http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/philliinindia/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from philliinindia en-us Sat, 02 Jan 2010 04:41:52 +0000 Sat, 02 Jan 2010 04:41:52 +0000 and I did it unaidedPhilliXXX http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/West-Sussex/Horsham/blog-277340.html I'm spending my last days at the retreat before I head to Mumbai or Bombay and then return to Blighty. Here they come............Rejeuvination Not sure about this I'm certainly relaxed and calmer. but apparently I REAP the benefits when I get home. Retail Therapy living with all my possessions on my back has restricted this hobby of mine. At times this has been very tough as I've seen so http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/India/Maharashtra/Mumbai/blog-268214.html Well where do I start..........The place is beautiful but very quiet. I was struggling with this until a lovely group arrived from the Uk exploring alternaltive therapies. They are an amazingly diverse and interesting bunch of GPs alternative medicine practitoners and students.As for the treatments these are based on your health and your doshas with the added intention of making you relax http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/India/Kerala/blog-266918.html this should sort me out and teach me to relaxhttpwww.chamundihillpalace.orgJust arrived I'll keep you posted on my treatments http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/India/Kerala/blog-265007.html Phase 2 is a little shorter than expected as the season has ended so things are packing up. The rains also arrived with me The monsoon not s'posed to arrive 'til June but it has rained heavily everyday and is thereore very hot and humid. Not beach weatherMy camera card has picked up a virus this morning and I have no safe facilities to sort it. The photos are still there mostly but I wont http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/India/Kerala/Kochi-/blog-264887.html For spelling her name incorrectly.I blame it on being English and therefore poor at languages.Sorry http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/India/Rajasthan/blog-263526.html the reason for the visit here is to see the Ghats. I don't think that there is anything else quite like it anywhere All the activities taking place before dawn on and in the same river.I wasn't able to take photos of it all and I didn't want to as it all felt very intrusive . From the river we saw a deceased lady already wrappped in white cloth being tied to a boat for her burial in the Ganges http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/India/Uttar-Pradesh/Varanasi/blog-261503.html 4000 km travelled by road so I thought I'd write this to add some colour to the blogs. Delhi and Rajastan are mad in many ways but generallyThe first has to be traffic.In the cities cars buses camels donkeys rickshaws carts tut tuts push bikes motor bikes scooters all fight for the road constantly beeping their horn. This is not in anger though but to let others know they are there. http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/India/Rajasthan/blog-258857.html well the train wasn't so bad and I managed to sleep both ways. 2 safaris and no tigers so the hotel owner took pity on me and took me for a night drive along the road. Result A stunning tiger crossed the road right infront of us. He strolled across the road not phased by our prescence. He was magnificent. Sadly as it was so dark the photo didn't come out although with some work maybeOthe http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/India/Punjab/Chandigarh/blog-261485.html Off on an overnight train to the National Park now Wish me luckIt surprises me to say that I'm looking forward to some peace. http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/India/Uttar-Pradesh/Agra/blog-260256.html An overnight stop in each and a lot of miles as we head back to the delightful DelhiWe have had a convoy of cars travelling for a while now made up of a mixture of Europeans.At home you may have a snowy Easter but here they have a Holy or colour festival. Children create road blocks and throw paint at cars. Adults and children alike cover themselves head to foot in paint. Women do the same http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/India/Rajasthan/Bikaner/blog-258852.html After a very along drive we reached the desert and I finally meet some Brits and Sabrina some fellow Germans.The horses were no challenge compared to Disco. http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/India/Rajasthan/Jaisalmer/blog-258249.html After a six hour drive with a stop enrouteish to see a must see temple we arrived at a beautifil Havelli old palace in the centre of Jodphur. It has nearly a fullhouse on sights with a fort a temple and a palace to see.We're getting closer to the desert so it's much hotter now. Bring back the snowOff to Jaisalmer next for the camel safari which will be hotter still. http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/India/Rajasthan/Jodhpur/blog-257606.html for a whole 2 nights.So we have time to do more than visit visit temples and momumentsThe count of temples mosques palaces forts and gardens is currently 15 let me know if you want to know the details.Next stops Jaisamer for a camel safari Mandawa Delhi again Agra Corbett National Park those lovely tigers are waiting for me Varanassi then down to Kerala and a tour of the South. Tha http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/India/Rajasthan/Udaipur/blog-256974.html That's pretty much all we did here. Unable even to have a beer as it is a holy city. Come to think of it I haven't been drinking much alcohol.Not bored of curry yet though. http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/India/Rajasthan/Pushkar/blog-256965.html I had my arm twisted and purse in Delhi. It was hot and I was jetlagged I was persuaded to join a tour of Rajastan. This includes all of my must sees and much more. I'm a bit of a wimp as it means we have a driver and stay in reasonable hotels and it's all organised for me. But at least I'm safer. I'm travelling with a German lady named Sabrina and have met some other Westerners. Findi http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/India/Rajasthan/Jaipur/blog-256341.html A few days on a house boat with a couple of visits into the mountains. This included staying a night with the gypsies. Whilst a worthwhile experience I have never been so pleased to see a shower or traditional toilet. For 2 days I kept eating and drinking to a minimum so as to avoid the drop down toilet as much as possible Will I copeWhlist on the mountain trip I went on two seperate hors http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/India/Jammu-and-Kashmir/Srinagar/blog-255429.html Arrived in Delhi after a luxurious flight.Delhi when you're jetlagged is very noisy and not quiite as luxury as the flight. The hotel has a sociable rooftop restaurant which takes you away from the main bazaar where lots of young Indians try to be your friend or learn English or just tag along. Or just maybe they are trying to point you in the direction of an overpriced tourist office C http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/India/National-Capital-Territory/New-Delhi/blog-253709.html I thought I'd test out the website by sharing the few plans I have. I'm starting in Delhi and then heading down to Kerala stopping en route where I will ultimately spend a few weeks at a retreat before heading home from Mumbai.I may go into Nepal from Delhi but more likely I'll visit the Adaman Islands or Lakshadweep also IslandsMy must sees and dos are the Taj Varnassi Rajastan Amristar http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/West-Sussex/Horsham/blog-250038.html