy me throwing up in one of the wounders of the world. So after I felt a bit better we tried again and loved it, we sat on the princess diana bench and had loads of photos taken. When we came out it was like once again being a celebrity, people were literally queing to have their pictures taken with us, James was'nt too keen however I of course loved it to the point the tour guide dragged us away. from here we went to Agra fort....BORING and nothing much to say about this so off we went to pizza hut!
So one thing we have failed to mention on all our day trips so far, the local guide in between the bigger attractions takes us to local factories to see how things are made. So far we have seen fabric printing, fine art painting, jewelry and bead making, carpet making and marble. This to both of us has been the most hilarious thing now we know what is going on. First they show you it all being made, which we have to say is really interesting, the then show us the finish product by ushering us into a room and offereing us drinks galore, followed by the speach of how they sell to England, USA ect. We know no that this is when it comes 'you want to buy, goog for presents, we ship to any country' 'how about something small'', we have now found this histerical as we sit imagining if we had actually bought any of this crap what our ouse would look like with patterned curtians, marble table tops both wearing beads and hareem pants with fine art on the wall. I nearly had to leave one place as I couldnt stop laughing, even now writing this were in histerics.
At 3.30pm today we finally had to say good bye to Sanjay our driver, he was amazing and went above and beyong wahat we expected, he was always asking 'you good sir, you good mam, if you happy, i happy' we said our goodbyes in preparation for the 8 hour wait in Agra Train station.
HELL HOLE! The station was lined with hundreds and hundreds of people waiting for trains but luckily we had 2nd class tickets so got to wait in the waiting room. The room was tiny, it stank and was ridden with flies bugs cockroaches galore and after about 4 hours i literally cried. By the time we were ready for our train it was 11.15 pm we went on to the platform to see trains anbolutely rammed with people, exactly like you see on tv, people even sit on the roof. We were both so worried we would be packed in like chickens. When the train pulled up we thought we were in the right place,... we wer'nt we had to run the full length of the train and thank god as it was worth it, it was a nice carrige, with bunk beds and curtains so all the fear turned to excitment as we got our heads down for the night. It was a bit bumpy but quieter then the aircon we had had the night before.
We arrived in Khajuro at 7am the next day and went by tuk tuk to our hotel. It has now dawned on us that we are fed up of india so spent the day rearranging our flights to leave to bangkok this friday so we are both OVER THE MOON to be leaving. We went to a reastuarant over the roas for tea which took hours to make once pizza but we didnt care, the excitement of S E Asia is on the brain now so that is helping with the boredom of a town the size of mirfield.
Anyway where just gettin ready for our next over night train to varannasi now so will update again soon!
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Barbara & Harold Laycock so you're not looking fo a holiday home in India then? Great photo's & your bloggs rally make yourtrip come to life. Keep them coming. Love Grandma & Grandad xxxx