Tata India
Rupert writes
A NOTE ON THIS WRITE-UP: So as not to throw your mind into a hurricane of confusion, thrashing madly like a dog chained to the blades of helicopter, eating at the links in desperation, until finally machine wins over living blood, I’ve simplified this gloriously long write-up by splitting each section (or place visited, as the case not just maybe, but is) into pages. At the bottom of the page you will note, with simple observation -I’ll trust you have, or else not worthy to continue- page numbers for your wildly dancing cursor to be calmed and pointed at for one smooth left-click to finish the job.
Of course we’re going to tell you all about India; that you could believe otherwise is like a camel riding over me whilst I sleep sound in the cool desert. Buried and winded I cry out for help, but nothing is heard through the blasting wind… slowly I sink into the endless sea of dunes. We hold for a moment on a desertlet dune. Then my hand reaches out in one last thrust and – Oh! The irony! – a close-up of my fingers releasing the write-up; the write-up of India I was delivering to you as you struck me down with your savage, merciless distrust.
(P.S – Unashamedly stolen and adapted from a Mil Millington email. I hoping if I give him all the praise – and I do – he wont come hunting for me)
Darjeeling
Laura writes
The stunning view from the roof-top terrace of Hotel Aliment
After eating what appeared to be a reasonably nice vegetable curry in a cafe just outside the New Jalpalguri Train Station we decided we were now ready to get the four hour jeep to Darjeeling.
“I’ll just pop to the toilet before we leave” I said, and made my way to the back of the restaurant, where I was confronted with a bleak looking wall with a run down door-way appearing from it. Unfortunately I decided to look inside. Big mistake. It was the kitchen. Certainly not quite the hygiene I was hoping for.
“Where’s the toilet?” I asked. I was escorted passed the ‘kitchen’ and out the back to where I was pointed in the direction of the loo. I opened the wooden door. Gasped. Wondered. And shut the door. (Which, by the way didn’t shut!) I certainly don’t think you can define two bricks laid on the floor, without so much as a hole to deposit your ‘goods’ in, as a toilet.
Scurrying outside as fast as I could to escape the flow of wee heading my way I was stopped in my tracks by a lady bent down outside the toilet. She couldn’t be. Could she?…Yes she could! Only inches away from the toilet there she knelt washing our dirty dishes. She might as well have been inside the toilet. Gulp.
Two hours later along the bumpy road heading to Darjeeling my lesson had been learnt! ;o)
Lesson one: Don’t eat in dodgy cafes. Lesson Two: If you do, don’t look in their kitchens! Lesson Three: Refrain from using the toilet.
As our jeep swung around hair-pin bends up into the mountains of Darjeeling, we were highly amused to read witty signs at every corner informing road users such things as “Donate Blood At A Blood Bank, Not On This Road”, and many other humorous phrases that rhymed, but I now forget.
Hotel Aliment was a home away from home. Here we spent many days, and nights, snuggled up in our thick woolen blankets sipping Honey and Ginger Lemon Tea in their cosy restaurant overlooking the city. The staff we’re fantastic; looking after us as we sneezed to our hearts content (we both had colds!!!) and chefs prepared the most delicious food in Darjeeling (not that we ate anywhere else).
Nights and mornings were bitterly cold. At bedtime we’d snuggle up with our warm heart, clinging to it for dear life (warm heart; its like a magic hot water bottle) and by morning when the heart was cold, it would take us more than several attempts to pluck up the courage and get out of bed and run to the bathroom for our hot bucket shower!
During our time in Darjeeling we visited tea plantations (well, you couldn’t so much visit them as you could escape them)…
…drank tea in a crazy ladies tea house, visited the Monkey Temple (the place of many crazy monkeys), visited the Darjeeling zoo…
…and went to Tiger Hill to see sun-rise. Unfortunately it was far too cloudy so we all sat around and drank Chai instead.
Here are a few other photos taken…
Tags: Agra, Australia, Darjeeling, Delhi, India, India, Jaipur, Taj Mahal, Travel
Monkey
Submit comment? Oh Laura , eat lots of good clean things as soon as you can, the jewel so cruel, love you both , mumki
And that was only the first time! 😉
Two weeks after that I was poisoned with a re-frozen ice-cream and then two weeks after that a gone off milk-shake. Lucky me!
Unfortunately Rupert didn’t escape too light either, some dodgy custard came and attacked him a few days ago. I’m looking after him though don’t worry – after all, I think its about my turn!
Hope all is well in France and wishing you all a Happy New Year.
All my love,
Laura x
*And Rupert in the background give a little wave*
OK… so you are really making me very envious now! What with the January blues and dark cold evenings – ummm really must get my travelling shoes on again!
Sounds so fab – really want to go to India now big time!
NY@NEC was good however very big and the sets not as good as hoped for. So we are all having a well earnt rest from partying at the mo.
Hugs always
Vanessa and Gary
You know, I’ve just noticed we don’t have a picture of Laura actually riding the camel. She did, honest (we do have photos, but apparently not good enough to share with everyone – so maybe one day when Laura’s not looking).