2006………6wks-4th CYCLING TRIP-Gujarat & Southern Rajasthan, INDIA........... I put my bike together at the train station with the idea that I would have a pleasant ride into town from the railway station but alas I find that putting FRAGILE on lugagge doesn't mean a lot. Peddalingpete became pissedoffpete when I realised that the main gear sprocket had been bent badly. It was initially unrideable but about 45mins work by good bike mechanics who haven't seen such a bike before got it going but it is a bit cluncky. I'm pretty relieved actually as I thought I might have t [View Full Entry]

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2006………6wks-4th CYCLING TRIP-Gujarat & Southern Rajasthan, INDIA........... Coming to a country that values its cows over some of its people; that has about 1 billion people who don't share a common language in the world's largest democracy; where you need to avoid a cow, donkey, pig, pack of dogs and human excement in the middle of the main street of a major city of over 1mill; and where you can buy 40 malaria tabs for $1 (as against $10.25 for 7 in Australia) etc... well you just gotta laugh. And that's how I started the day off this morning, joining in [View Full Entry]

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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 [View Full Entry]

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2006………6wks-4th CYCLING TRIP-Gujarat & Southern Rajasthan, INDIA........... I thought it might be useful or interesting for those of you that don't travel much or find it hard to travel light or have never taken a bicycle travelling, to see what one can fit in a couple of small panniers. The Bike weighs 13kg and so I can't take much weight anyway. In a warm climate it is easy to wash things and to dress lightly and things are well designed now for travel. Below is my packing list which I modify for each trip, depending on what I am doing or [View Full Entry]

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2001………..6wks-2nd CYCLING TRIP-2,200kms IN SOUTHERN INDIA 31.10.01 Hyderabad I got the overnight train at 1am direct to Hyderabad, 530km away (220rp/ $9.20) I thought a couple of quotes from the railway station in Hospet were timely- given the terrorism and my slight apprehension of moving to a Muslim City. There have been violent demonstrations against the good ol’ USA in Hyderabad only recently. -“The Allah of Islam is the same as the God of Christians and the Ishwar of Hindus” -“Religion is one tree with many branches. As branches, you [View Full Entry]

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2001………..6wks-2nd CYCLING TRIP-2,200kms IN SOUTHERN INDIA 24.10.01 Hampi Today was consumed by a laid-back, drowsy train ride; up, over, around, and literally through the Western Ghats. We left the lushness of Goa for the more rural state of Karnataka. The train got into Hospet around 5.30pm, which gave me just under an hour before sunset for the ride to Hampi, where I intend to stay for a couple of days. The dry, sparsely vegetated land is dotted with atmospheric granite rock outcrops. As the sunset lit the rocks and the widely dispersed remains of the 14thC-16thC [View Full Entry]

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2001………..6wks-2nd CYCLING TRIP-2,200kms IN SOUTHERN INDIA 9.10.01 Maravanthe (33.15km) I spent the day recuperating at the overpriced Turtle Beach Resort. They normally want 55rp, a bit over $20, for a timber hut without attached bathroom. I'm paying 25rp. My bartering was easy- I'm the only tourist here. The last one was 5 wks ago. There's been a smattering of local tourists, but with it being off season for beaches and the in-season for terrorism, they can't be making much money. But talk about LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION. My hut is on stilts over-looking a nice [View Full Entry]

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2001………..6wks-2nd CYCLING TRIP-2,200kms IN SOUTHERN INDIA 30.9.01 Mysore Mysore is famous for its silk, sandalwood, incense and essential oils. I'm currently having a beer and then a meal at the ParkLane Hotel no less. It's next to where I'm staying here in Mysore. It's a real treat. It's quite quirky. But maybe this has something to do with having ordered another beer. I've only had alcohol at Kovalam and here and meat on 3 occasions, maybe. It's a great little restaurant that is set outside under a huge pergola of dense vine. There are boys in green tops hovering i [View Full Entry]

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2001………..6wks-2nd CYCLING TRIP-2,200kms IN SOUTHERN INDIA 15.9.01 Kovalem (116Km 445Km total by bike) I feel like I've been to hell and back. The ride yesterday got gradually worse with the amount of traffic, fumes and heat. I had to wash my clothes twice. I hate to think what I had to breathe in. I resorted to the mask in the end. I over shot the turnoff and so added an extra 15-20kms. I hope its not going to be like this in all of Kerala. At least with the bike riding, people in buses, trucks, cars and pedestrians cheer me on [View Full Entry]

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2001………..6wks-2nd CYCLING TRIP-2,200kms IN SOUTHERN INDIA 10.9.01 Kodaikanal (65km) The ride from Palani to Kodai was a long and exhausting ride that took me 10 hrs with very little rest. Of the 65km, 50km was uphill from 692m to over 2050m. It was a wonderful ride through tropical forest with spectacular views as I gained altitude. The side of the road was a splash of colour with yellows and oranges of lantana, blue minx, morning glory, orange buddleia, purple bougainvillea, and red flame trees. The Greenlands Youth Hostel where I am staying is overwhelmingly memo [View Full Entry]

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