30/01/16 out of Rajasthan on my classy AC class train (SL full) to nearby Agra, similar boomerang tactics as Delhi with a night train to Varanasi booked, I arrive before 11am, locker my pack at station for 15 inr and head straight to the Taj, I marvel at the marble for as long as one can but become a little itchy for a different perspective, hitch a ride in a random minivan until over the river then shortly after wave down a Tuk, turns out to be a French and Australian pair's hired wheels for the day, I ride with them further to the gardens facing the taj from the opposite shore for sunset. With my intended eatery on the same road as their hostel I ride back to main town with Loren & Francsoir, on ... read more

Book train jodhpur, visit the fort palace museum (poor), impressive Patwa ki palace/ temple and very nice food @ saffron. 20/01/16 join David from Barcelona for 6 hour sleeper carriage to Jodhpur, reaching main station after 1, walk into the main centre, check into guest house with David named after its slightly peculiar owner Anil, visit bus station and wander the streets leading to the old blue city and up to the feet of the fort walls, circle back around via 2 of the temples to the clock tower markets and return to nest after a super eggplant curry. The best street food I've had was all in colourful jodhpur. 21/01/16 Get on the very sociable 10.30am bus to ranakpur, just after passing through a very extravagant wedding parade of many highly decorated elephants, horses & ... read more

16 Flight delayed a further 3 hours so land in New Delhi at midday, begin walking then hitch a free lift into the city to moustache hostel in Greater Kailash, hot shower, finally tuktuks for a very fair price! Secure a train ticket to Amritsar for 2pm next day, wander Delhi, get my flops fixed for the fourth time ha, (Ghana fix on flop 1 holding strong) truffle pig some street treats before returning to GK1. 10/01/16 Much needed sleep and a quick whip around the lotus temple, India gate & red fort via the metro and Tuks, relieved after arriving late at station to find out watch was set 20 mins fast!; quite liking Delhi but choose to take common advice and move on fast, 2nd class window seat / few hours on the person ... read more

02/01/16 after a Mekele mango juice head to Hawzen, 2 hrs from Mekele on the local bus route 36brr £1. check in at place of stay 110 brr and catch motorbike through Megab onto the nearby rock churches 150 brr entry each so only see one, 40 min climb including some vertical & scrambling up rock to reach the cave church. Incredible creation and wall paintings inside are amazing. Return and get dropped off in small town of Megab, spend the last hours of light walking under the rock landscape in the rural countryside, back to Hawzen for 10brr. Catch most of the man Utd Swansea game in a large bar/restaurant with lovely tibs, salad & injurer. 03/01/16 catch my daily juice and head off for another excursion the other side of Hawzen in view of ... read more

I leave Gondar the next day 25/12/15 on the 5am local service for 150 brr to Lalibela, meet four Belgium lads on the bus which ends up cram full, not a great deal of leg room for non Ethiopians hah but none the less we eventually reach Lalibela around 4pm, I track down the recommended Salem guest house stay for 300 brr which is very pleasant and near the main cluster of churches. I spend the next two mornings at the churches for mass, this can be from midnight onwards but I'm not that keen. I meet Baruch on my first afternoon after viewing the bustling Saturday "farmers" market and tag along with his guide for the second morning (a busier Sunday), I even manage to find the football on the Saturday via a football den ... read more