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 [View Full Entry]

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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 [View Full Entry]

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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 [View Full Entry]

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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 pl [View Full Entry]

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So, Goa. We arrived in Goa at 5.30am - rather spectacularly, as we were assured the train hadn't arrived yet, so when we opened the door to see the platform, and the train moving away from it, we all promptly jumped out - of course many people fell straight over (westerners 4 : train 4). We found the one tuk-tuk around, and ended up sitting in a lifeguard platform watching the sun come up on the beach. Having checked into a small 'co-co hut' (rustic, yet attached bathroom...) we proceeded to spend four days lying on the beach, wondering at the [View Full Entry]

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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 [View Full Entry]

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Firstly, I've uploaded a selection of photos from the last few weeks, as I have finally found a decent computer! (Hurrah!) We visited Auroville from Pondicherry - it was founded in the memory of Sri Aurobindo Gose (an Indian philosopher who was also part of the Independance movement - I'll dig out a uni essay for anyone who wants to know more...) and strives to be a universal city - "Auroville wants to be a universal town where men and women of all countries are able to live in peace and progressive harmony above all creeds, all politics and all nationalities. [View Full Entry]

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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, [View Full Entry]

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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. [View Full Entry]

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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 [View Full Entry]

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