India, Sri Lanka + Maldives 2010

We have travelled from the crazy city of Delhi thru the searing Thar Desert and back again. So here are some of the highlights – the ones that I can remember, today anyway, and in no particular order.

There were many EARLY (5am) starts and very long days. We thoroughly enjoyed numerous VERY late nights ablaze with conversation, DRINKING (anything we could get vodka, rum, Kingfisher beer) dancing + loads of LAUGHTER..

We did hours of WALKING through swarming crowds in the alley bazaars and markets, massive forts, regal palaces and amazing Temples. A few long (5-7hr) bus rides listening to music (Nickleback + Jack Johnston (thanks Loren for loading my Ipod)), reading, snoozing, chatting + passing around the candy of course.

To be sung to the song ‘ive been everywhere man’ ….

I’ve been to – Agra, Jaipur, Mandawa, Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Udaipur. 50kl from the Pakistan border. A school for special needs children in rural India. Asensational spice market and a horse breeding farm ( to party of course)

Ive eaten – plenty of DELICIOUS local Indian cuisine, goat meat, lentils, aubergine, chick pea, beans of all size shape colour, chi tea, spices, curry curry curry, pickles, tamarind, buffalo yoghurt, goat cheese,– the food in India is Scrum diddly umpiously excellent !!

I’ve seen – the TAJ MAHAL, Red Fort, Amber Fort, Rat Temple, Junagarh Fort, Mehrangarh Fort, Jain Temples, Siek Temples, Regal Palaces, fields of crops tended to by brightly scarved women, boys playing cricket everywhere with any makeshift kind of stick and ball. On the 2hr train ride from Delhi to Agra, I was DUMBFOUNDED to see people standing randomly on the railway tracks – yes just standing there ???? and people squatting doing their daily business in the dirt beside the railway line !!! with all their gear hanging out !!! and wonderful sensational SUNSETS

I’ve watched – cultural puppet shows, religious street festivals, The flowers blooming everywhere Hibiscus, petunias daisies, boganvillia, carpet weavers, opium smokers and cultural dances.

I’ve stayed in – a 300 year old palace, a tent in the Thar desert, a dodgy hotel, an ancient havelli and a 5 star hotel.(and looking forward to that big arse boat too)

I’ve travelled on – a Cyclo rickshaw (pushbike with carriage) motor cycle, moto rickshaw 3 wheeled vehicle with crazy drivers, private busses + taxis, trains, a camel thru the desert sand dunes in a heat wave 42c+ and a hangover thru the daylight hours till the next drinking session.

I’ve made new friends –Gail + Kathryn, Jeni + Phil, Judi + Godfrey (Louie), Heather + Doug, Michelle + Ian (ponti) the crew consisted of 10 Oz friends 50+ , some retired, accountants, lawyers etc from NSW + VIC and Narji our tall dark and handsome Intrepid tour leader!!

BIG SMILES 😀 (wink)

Our first 2 days in Delhi India were FANTASTIC. Day 1 begings with a knock at the door at 5am!! Leigh jumps up & stumbles around the room looking for her glasses(funny as ever) saying ‘who is that? What do they want?!!’ After 5minutes of her hilarious entertainment i bolt to the door, look thru the peep hole , see a 4′ nothing Indian man, I open the door & he says that he is ‘come to  check the mini bar madam as you are checking out today’ – to which I replied – in a bit of a harsh tone (ok harsh is not a harsh enough word for my tone but you know what I am like…) ‘ we are NOT checking out AND it is 5am – JUST GO AWAY!!’ After which i promptly go back to bed and fall fast asleep leaving Leigh to lay awake pondering the incident for the next 3 hrs till i wake up just in time for brekkie.

We have tramped the streets, getting lost and seeing the most amazing sights !! Travelled in cycle rickshaws and motor rickshaws ( Tuk Tuks ).  Visited the Lotus Temple – which was just the most awesome building, it is a house of worship which respects all religions. It is surrrounded by pools of calming blue water, manicured grounds and magnificent flower beds boasting blooms of all colours. The whole experience was beautiful & peaceful.

 Our newest Indian friend is NEATU – a 45yr old male tuk tuk driver who has taken us all over Deli, to the best silk, jewelery & handcraft shops ( were they really his cousins ?? lol)  The best restaurants. The Deli Zoo, (where we saw rhinos, white tigers & elephants with massive elongated penises hanging to the ground!!!)  But the most wonderful experiences of all were when i refused to give money to the begger children and he assisted me in buying food and drinks for them instead. And when he introduced us to his beautiful wife, his 14yr old son ‘Honey’ and other family members. We are honoured to be invited to their home to share a meal upon our return from our Rajasthan tour – THAT I AM REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO !!

Our meals are consisting of : Breakfast = curry = delicious….. AND…… Lunch = curry = delicious !! .

We are LOVING BEING Aussie CURRY MUNCHERS !! 

 We love India and we love the kind, friendly and welcoming Indian people…….

Cathay Pacific provided an excellent flight for me in business class. With fine French champagne, sensational meals (including a perfectly cooked eye filled steak just the way my son in law -Warwick cooks it) , movies ( I enjoyed the Michael Jackson movie ‘This Is It’ & a comedy called ‘Extract’), complimentry toiletries bag with lots of goodies in it  – and endless smiles from our wonderful cabin crew. 8.5 hrs was just not long enough for me !!!!First stop Hong Kong. Just an overnight in the Novotel Citigate Hotel with a luxurious soak in a deep bath followed by a great nights sleep. The following morning we enjoyed a delicious full cooked brekkie prior to  returning to Hong Kong International airport (Which is huge & you need to catch a train from one terminal to another) . This time flying Jet Airways business class with more French champagne, food and I watched the Sandra Bullock movie ‘Blind Side’ and loved it. 6.5hrs later i arrived in Delhi India!!

A 45min drive in crazy Indian peak hour traffic took me to the Crown Plaza Hotel where we will stay for 3 nights. Leigh finally arrived safely 4 hours later so we celebrated with some duty free bourbon until late into the night – chatting & laughing about our individual experiences !!

The 2 days travelling from Brisbane 2 Delhi was a long & interesting journey………

After 6 months of planning and millions of dreaming hours, tonight is Adventure Eve.Tomorrow I head off from Brisbane airport.  I am delighted to be taking my seat at the pointy end of the aircraft and am going to sink a lovely glass of red or two with lunch as we head for my first stop, Hong Kong.Lets hope i get the hang of blogging something interesting along the way.K