Back to a standing position the train arrived early. We made our way to the bus station of two bicycle rickshaws and boarded a bus immediately. The chaps placed our bags right at the front by the driver and we assumed our positions. Unknown to us, the bags were on the conductors seat and when we got going he was less than pleased that he couldn't sit down. So he told us to move to the back, which went down equally aswell. I went ahead of David and as he picked up his rucksack the driver pulled off. This catapaulted David [View Full Entry]

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We had a day to kill before catching the overnight train. So we wandered back down to the Chinese nets and watched the fishing boats coming in. They stretched out to the horizon and beyond and came in, in a line. They range from all sizes of boats and colours and were magical to watch with the nets in the foreground. We visited St Francis Church where orignally Vasco da Gama was buried but then his remains moved back to Lisbon, however his tombstone remains. Santa Cruz Basillica is highly painted and coloured and has paintings on the ceiling depicting the [View Full Entry]

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We headed over at 5.00pm for the start of the Kathakali performance. This starts at 5.00pm with the application of makeup. For this perfomance there are three male actors. They all apply their own makeup, which is an art form in itself and is incredibly intricate. The chap who played Ramayana, painted his face in red and green (to show hypocrisy) and defined this in black. They use their fingers and very think sticks to apply the paint and define the lines. He then lay on the floor to have various structures (can't think of a better description) stuck to his [View Full Entry]

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So we left Goa via Thivim (Tivim) railway station an hour and quarter late (were getting used to this!). However, as we were late we were treated to a chorus of peacocks as it went dark. As the trains are so long in India we finally sussed that we needed to be quite a way down the platform for when the train arrived. This is helped by a very useful board that shows where your carriage is in relation to the locomotive (it even points in the right direction). As we were quite late on we missed our evening meal so [View Full Entry]

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Sorry, I did say I wasn't going to add anything but I had to part with this little gem. Whilst having breakfast - heinz beans on toast (!) - we were joined by our usual band of acquaintences of chameleons, butterflies and assorted birdlife. However today not contect with seeing just two juvenile sea eagles we were treated to a full sized adult flying directly towards us with a snake in its talons. We sat there along with the staff absolutley dumbstruck at the size of both predator and prey. The eagle not content with just flying off in one direction, [View Full Entry]

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Let me introduce you to Waturu who we met on boarding the train here. He actually had the next seat to us and joined us in our air con waiting room. Infact up until today we have almost gone everywhere together with him. Waturu is from Japan and like us is travelling the world having given up his job in Japan. We are almost taking the same route around India, and unbelievably he flies to New Zealand the day after us!!! He is coming to England in August for a few weeks so there maybe a few visits going on!!! He [View Full Entry]

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Firstly I'll finish off in Bombay. We met Balbu at 9.00am who promptly whisked off us around the city highlights - some of which we had already seen. However, we did have a stroll in the Hanging Gardens, and visited Gandhis house, which was of great interest. Later the heavens opened and down came the rain! Balbus little taxi has one windscreen wiper which didn't work, well at least not very often. He used his hand and soap! This was made all the more worse by the fact that everything kept steaming up! How he could see is beyond us! Anyway [View Full Entry]

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well here we go again .... sitting comfortably?? then I will begin!!! We arrived Bombay (everyone calls it Bombay!) at 6.30am on a rather empty plane. We stopped an hour before to offload some passengers and refuel (routine stop I hasten to add) and probably there was about 50 of us left on the plane! This made going through immigration, collecting luggage, and routine "I'm just nipping to the toilet" all vey quick and easy! We had a taxi ride to the hotel which took around an hour and forty minutes and landed us straight into the heart of Bombay life. [View Full Entry]

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Early start today to make sandwiches etc for our 22hr ferry trip!!! The day started exceptionally well as we started off with croissants and jam - Mmmmmm!!!! We left in glorious sunshine which was the order of the day until nightfall! We sailed in and out of the islands stopping at Korcula, Hvar and Split. This was an a lovely lazy day taking in the scenery and wandering around the ferry! The only time the ferry got a little bit busy was when it stopped at Hvar, then these passengers disembarked at Split leaving literally a whole ferry to a handful [View Full Entry]

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We woke in Split finally to rain (it was never going to last I suppose!), and the clothes we had washed previously in our cold little room were still very much damp. So on decamping to the car to drive to Dubrovnik there was various (I'll leave it to your imagination) garments hung (I use the term loosely) around the car!!! What a sight my little car must have looked! The aim was to contiune down the coast road to Dubrovnik and this we nearly achieved. The views had become even more dramatic and the sea an even more wonderful colour. [View Full Entry]

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