http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/onthemove/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from onthemove en-us Wed, 23 Dec 2009 02:03:24 +0000 Wed, 23 Dec 2009 02:03:24 +0000 06121512 Ooty to KolKattaTwo days before we leave India and wersquore both starting to feel like time has slipped us by. There is so much more to see in this amazing country yet we have come to the end of our stay. Well therersquos nothing quite like a taste before one immerses themselves in full. We have had more than a taste I think its more like wersquove bitten off more than we can http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/India/Tamil-Nadu/Ooty/blog-123100.html Hello everybody wersquore both safe and very well as you can appreciate the Intruder took a lot out of both of us and for a little while it was hard to write about what was now when we look back a funny yet traumatic experience. All is good now and wersquore both back on track. So much has happened since then itrsquos almost like our adventurersquos are becoming a little bit hard to k http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/India/Karnataka/Mysore/blog-120666.html Well a happy 2007 to everyone we hope that the festive season was exactly that and that the start of this New Year is all as you have planned. At this moment we are both in Kathmandu Nepal this place is so refreshing friendly we like it a lot. So much has transpired since our last entry wersquove been living life to the fullest of late and I guess our blog updateshellip well have not been http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/India/Karnataka/Hampi/blog-118642.html Hanuman the Monkey GodSeeing as it was our last night in Hampi and we needed to catch a train the day after next in Hospet we decided to change hotels let me tell you wersquoll never forget this day or rather the morning after. After an amazing tour through the old cities of Hampi our guide Rajnu had suggested we head up to the holy temple of Hanuman the monkey god of strength. The temp http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/India/Karnataka/Hampi/blog-114200.html Happy Hampi BirthdayAnother Indian rail journey begins at 4am on the 22nd of November as usual the trusty mobile doubles as our travelling alarm god only knows how many trains we would have missed without it. It seems that every trip we take is at least 78 hours in duration if not longer. This one was a little different only justhellip it was a daytime trip and only 8 and a bit hours long. http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/India/Karnataka/Hampi/blog-110852.html 20th November Melrsquos birthday in PalolemAfter a well deserved day of rest our journey started to take on a celebratory note as Melrsquos birthday was rapidly approaching. So the boys Deepu and Amrose had decided arrange a bit of a birthday in Palolem as they would not be able to partake on the 23rd. 7am at he beach as soon as you reach the sand turn right walk past the two beach huts ma http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/India/Goa/Palolem/blog-110203.html A day with Deepu and AmroseThe morning starts like most others power cut. The whirring of the AC is no longer and we are instantly reminded of where we are. Itrsquos about 8.30am the roosters have been crowing for just about as long as the motorbike horns have been tooting the day has definitely started. The streets are a buzz with activity mostly locals though most of the tourists are more http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/India/Goa/Palolem/blog-107264.html 13th 18th Panjim Capo Da Rama Our new friends Deepu and Amrose Keeping up with the journal is becoming increasingly more difficult as we get more and more into the swing of life in India. With each new day we learn many new words have many new experiences and meet so many more interesting people. Some of whom have become an integral part of our adventure to date others like trees on a hig http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/India/Goa/Palolem/blog-106420.html Some things always seem to run like clock work over here trains for the most part are on time given the sheer volume of people this is no small achievement. Another regularity are the constant power cuts and blackouts which place most in fact all places we have been so far outside Mumbai in a perpetual wave of power on power off. Panjim the capital of Goa is one of these places. Itrsquos f http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/India/Goa/Panaji/blog-105373.html I donrsquot know what it is about India in particular that has made our jaunt through this country so very memorable in such a short space of time. Beautiful people itrsquos the common theme throughout the whole of our trip to date whether we meet them or they meet us Irsquom not really sure itrsquos just working really well. John Goan Taxi Driver is another example of one such perso http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/India/Goa/Palolem/blog-104374.html Ring ring am I dreaming no itrsquos the phone who on earth knows were here let alone ring us at 5.15 amhellip. The front desk of course and the beautiful people who had looked after both of their sick guestrsquos had in with much Indian love remembered that we were catching the Mandovi express to Goa which departed at 7.05am so best be at the station at 6.30 as like everywhere else http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/India/Goa/Panaji/blog-103808.html Ok so everything was going really smoothly having a right old time until lunch the day after meeting Pinto. What else can I say Mel got really sick I mean really sick so much so we had to call in the doctor at 5am in the morning all this only 2 hours before we were to board our train headed for Goa. I'll keep it brief.... 3 days 5 injections a pathology test one course of antibiotics and a http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/India/Maharashtra/Mumbai/blog-102365.html Mumbai Indiarsquos filthiest city.Pintos StoryIn the midst of searing 30 degree heat along the tourist centre of Mumbai the Colaba causeway we meet Pinto the taxi driver who refreshingly speaks english very well and like us is not big on haggling. Although we have now learnt that haggling is a must. So a short conversation later and a few exchanges of ldquodo you think this guy is okrdquo http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/India/Maharashtra/Mumbai/blog-102110.html Day One in MumbaiWell I guess you never quite know what to expect when you first arrive in any city the size of one like this. We really didnrsquot have any expectations only the knowledge it would be chaos no surprises there it is It is difficult put into words the sensory bombardment you receive as soon as you leave the airport the smells burning coals form roadside vendors diesel fuel http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/India/Maharashtra/Mumbai/blog-101322.html Dearest FriendsNot long now only 9 more sleeps till we depart. I am sure that before we leave we will speak to you all. Make sure you view our online diary via the link we have sent.Love to you all Speak to you from Indiarez n mel http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Western-Australia/Perth/blog-97791.html