Hi everyone! I hadn't thought I'd have a chance to write again so soon, but I've had some trouble with the trains leaving Pune. Those of you who read my last post will recall that I tried to buy my train ticket to Goa last night, but was told that the booking was closed, as the train had already departed Delhi (long trip!!). I was told to return today before the departure time. (I'll finish this mini-story at the end of this entry!) So anyways, I bought some masala fish and potatoes after leaving the internet place last night, and ate [View Full Entry]

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Hi Everyone!! After a hectic period of travel I am safe and (relatively) healthy in Pune. Pronounced "Poona", it is about 4 hours by train south-east of Mumbai (Bombay). After finishing my last entry in Jaisalmer, I hurried to catch the bus from the main circle a few minutes from the hotel. I was so sad to leave Shahi Palace that I just about cried! I also feel bad for leaving in such a rush - I really wish I'd said better goodbyes. I immediately missed the company of Gareth and Tracey, and suddenly I felt quite lonely. Amidst the great [View Full Entry]

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Hi everyone! Elli here... You should see a couple of entries all at once, as soon as I get a faster internet connection. I really want to have the pictures up with these journals, and the current connection is too slow. I had intended to leave here yesterday morning, but Shahi Palace and Jaisalmer are too beautiful to leave so quickly. So I've changed my plan a little bit, and I'll be going through Ahmenabad by bus and train enroute to Mumbai (Bombay). My sleeper bus leaves tonight at 5:30. Yesterday I went with Tracy, who is from Australia to a [View Full Entry]

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Namaste! I am sitting in a roof-top computer room at Shahi Palace, from where I can look up and see the huge golden fort of Jaisalmer. After finishing my email yesterday in Jodhpur, Gareth and I left our bags under the kind watch of the owner of the internet cafe and walked towards the clock tower which marks a central part of the market area below Meherangh. We strolled around, and were constantly pestered to buy everything from fruit to plastic buckets and sarees. I did stop in at a shop to look at the salwar kameez, and purchased a white [View Full Entry]

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Namaste from the Blue City! Yesterday after leaving the Taj Princess, Suno took me first to the Canadian Embassy to "check in" - basically I registered with them so that they would know that I was in country, in case of any sort of trouble. It took us a long time to find it, but it was beautiful and tranquil - seeing the big Canadian flag just about brought tears to my eyes! Inside was all steel and marble, very quiet. I filled out a form quickly and that was it. We drove around more in the rickshaw and I saw [View Full Entry]

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Hi Everyone! Apologies in advance for this update, the keyboard sticks like crazy! Yesterday was pretty interesting. I checked out of the HK Choudhary guest house - the smell was really getting on my nerves. I read the Delhi times, picked up my train ticket, and met Suno at 10am. We went first to see a huge Hindu temple. No pictures were allowed in the temple, and we had to pass through a metal detector and take off our shoes before entering. Inside, Suno explained the many Hindu gods to me and we strolled through the huge building. Later, outside, I [View Full Entry]

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Hi from Delhi; I arrived at my hotel at 3am last night, tired, but not really that jet lagged. I took some anti jet lag pills and they seem to have worked well - I travelled half way around the world, and I was able to get up after only 6 hours of sleep. Now I've been touring around town all day in an autorickshaw, its 615pm, and I am not yet tired. So I left the hotel around 930, and started walking. I did this in Paris and it worked well, but here it sucked. The drivers here are crazy [View Full Entry]

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I have arrived safely in Taipei after a 13.5 hour flight. It was sad saying goodbye to Eric this morning, and then I had to wait in a long line to check in. I bought some Indian Rupees to have on hand when I arrive. In the departure lounge I met Heidi and John, a young couple traveling to Australia. As it turned out, they were sitting near me on the plane and we got a chance to chat near the end of the flight. Thanks again for re-braiding my hair Heidi! The meals were decent, as were the movies, and [View Full Entry]

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Hi Everyone! This is my first trip post! True, my flight doesn't leave until Sunday at 1030, but Eric and I are heading to Vancouver first thing tomorrow morning, after visiting my parents. So, I'm all packed (maybe one or two things to remember!) and getting goosebumps. It will be a weird mix of emotions Sunday, as I say goodbye to Eric (he'll be away until next summer) and anticipate grand adventures in India. I land in Delhi at 230am on Tuesday, after a stopover in Taipei. I've got an airport pickup arranged, and I'll be spending the first 2 or [View Full Entry]

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There are just 23 days left now until I fly to India...I am certainly getting excited, as well as a little nervous. Am I in over my head? Will I have Delhi-belly the whole trip? Will I like it or hate it?! Check back here frequently - I will update my travel blog as frequently as possible, and hopefully include pictures. Cheers, Eileen [View Full Entry]

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