Palolem beach is beautiful. It's just like a postcard with the curved bay and hundreds of palm trees at a slant, looking towards the sun. I am staying pretty much on the beach whichis great, accomadation was very easy to find! Meeting lots of people and went to a great Party on christmas eve, so all is good. I am sorry to report that that is about it, just lying in the sun, with white sand, occasionally going for a swim and then playing volley-ball untill the sun sets :) Had a fantatsic birthday which was celebrated two nights. Someone even bought me a bottle of champagne! Have met some really fantstastic people here which makes all the difference. New years was amazing aswell, dancing on tables etc. However I did manage to stand on loads ... read more

Had a lovely time in Pushkar. Walked up to another temple, just fantastic views. Said lots of sad goodbyes yesterday as I spent alot of time with the locals. Some really lovely people...... read more

I left Jaipur yesterday and travelled on two buses to get to Pushkar, a little town in the desert. Much nicer than all those big city's - I feel as though I can breath! It is set round a small lake with various hills around with numerous temples on top. I think I will stop here for a while :) I went for a walk yesterday and planted myself on the egde of the waters watching the sunset. Within minutes more and more people kept turning up, as many westerners as Indians, juggling, doing circus tricks, playing musical instruments, beggers, people selling stuff, priests, animals. Then a team of drummers came up and started playing and this man with a head and face of grey hair starts going CRAZY to the music, dancing everywhere, up and ... read more

Left Agra yesterday morning and fought with the cyclerickshaw most of the way telling him I did not want to visit any shops e.g. carpets thankyou very much. Jumped on a bus and proceeded 6 hours to Jaipur. Jaipur is a massive city and once we turned into the bus station about 100 rickshaw drivers etc hounded the bus, banging on the sides and trying to see who was inside..pretty hairy stuff! Anyway I jumped off the bus and guess what DIDN'T have to fight with a driver to take me to my hotel. Excellent. Well I didn't like the hotel I had booked or the three after that, if it's not right don't do it. 4th time lucky was great, and I got upgraded! Really nice little guesthouse tucked away with greenery around. Nice. Went ... read more

Well I left Rishikesh at 6am on the 2nd of Dec (by myself) with the aim of arriving in Agra. However somehow (some 12 hours later) when I was supposed to get off, a misunderstanding happened and I failed to do so. This meant I arrived in Gwoliar. I was pretty annoyed with myself and after much deliberation I got off at Gwoliar, found a rickshaw that i didn't have to fight with and went to a hotel. (Gwoliar is only about 2 hours from Agra so it wasn't too bad.) This lonely planet guide saved my life! Just a great book. So I stayed the night there and actually went and saw a pretty amazing fort in the morning so all was not lost. I guide hunted me down and took me round and in ... read more