24.3.2008 Taj Mahal- gratitude to deep, unforgettable love "Tear drop on the face of humanity" the Indian poet Tagore said about the Taj Mahal, "I have not forgotten, I have not forgotten, O beloved" it says! Shah Jahan built Taj Mahal for his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal (Jewel of the Palace), who dies giving birth to their 14th child at the age of 39. On her deathbed she asked Shah Jahan to show the world how much they loved each other. So ...

22.3.2008 Holi Festival When we set out for the trip in Rajasthan I had no idea we would be in the middle of the Holi festival, until I read the guide books. Holi (the festival of colours) is celebrated in North India, marking the climax of spring. There are bonfires the night before symbolising the end of winter and conquering of evil. People throw colours at each other and anything that goes past them. We have been warned about the festival by the locals wh...

22.3.2008 Understanding local gibberish- "Do you want Cock?" After 5 months of being in India I am slowly getting accustomed to Indian's English and the way they tell a story. It was one of the first things I had learnt in Goa was that there is no point confusing the locals with complex English or the reasoning for your request. You just say what you want in order to get the message across. For example if something isn't working you say "hot wa...

22.3.2008 Camel Safari- Jaisalmer Writing about something a few days after never feels same as writing about it instantly. On the second day of our safari after sleeping in the desert under the stars I sat down and reflected on the trip very quickly. First thing I could recall was when we were in the shop with Dilip and Yogi Bear (yuk, some sleazy sales boy who said he can give us massage on our thighs-groins- after the camel ride if we were sore…yeah r...

19.3.2008 Back from the Desert Just arrived from the desert trip, 2 days on camels, hot and dusty but absolutely loved being outdoors. I have a lot to write about but currently at a slow internet cafe ad very sticky keyboard, plus saw a dodgy message on explorer about being hacked....Great! More to come later