Hey Guys, finally got some time to write you something in here! I am currently in the North of India, Nanital to be exact. not far from the himalayas!

So flying into Delhi was a bit mad back in March, jon boy was meant to meet me at the airport but his flight got delayed so while i waited at arrivals...an announcement said that his flight would be delayed for abonther 4 hours! Welll I was setting myself up for a night at the airport but luckily the plane actually came in just ano hour later than mine, so we made our way to the hotel through Delhi....

Very mad place, a lot to take in! Due to a big of jet lag i think we slept in for most of the next day.. so we speddily headed up to Agra to see yes the famous Taj Mahal and yes it is an amazing sight!

We had a driver with us who took us through Rajastan, named Sarwan... i think as I don't think me or Jon said his name correctly until well into the week!

Next was jaipur, lovely humble place, only spent 2 days here but as it was Sarwan's home town, he took us back to his home to meet the whole family and have food! Very humbling experience, such lovely people and yes I got to dress up in a Sari!

We spent one night in Pushkar, small town, quite "hippy" here we had the camel ride into the sunset... very nice until they of course spoil it by asking for money for playing music and we were just thinking it was just free enterntainment!

The treat of the trip ...we had booked 2 nights at the castle Bijaipur, magnificent hotel, finally got to do some relaxing and sunbathing! about 35 pounds a night, expensive for India but amazing for what you get! If you want luxury you have to stay there!

Next made it to Udaipur, many more forts and temples and much "more peoples" as Sanwar likes to say! From here we caught an overnight to mumbai (bombay). Bit daunting as the bus literally dropped us off in the middle of the street, however found a place to stay. yes the local YMCA!!! turned out to be not bad at all, food included, bargain. Mumbai was the first place we found a bar to sit down and have a much needed beer!

Chowpatty beach was mad, day or night it is packed full of people!

From Mumbai we took the overnight train to Goa... very comfortable AC 2 class, wake up and your in Goa! brilliant, Goa was very Warm, very! 40s at this time. very green and different from rest of India. So on arrival of Go, first night we stayed at Colva beach... then headed to Pallolem beach in search of the "beach shacks" on the beach, we found them!! stayed in a tree house type shack looking onto the sea, heaven! could have done with 2 wks there! Lovely restarant who owned our shack, called Papilion, very friendly helpful people.

Very said to leave Goa but we did say we wanted to see the north of India..so we flew back to Delhi, not wanting to stay there another night we managed to get another overnight bus up to Nanital, more comfortable than the last one! actually got some sleep!

So dropped off again with what seems like the middle of nowhere, we got bombarded with hotel owners, decided to ignore them in search of the lake, found it after a long walk up a steep hill! Met another british couple from Portsmouth who recommended the City heart hotel. so settled in there.

Following day decided to bus it down to Ramnagar togo to the jim Corbet Tiger reserve, the local bus is an experience but at 40 rupees you cant go wrong, much better than the 1200 they wanted to charge us within an organised tour!

Luckily managed to get a place to stay inside the park, as it was a saturday it was very busy.. you should book!

Got a driver, Lalit to take usaround in his jeep. Stayed the night there and got up early to spot some animals!!

Seeing wild animals close up was amazing but when we actually saw a tiger it topped it all, as it is very rare to see one and you have to be very lucky Lalit told us! So imagine how lucky we were when the tigeress.. protecting her cubs charged out of the bushes with a roar at our jeep about 5 m away, i think not! Lalit moved so quick into the drivers seat...and well Jon, JON jumped so far he managed to jump behind me, putting me at the side of the jeep closest to the tiger! Yes thanks for that Jon boy!

Hilarious though and amazing feeling. You get used to seeing cows,monkeys and domestic elephants walking around the towns just like people, yes honestly they are just loose... but its nothing compared to seeing wild animals!

So now Jon has headed on back to the UK, while I am still staying here in Nanital, with a view of the lake... a spot of trekking tomorrow, im told you can see the himalayas from the top! Nerys and Rachel are also in India at the monent, trekking around rajastan i believe, we all meet up on the 18th in Delhi ready to fly back to Thailand on the 20th!!

So thats all for now folks, am trying my bets to put photos up but it is very slow, may have to wait until thailand for better connections!!

Han