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Hi everyone
Sorry its been a few days - no internet!! We are now up north in Himachal Pradesh in a mountain village called Bagsu. We have loads to catch up on so I have updated some pictures of the last two weeks. Yesterday we came out to write the blog but after discovering that we could not open any of our photographs which we had put on a USB we were rather low to say the least. Luckily all was resolved today - the computer which the pictures were downloaded from had a virus!
Thank you for all your messages and sorry we haven't had a chance to respond to everyone yet. Would you believe we have been so busy!
Mum and Sue, to answer your curiousity about the 'red shoes' shown on display at the Taj. You cannot enter any temple or the Taj with shoes, because of the masses of poeple you are givien these pretty covers!
Lisa and Jase - yes we are beer festing! Beer is about a quid for a LARGE bottle of beer. Happy days.
Aunty Lee - great answer to the my greeting 'ah you like Indian!'.
Ian and Sob you will be glad to read Darren's toilet blog but I do need to add to this! You probably experience this yourself and I know my father does. You and your wife are about to go out for the day or shopping or whereever. You are dressed 15 mins ago and she is still probably putting on her make up or deciding what to wear. Well I get dressed in the morning, wait for Darren after he vsits the loo 3 or 4 times on some days! Makes sures he has his toilet paper in my bag before he sets off. And of course we have already made out for the day returning 5 mins later back to the bog! Sorry everyone else who doesn't know but this will be to Ian's and Sob's amusement!
Well will start to give you an update from where we left off! On the 6 hour journey from Agra to Jaipur we stopped off for an hour at a national park which was a rather a welcomes break from the drive and horning! The park is 26km so only having an hour was just skimming around the outskirts but nevertheless it was pleasant. We were apparently very lucky to see two jackles! We saw lots of wild parrots, peacocks, monkeys, kingfishers, storks, antelope, waterbuffalo and so many different types of butterflies.
We continued our journey passing through villages and farms. We stopped just outside Jaipur to visit the monkey temple. We had no idea what were going to see. It was like visitng a lost city. We climbed for a while, ending up on a road surrounded but tree covered hills lots of peacocks and monkeys around. Saini told us to just walk ahead and come back when we were finsihed. We walked towards a gate where 'the monkey man' as he introduced himself as showed us the old wall and i thought, is this it! We walked passed the wall and entered an open market space with old paintings, holy men walking around, children wearing white cloths, playing cricket and women in bright saris going about their daily basis. 'The monkey man' took us furthe up to a pool where men were bathing and at the tope were lots and lots of monkeys who respected and listened to them. To be honest I didn't like the monkeys very much and did not like having to walking around the temple with bare feet - it was so dirty! But an amazing place!
We arrived at the 'Pink CIty' it was not at all what I expected, to be honest it was really busy and quite run down. The next morning we went to Amber Village to see the Amber fort. Both us were totally taken back by its beauty. We both preferred the fort to the Taj. A grand and magnificent piece of historical architecture! We were meant to go around the Fort on elephant which would of been magical but due to the celebrations before Divali for some reason the rides were not on!
In the evening we were entertained by a dancer - and Darren! Who I think entertained the resturant with his moves! much to Saini's amusement. The next evening we were invited for dinner at Saini's friends shop. We ate mutton curry on the top level of a shop, which was entertaining and good food! I will put the photos up soon. We got back to our hotel where there was an engagement party in the garden, no Darren didn't go in and join, given half the chance I think he would of. It was interesting to see though - peering from the hedges and from the hotel balcony!
I did forget to say that during the whole two weeks of our Rajasthan travel we had to endure early morning chanting, drumming and singing. Not only did we arrive during the start of the Common Wealth Garmes but also during the pre Divali celebrations. They literally start at about 3am! I think we are both used to being woken up now! Well I am Darren is happy and comfy with his ear plugs!!
Well we are hopeful to be around an internet for the next few days so hopefully we can try and bring you up to date ! In the next blog we will tell you about our desert trip!
- comments
Jade Sounds like you settling right in....In one of the photos i mistakenly mistook the lady darren was posing with as you and instantly thought - Now who's the samba in the family! A second glance retified my thought :) Loving reading your blogs, keep them coming and keep enjoying!!! xxx
Heather Hi Tam and Darren - love the in-depth scatological entry from Darren but the toilet depicted looked super clean (compared to the one in the health centre in Darjeeling as described by Richard) - have you got a stash of Cilit Bang along with the loo rolls? Sounds like an amazing adventure! Hope the time is passing slower for you than it is for us! Aagh! Jodean will be counting down to Christmas any minute now! I'm already buying the dreaded 'tins' Love Heather