Apani Dhani, Nawalghar 7/10/2008 We decided to treat ourselves to a taxi ride to Nawalgarh from Jaipur. (These backpacks do seem a lot heavier than when we came and I have only bought a pair of sunglasses so far!). The journey was really pleasant once we had cleared Jaipur and a major crossroads town called Chomu. It was really nice to see the countryside and people working in the fields etc. It became more and more desertified the closer we got to Nawalgarh but still being farmed quite often with modern tractors and machinery. Apani Dhani where we stayed is [View Full Entry]

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Day 4 Agra to Jaipur 4/10/2008 /h2] Mr Ali-Baba and different driver arrived in splendid a/c at 7.00am as promised and took us the long way round to the South gate to the Taj Mahal and said he would be waiting outside at 9.00am. Well of course the Taj is everything you hope it would be and more. The gates and entrance are such that you can't see anything until you enter the central door way and there it is!! The most beautiful marble and decorations of inlaid semi-precious stones, beautiful gardens and all totally symmetrical. See the Taj and [View Full Entry]

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Agra 3/10/2008 Took a motor-rickshaw (tuk-tuk) to New Delhi Station and took the 11.30 am train to Agra. Journey fine in A2 which means an air-conditioned carriage and 2 people to a seat with a bed above. Met some nice Indian ladies who were off to see relatives in Agra and were quite surprised when one of them hopped on the bed above and slept most of the way. So David and I got out the pillows and I managed to put my feet up and doze most of the way. Got a pre-paid taxi in a brand new a/c [View Full Entry]

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Day 2 Delhi 2nd October 2008 When not to spend a day sightseeing in Delhi. Today is both Eid and Gandhi Day and Delhi is full to the brim with families out celebrating, visiting the Jama Masjid Mosque and the Red Fort, the funfair and the markets, though most of the shops in the Muslim quarter were shut. Not the best day, crowds wise, but great to see, I now understand why our Asian families in Brum celebrate in this way. We know that it isn't a great idea to be in big crowds but we had no option today!! but [View Full Entry]

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1/10/2008 DAY ONE DELHI A fairly uneventful couple of flights, Dubai airport being just as we left it!! I wasn't wrong about the bodies in shrouds, hopefully just sleeping; prize draw luxury cars but surprisingly no free suitcases with the whisky?? I had hoped to buy a cheap pair of Oakley's or RayBans but cheap they were NOT. I think I'll get some fakes for now and wait for the sales for the good stuff! We arrived at Delhi airport which was OK, had the usual wait at immigration and a heart stopping moment when David's backpack arrived but not mine. [View Full Entry]

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Birmingham to Delhi 30th September Spent the last few days with Karen in Birmingham getting the last few things we need for our trip and catching up with the kids and friends. We decided to take backpacks this time and they were waiting for us when we arrived. On first sight we thought we had messed up and ordered the wrong ones. Far too small..... but having emptied the suitcases we brought from Spain and a filled said backpacks with all our stuff we still have plenty of room. Phew!!!! Still need sunglasses which I will get at the airport or [View Full Entry]

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7 Days and Counting Currently we are at home, eagerly counting the days to the next leg of our 'See the World While You Can Tour'. Wishing we were 40 years younger but probably appreciating it more than some of the really nice kids we have met on our travels so far, we have embarked on a plan to have a 'Gap Year' and back pack around some parts of the globe that we have always wanted to see. Sooo...., this 'Gap Year for Geriatrics' is broken down into 6-8 week blocks after which we return home to our beautiful home [View Full Entry]

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