Or at least that was the idea.

An interesting time since leaving Delhi. For a start, someone decided they needed my bag with my spare cards, camera, iPod and Phone in more than I do, excuse my french but b@$t@rd! But hey, I have my passport, tickets and money, they were just luxury items really, I'll get over it!

Fortunately it seems like Sawai Madhopur is the place to arrive if you've just been robbed. Very friendly indian lady on the train helped me negotiate and complete my police report, just down to the insurance company to cough up now. I wandered along the high street to find a phone shop and a hotel number; the phone shop worker took me to 6 cash machines on the back of his moped (however scary but needs must) and the hotel manager couldn't do enough to help. An annoying frustrating ordeal but I have to remember I'm safe and well and it won't affect the trip.

That was yesterday. Today I reverted to a touch of western holidays, a swim in the hotel pool! I let myself down with that 1 really but decided I deserved it. This afternoon I went on Tiger safari in Ranthambore national park. We didn't get lucky to see any tigers but there were still some incredible sights of deer, monkeys, wild bore and hundreds of different birds that you'll have to ask my dad the names! Ended my first enjoyable day with a beer in the hotel garden with Andreas, a german guy who is also here travelling alone, it was good to talk rubbish to someone for a couple of hours! That was despite the state drinking ban due to elections being held today; I'm not sure of the significance but the landlord was good enough to breach his obvious intrest in its progress to breach the ban for us, a good man!

I'll be honest, it's harder travelling alone than I expected. Something has happened each day to remind me that. But also, each day is getting easier and, dare i say it, more enjoyable. Seems there may be a return to hassle, bussle and scams when I hhead to Jaipur tomorrow. We'll see. I have to do everything possible (or pay as little attention as possible?) to stop it bothering me.

You'll have to excuse the lack of photo's for now...

Signing off at 11am, with horns, cheers and music in the background. I'm guessing the election went well, but not good for my 6hrs sleep before another try at tiger spotting.

Goodnight for now...