Ok, so it was nice in Cochin, but it wasn't heaven. We know as now we are there, not literally, don't worry, but we have arrived at the most lovely spa hotel of forest cottages up in the hills surrounded by amazing plantations, and with it's own gardens of tea, coffee, cocoa, coconuts, cardomun, pineapples, yams, tapioca, mango, vanilla, pepper and something called a Jack tree with an amazingly large mishappen fruit. Tomorrow we are all having a massage, althou...

Hello from almost heaven It's really warm and sunny here in Kochin, it's lush and scenic, fresh fish for dinner, what more could you want? Well, beer actually, especially if you are Paul, or if not beer, gin, rum, anything, but no, there is no alcohol anywhere, in the restaurants, bars or hotels. But still it's lovely here and tomorrow we head off for safari and then to the Keralan backwaters. So signing off for a while, happy birthday on the 15th to Elu and J...

Short update. Fab flight, went along miles of Himalayas and really clear which Is unusual for Here. Everything is usually shrouded in mist or fog. Sunday big dropping day here so off sari shopping tonight. Tomorrow is end of northern leg as we fly to Kochi. Looks excellent, warm, coastal and beautiful. Love to all, thanks for messages, we would like the tottenham score yes please, and what is Ellies baby's name? Love LPJ

Hello again Had a couple of really relaxed days in the foothills of the Himalayas at McLeod Ganges, according to a bar man 5800ft ( correction this should be metres) above sea level. Did a reasonable hike yesterday and saw some incredible birds, no guide so no idea what they were and some huge Langure monkeys and some raucous rhesus macaque monkeys who performed for us for ages sliding down poles like firemen, and fighting, playing and cleaning eachother. Fou...

We have arrived in Amritsar which I've always thought sounded lovely but all the guide books say get in, see the temple and leave again. However first impressions are wide leafy streets, less poverty and it's peaceful. Yesterday afternoon we went to the red fort on Delhi, not to be confused with the red fort in Agra or the Amber fort in Jaiper, we are only just getting them straight. Anyway it was another huge site, very interesting, but extremely run down comp...