The first leg of the trip is to India.
Before we even left the country Billy had acquired a Indian style ladies scarf which he informed he intended to use as a sarong on the beach when the time was right, the time will never be right for that image!
When we arrived into Delhi we boarded the train and headed into the center of town, sweating already, we obviously looked lost and confused and one man helped us out and took us to a nearby rickshaw or tuk-tuk and gave them instructions to the local tourist office. Down to pure inexperience we got a package deal with the tourist company gaining us a driver to two different cities and two sleeper train tickets, although it was the most convenient deal it certainly would have been cheaper and more backpacker like to sort ourselves out but you live and learn.
We had arranged to tour round the golden triangle which consists of Delhi, Jaipur and Agra, and then from there head to a national park further south. Keen to see all the sights on our only day in Delhi we packed them in which proved to be not the most relaxing way but we saw everything we wanted to - The Lotus temple, the Red Fort, India Gate and Humayuns Tomb.
On the second day we travelled to Jaipur, which hold sites such as a floating palace and the Amber fort, it was the most chaotic journey i have ever had, thew amount of traffic on the roads in India is unbelievable and hectic. On being stuck in a traffic jam our driver drove on the other side of the road on the hard shoulder for 15 minutes which wasn't the most comfortable experience of my life! ON the first night in Jaipur we got speaking to a man in the hostel reception who offered to take us to ride an elephant so he drove us to the outskirts of town and we rode round a elephant in a small village which was an amazing experience. I also started to realize how much i stood out as some of the children had never seen a white person before and parents were pointing their attention towards me!
We met a really friendly Mexican man and his french girlfriend on the sencond night and they came along on the third day to tour orund the amber fort and look round the markets in city. At the entrance of the fort was snake charmers and we were offered a turban and flute a chance to charm along side them, Aftert looking round the fort which was vast and perivous had housed the royals of India we made our way in to town and looking the markets with yet again more staring at me even the occasional 'sly' photo taken of me.
So far India has been a massive culture shock, you couldn't get further away from London the streets are strewn with litter and people are begging in every single direction. The locals as well seem to seize every opportunity they have with you to try and squeeze any kind of money they can. Although this is extremely annoying it is not surprising as the poverty and poorness of the country is staggering. Much to mine and bills surprise it isn't as cheap as first thought with that probably being tied in to squeezing money out of tourism, there tends to be a locals price and a tourist price for everything. But i'm enjoying the experience and the fact that is in the early 40's celcius but due to signifcant cloud colour i need not wear suncream, a pale mans dream!!
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Before we even left the country Billy had acquired a Indian style ladies scarf which he informed he intended to use as a sarong on the beach when the time was right, the time will never be right for that image!
When we arrived into Delhi we boarded the train and headed into the center of town, sweating already, we obviously looked lost and confused and one man helped us out and took us to a nearby rickshaw or tuk-tuk and gave them instructions to the local tourist office. Down to pure inexperience we got a package deal with the tourist company gaining us a driver to two different cities and two sleeper train tickets, although it was the most convenient deal it certainly would have been cheaper and more backpacker like to sort ourselves out but you live and learn.
We had arranged to tour round the golden triangle which consists of Delhi, Jaipur and Agra, and then from there head to a national park further south. Keen to see all the sights on our only day in Delhi we packed them in which proved to be not the most relaxing way but we saw everything we wanted to - The Lotus temple, the Red Fort, India Gate and Humayuns Tomb.
On the second day we travelled to Jaipur, which hold sites such as a floating palace and the Amber fort, it was the most chaotic journey i have ever had, thew amount of traffic on the roads in India is unbelievable and hectic. On being stuck in a traffic jam our driver drove on the other side of the road on the hard shoulder for 15 minutes which wasn't the most comfortable experience of my life! ON the first night in Jaipur we got speaking to a man in the hostel reception who offered to take us to ride an elephant so he drove us to the outskirts of town and we rode round a elephant in a small village which was an amazing experience. I also started to realize how much i stood out as some of the children had never seen a white person before and parents were pointing their attention towards me!
We met a really friendly Mexican man and his french girlfriend on the sencond night and they came along on the third day to tour orund the amber fort and look round the markets in city. At the entrance of the fort was snake charmers and we were offered a turban and flute a chance to charm along side them, Aftert looking round the fort which was vast and perivous had housed the royals of India we made our way in to town and looking the markets with yet again more staring at me even the occasional 'sly' photo taken of me.
So far India has been a massive culture shock, you couldn't get further away from London the streets are strewn with litter and people are begging in every single direction. The locals as well seem to seize every opportunity they have with you to try and squeeze any kind of money they can. Although this is extremely annoying it is not surprising as the poverty and poorness of the country is staggering. Much to mine and bills surprise it isn't as cheap as first thought with that probably being tied in to squeezing money out of tourism, there tends to be a locals price and a tourist price for everything. But i'm enjoying the experience and the fact that is in the early 40's celcius but due to signifcant cloud colour i need not wear suncream, a pale mans dream!!
Elephant traffic
Me in my furture career as a snake charmer
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