Quick escape to Tunisia, and have just found out that we left snow and ice behind in England....spent the day on the beach yesterday, with the sea crashing restlessly at our feet, so can't say it was a mistake and great to be back in a country like this, the azar ringing down the lanes and streets.... its very slow here - very few internet cafes and hardly anyone gabbling into mobile phones, little if any hassle, few high rises - instead, a lot of small blue and white houses and beautiful studded wooden doors, the sea surrounding you and utterly [View Full Entry]

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Had a few days in Bahrain on the way home...hot, bright and at least the photos were sharp again in the sunshine. It's certainly livlier than Abu Dhabi! Kate and I had to wear chaddors and scarves to visit the biggest mosque and our hotel was the ony place to get a drink (alcohol, anyway) in the area - and I was desperate for a drink after the antibiotic and kill Bill the amoeba pills I'd had to take - generally, it was friendly and pleasant - if a bit formal and slightly sterile... All the area we stayed in at [View Full Entry]

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Pushkar is very much like a smaller Jaisalmer - similar havelis and dress...the differences are that there's virtually no hassle and it has the beautiful holy Lake...People were incredibly friendly and even the turbanned men wanted to have their photgraphs taken and spruced up their 'taches in preparation! It's very spiritual, with literally hundreds of temples and there are 52 bathing ghats around the holy lake. Ghandi's ashes were sprinkled into the waters here and chanting, bells and music follow you all day long. Meat, eggs and alcohol are forbidden....my plan was to take off and get ta [View Full Entry]

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( 20 photos) So...Calcutta. Don't know where to start. It's like nowhere I've ever seen in India, totally unique. That's the good part. Arrived after midnight and it seemed half the population were out on the streets - sleeping on sacks of vegetables, loading trucks in the middle of the road, walking around, drinking tea, chatting - ....the city that never sleeps....or is that New York? It's so chaotic, it's actually indescribable. A small illustration of my limited Calcutta experience so far - it says nothing about Calcutta, but on the other hand, seems to say everything... I walked arou [View Full Entry]

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Well, the monsoon finally caught up with us and the last days have been cloudy skies and rain...Mysore looks gorgeous though - lots of huge graceful buildings and the palace is amazing. Went around it this morning and it's the most ornate palace I have ever seen - but no photos allowed....so v few images on this blog - difficult to take photos in the monsoon.... We did go up Chamundi Hill - 9km out of the city - to the Sri Chamundeswari Temple, and saw Nandi, the huge black bull which was carved in 1659. Also got to the Devaraja [View Full Entry]

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Last India trip for a long time, but at least, will see something of the south, then Calcutta and Pushkar.... Spent these few days mainly in Fort Cochin - a small area ( no sign of the fort, which was destroyed long ago) with a port and tiny European buildings. Vasco da Gama was the first European here, then the Dutch. Its a very friendly, laid-back place, with only a little half-hearted hassle out on the streets. The best thing is the 'tea' - this is a dry area, so if you want a beer, you ask for 'special tea' - [View Full Entry]

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A quick visit to Istanbul...we stayed on the European side - Sultanahmet, as it had the Blue Mosque and Santa Sophia....apparently, all the best bars are on the Asian side, plus most of the affordable art, so that's for next time! The whole city, divided by the Bosphorus Strait, is much larger than I'd thought - and it's the only city that straddles two continents, so plenty more to see! (NOTE: TO VIEW ALL THE PHOTOS, YOU HAVE TO CLICK ON THE FIRST ONE TO ENLARGE IT) [View Full Entry]

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Well. relaxation at last, and no more running around...We were bumped off the flight on the way back and went straight back to the hotel for another night - the Gulf on the doorstep and mountains directly behind - brilliant setting and we did really unwind - warm sea, hot sun, lots of food, alcohol, clean clothes....absolute heaven after a month of Indian trains and dust! We didnt have time to do very much - er, except laze around - but we did manage to get a boat trip around some of the coast, which was great - wonderful to be [View Full Entry]

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The border crossing with Pakistan happens here at Wagha - have always heard that it's a wild party and it is! The border ceremony, which happens as the sun sets, was hilarious - lots of clapping, cheering, dancing and loud music as each side tried to drown out the other... We were on the Indian side of course, in the bigger crowd, but the Pakistan side looked incredibly romantic with the sun setting behind it. Difficult to get any pictures that weren't blurred, especially on the Pakistan side, as it was some distance away...Anyway, nothing here can convey the atmosphere of [View Full Entry]

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The best thing was the Golden Temple - and our hotel room - we opened the window and there it was directly in front of us! What a view! We went for a midnight walk around the huge complex and there was ceremony taking place - no pics that are any good, too dark for my camera - and lots of chanting, which carried on all through the night - soothing to fall asleep to the sound of it. Next day, we went back and spent more time there. We loved it. We were allowed to go into theTemple itself - [View Full Entry]

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