justmakebelieve

Since last blogging I have become a certified Advanced Open Water Diver - ie I'm certified to dive alone (ie with a buddy but without any need for an instructor) to 30m :D Doing the Advanced course didn't involve all the theory of the Open Water course, just doing 5 specialist dives. First we did a Deep Dive - basically what it sounds like - a dive to 30m below sea level. When we got down to 30m we had to do a couple of simple mathematical exercises - to check if we were susceptible to Nitrogen Narcosis - basically as you go deeper your body absorbs more Nitrogen (Scuba tanks are filled with normal air, just compressed) and after around 26m this can express itself as narcosis - basically gives you a high/drunken feeling. Its ... read more

Hey all! Yes, yes, I know I'm crap at updating - but I have the best excuse this time - I've been Scuba Diving!! Firstly, scuba diving is absolutely awesome, and you should all stop what you're doing (well, after you read this obviously!) and go learn to dive.... Going back a few days though - I spent a few days in Bangkok, just soaking up the civilisation.... Also went to the Grand Palace, which was absolutely stunning - I'm planning on going back again when I get back to Bangkok, as we did a bit of a whistlestop tour. Check photos - they totally don't capture it, but give a taste. In the Grand Palace is the Emerald Buddha (made of jade) which is one of the most sacred things in Thailand, the hall it's ... read more

Suddenly....Rachael is thrown back into the 21st century! Seriously, Bangkok compared to India is insane - not least because from where I am sitting I can almost see 3 branches of Boots, 2 7-11s, a starbucks, Burger King, McDs.... I landed at the new, mega-swish Bangkok airport, which really needs to work on its immigration signs - in actual fact it doesn't matter which way you walk, you still get to immigration, yet the signs (which points in all different directions) give the impression that you are totally in the wrong place, walking in the wrong way.... Anyway, having picked up my poor little rucksack, which luckily I'd had wrapped in giant cling-film-ness as it arrived covered in dirt...I found a stuffed pork bun for breakfast (Thailand so wins in food terms) and got a bus ... read more

Braving Goa's system of non-existent buses (getting anywhere in Goa requires jumping on several short buses, easy enough but far more like hard work than Tamil Nadu and Kerala and their long-distance buses). we made our way to Vasco-de-Gama to find an early morning train to Hospet- the nearest railhead to Hampi. Anyone travelling Goa-Hampi, I would definately reccommend the day train, rather than night train or bus, as the scenery - forest-clad hills of Goa giving way to savannah-like flats of Karnataka - is stunning. We were instantly glad we'd decided to go inland to Hampi - the entire place is absolutely stunning. Hampi was the capital of the Vijayanagara empire, and most of the ruins date from the mid-14th century. Experts reckon that Hampi was once even as rich as Rome, and it was ... read more

Firstly, apologies for not writing in ages... beaches are just too time-consuming! Photos - I've put several on here, but several backwaters ones have managed to get onto the next entry instead. Going back to where I left off - we went to see the temple which Madurai is famous for. It totally dominates the skyline every way you look, but unfortunately I found it more impressive from the outside. I think thats possibly because I'd been spolit by Thanjavur, where we were allowed to go right into the inner sanctum, whereas in Madurai that was reserved for Hindus. Still a hugely impressive temple though - and totally maze-like. It even has not one but two temple elephants on duty! After Madurai we decided to skip Kanniyakumari in favour of Periyar National Park. Periyar is part ... read more

Hi all, and Merry Christmas! I've got up to quite a bit since I last posted. so...starting at Kolkata... Well I managed to go down with 'flu in Kolkata.....so one day I hope to return and actually see something of the city, rather than just 4 walls and a TV... (does anyone know how The Siege ends? Power went down just before the end.....) In Kolkata I boarded a train for Chennai, a 1676km (further than Land's End to John o'Groats) journey which took me from 14.30 one day, to 18.30 the next. Armed with my trusty huge novel, MP3 player, and newly brought colouring book (great invention) it passed relatively quickly. At Chennai I managed to meet up with Sam and Jen remarkably painlessly... (from now on you can also look at jenstanley or sam_w ... read more

So I just reached for my mouse to start emailing...and let out a small girly shriek when I realised there was a mouse sat on it..... I'm used to mice (India has much...wildlife...), just not sat on my mouse. thats all... just thought I should give the world the mental image of a mouse sat calmly on a mouse. ... read more

So.... last time I ended up at the Golden Temple. A week later, after many goodbyes, we left Palampur, and got on a train to Agra (via Delhi). Getting off at Delhi at 4am, someone managed to steal Kate's handbag, complete with wallet, camera, passport, etc, etc, etc. As it was 4am we carried on to Agra (after wrestling with the police for a statement). Saw the Taj (though it was really overcast, so a bit dissapointing). Next morning Abhey (our camp manager) bribed us onto the early morning train to Agra, which then involved 3 hours of sitting next to 3 members of one family, and having all the other members of the family brought along to come have a look - including a 5yr old, the cutest baby ever and the grandmother who sat ... read more