Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
BTW the photo here i a one from the site, not one of mine I'm afraid!
My India adventure is now coming to it's conclusion, i've decided to head out of India and skip Nepal (for the moment anyway)
I've been up in the mountains in Darjeeling and Sikkim recently. These were two of the places I was really looking forward to visiting. However looks like my timing was a bit out, as was bloody cold and wet and visibility was really poor (so never got to take any pictures like the one here). Trying to get warm clothes proved to be impossible! Asain XL sizes are not quite big enough for me! Walked into a few shops and asked about some kit and they laughed as they knew they have nothing that would fit me!
Though the trekking and tea-plantations were really nice, great to get some proper tea to drink! The people are very different here, more oriental in appearance and more friendly then some of the Indian cities. Definately a chilled out place, just a shame the visibility was bad :-(
So I'm now back in Kolkata and tomorrow I am flying out to Thailand :-) however my timing may not be great following the floods they have had in the south of Thailand. Though still plenty to see and do in the north.
India is certainly an interesting place, you really have to put the good and bad points on a scale, and in my experience the good really outwieghts the bad!
I've had so many highlights, probably the best thing to see was the Taj Mahal, there is no doubt in my mind that it's probably one of the most impressive things I've ever seen. Everyone has seen it on TV and pictures, but seeing it in the flesh is something else. If I was advising someone where to go in India on holiday then Kerrala would be the place. Really has a bit of everything beeches/backwaters/mountains, this was where i spent the longest period in India.
Being here for the cricket world cup was also great, getting to see the India V England match was special. Congratulations to India on there world cup victory!
For some reason (I'm really not to sure why!) Indian people love taking my photograph! Maybe this is the same for lot's of western tourists, but really makes my chuckle!
Travel here is quite straight forward, the public transport system is really well set up and almost always on time. Cost wise public transport is the best way to get around.
I've missed out of some of the things I wanted to do here, so they may have to wait for my holiday next year!
Now I have to mention some of the bad points:
Delhi !!! I'm sure knowing what I know now I would be able to handle it a bit better, was not a great starting point! though in it's defence some of the sights there are amazing, just shame about the people and the rest of the city.
Litter - you can not ever get away from the volume of rubbish that is produced here, and the fact it's just chucked in the street or down the side of what would be incredibly beautiful mountains and so on.
Beeping! I really don't know why every car/bike/auto has to beep there horns all the time!! There is no need for it and really grates after a while!
Queing (or rather lack of it) Indians don't really get politeness in this manner and is always just a massive free for all.
Scamming - it sometimes seems everyone is out to scam you one way or another, I'm wise to is all by now, but still makes things hard work.
Well that about wraps it up for India, I will miss the place, despite the bad points it's still a great place and will no doubt be back again at some point in the future. I think travelling here has taught me to be a more patient person, which can only be a good thing!
Has been great to meet some very nice and inetersting people out here!
It's only been just over 2 months away now, budgetwise, I'm well over so far, which is not great longer term for this trip. Ah well, when the monies gone it's gone!
Goodbye and thank you India :-)
- comments