So here it is, the first, hopefully, of many travel blogs, keeping you updated on whats going on. This is however day 12 of our trip, so we are lightly behind with the info!

We arrived in Delhi, and were both shocked! Don't think either of us knew what to expect and the whole trip ahead seemed daunting. First few nights were spent in the hotel, frantically reading our guidebook, and generally panicing. We ended up booking a 10 day taxi guided whistlestop tour of North India, to take in all the main sights.

Leaving behind dirty, smelly, smoggy Delhi, we headed for Agra, and found it to be the same!! However going to the Taj Mahal was like finding a jewel in the middle of a sewer! Magnificent and so peaceful.

Didn't stick around long in Agra as we had a long drive, 6hrs, to Ranthambore to go on a tiger safari. This involved being woken at 6, in the dark, to sit in an open top 20 seater jeep, disapointingly no tigers, but still fun. Met some other travellers in the hotel, form Newcastle and spent evening chatting to them before some indian dancing at a party in the hotel gardens.

Moving on from here we headed to Jaipur, the pink city. Glad to be in a slightly quieter city. Although traffic everywhere in India is crazy, England is nothing compared to this, horns are constantly being use and as you weave through a street you have to dodge, cars, rickshaws, bikes, people, cows, busses, goats etc. Anyway, nice quite hotel and a trip to Jaipurs highlights, only one worth mentioning is the Amber Fort. A Rajput Palace full of elephants and chinese tourists.

Now in Jodhpur - staying in what can only be described as an old British museum, complete with stuffed tiger, animal heads and full snooker table. Today we have visted Meheerangarh Fort - best fort we have visited. Can't believe just how big it was!

Summary of India so far: The contrast between the rich and the poor here is unbelievable, but everybody seems to have a mobile phone, even men wearing turbans and living in mud huts out in the villages! Didn't expect it to be so cold in the evenings, so wearing most of our racksack at night. Saying goodbye to our driver soon and making our own way by train (that should be interesting) to Goa, for some sunshine and to escape at least some of the hassle in the cities.

So thats it for now, will update again when we have some more stories to share. Love to you all.xxx