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2006………6wks-4th CYCLING TRIP-Gujarat & Southern Rajasthan, INDIA...........
The flight here was pretty easy what with 2 reds, 1 white, 1 Gin & Tonic and a beer and on-tap entertainment. I heard a great jazz riff but quickly forgot it as I dozed off across the 3 seats allocated to me, soft sea of clouds drifting by.
Staying overnight in the transit hotel in the best airport on the planet at Singapore, following a free foot massage, proved again to be the way to go to start a holiday feeling refreshed. This enabled me to get in Mumbai at a reasonable time in the morning. Why is it that Indian flights always want to get you in there at midnight or something.
India is always really tiring on the first few days as you get used to the constant barrage of difference and change. The 1 1/2 hr taxi ride in full-on traffic lets you know you have arrived.
Mumbai/Bombay is an absolute feast of 1860s Gothic, Italianate, Indo-Saracanic architecture with a bit of Art Deco thrown in. Sitting in the Oval Maiden watching the fading light on the skyline of extremely impressive buildings with birds circling the soaring clock tower of the University was memorable. Impromptu cricket continued while they could catch the last of the days light.
Peddalingpete, your Indian Correspondent.
8 Comments - Add Public Comment or Send Private Message
September 11th 2006 - Mark Parnell: On Yer Bike
Good travelling Pete.
PS. I am sitting in my dingy little office, where a stingy ray of sunlight struggles feebly down between the houses tall... Actually, the view from the Greens office in the Lower Ground Floor of Parliament House is of the legs of bus passengers waiting in King William Street, but you get the idea - jealous of your adventure.
Love the security at the Bentley Hotel. Have you taken a contracts with the Mumbia Times as offical correspondant? Good to know you enjoyed the flight. Could do with one of thoughs foot massages after the city-bay this sunday. LOL James
September 11th 2006 - Kath: Hi there you lucky traveller!
Hi Peter,
Glad to hear you arrived safely. The Singapore stopover sounded like a great start to your trip! Beautiful weather here. It's going to be 27 degrees on Sunday for the City to Bay - might have to follow that with gin and tonics out the back!
Take care, Kath xx
Thanks Kath for the well wishes. I wanted to see what's called the mini Taj Mahal here in Aurangabad this afternoon, but got caught in the afternoon rain. Someone told me 1,000 people died near here last week or so from floods and also the bombing that you may have heard about was about 100kms from here. So far getting wet has been about it really, although my bike did get damaged in the plane and is limping a bit but should be easily fixed on my return. All for now Cheers Pete
September 12th 2006 - Annie: Hi Traveller
Hi Pete,
Good to read you are safe and well, even if the pedal part is a little worse for wear. Feeling very envious - would love to be there again! Trip with Mum went well. She LOVED the snow. She even got on and off the chair lift as it was moving, and it snowed all the way to the top. We were both squealing. It was very special to have taken her to see snow for the first time(in her 86 years). Stayed in Daylesford and Bright - both beautiful. Boys ok (well I thoink Jed is - haven't spoken to him for about 2 weeks. Tim under the pump at Uni and stressed out and now has sore throat. To be expected with the hours he is keeping and food he's not eating. Keep safe luv Annie
September 13th 2006 - Meredith: gidday!
Gidday Pedro, you must be very fit by now. Keeping healthy? How'a the bike going? I can see you are not going to trade in your bike for a local one! Lots of love M&A xxx
Hi M&A
Thanks for your comments. It's been difficult to get onto internet...either not available, too slow or not working. I've put up two posts tonight. I'm currently in Jalgaon on my way to Gujarat tomorrow. The bike, as you can see in the post, is limping a bit on 8 gears but getting me by until I can get it fixed when I get back. At least its the lowest gears for those hills. It's really humid and I get absolutely drenched. I spent the last two days in Ellora & Ajanta cave site that were pretty impressive.
Love Pete
Hi Annie
Thanks for your post. Great to here things went well with your trip with Claire. I haven't got dehydrated like we did that day in Rajasthan some 27? years ago. I hear it's pretty touristy now. The railway system is much better now and their internet booking system is fantastic. People still sleep at the station although it doesn't seem to smell as much as it used to in the 70's. Maybe I'm more acclimatized. It's been difficult to get onto internet...either not available, too slow or not working. I've put up two posts tonight. I'm currently in Jalgaon on my way to Gujarat tomorrow. The bike, as you can see in the post, is limping a bit on 8 gears but getting me by until I can get it fixed when I get back. At least its the lowest gears for those hills. It's really humid and I get absolutely drenched. I spent the last two days in Ellora & Ajanta cave site that were pretty impressive.
Love Pete
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