From Amritsar we took a car to Dharamsala with two men who spoke no english. 200km later with only one stop for samosas and a pee for the assistant drive, we were off again. We drove up into the mountains and attained 1745m. The road was treturously narrow in places, falling into the valley and in other places being constructed to a wider breath...an increase of one smart car!! The valleys below could be seen at every hairpin turn. The views became so magnificent they took ones breath away: 1. terraced hillsides ready for rice plants. 2. small houses made of stone with slate rooves angled enough to be able to loose a winter's snowfall. 3.small villages with similar store fronts seen in every town andcity spewing their wares and garbage out into the street. 4.brick ... read more

Unedited and not proof read....sorry! January 7 .... evening ceremony at the Golden Temple. Things to be considered: 1. It is unusually cold here and in Delhi ... 0 to -2 cegrees celcius 2. Shoes and socks must be removed when visiting any Sikh temple. 3. The Golden Temple is a work of art wrought in marble, cement, and stone ... all very warmth absorbing in the summer sun. 4. There are hundreds of visitors doing the promanade around the reflecting pool in the middle of which the "Golden Temple" (covered totally in gold leaf) "floats". 5. To step into the Temple one must avoid the marble sill ... a mistake I made only once since people touch, kiss and carress with hands foreheads and lips. 6. Inside the Temple chanters continuously recite and sing prayers. ... read more

Sorry this blog unedited because of lack of time and freezing fingers in Amritsar. The cold weather is now news even in Amritsar and Delhi!! When we came to the tourist info office ,which really was not the office of the Delhi Tourist Board, we were snowed into changing the itinerary and ..... well I must say the prospect was more enticing than spending seven days in what we had so far seen in Delhi. And of course there was also the reaction of more than one person to the lenght of time we planned to spend in the place. They could not understand why. And there we were, after our lovely stay in Dubai, arriving to the shock, surprise, some horror, and loads of denial in Delhi. We found our way nicely to the Tibetan ... read more

Happy New Year!! It is 3:15 and lunch has been eaten at a Lebonese Bakery. Breakfast has been a lovely buffet at the Ibis Hotel, a known chain from Europe and no disappointment as far as value, service and cleanliness goes. I am presently in a Surf'n'Eat in Style C@fe net. The whole enterprise consisting of twenty glasstop tables with a rolling keyboard tray and a computer under each glass sheet. One hour costs 5dirhams; 2hrs 8dirhams. We get 4 dirhams per $. Not a bad deal! The plane was so delayed that we did not arrive at the hotel until 02:30. It was already Dec29. The plane ride from Frankfurt was especially luxurious as compared to the dirty conditions and sad food presenttions of Air Canada. On the first day we took the Big Bus ... read more

The new backpack was not appropriate; sandles, sleeping bag and fleecy jacket all hanging on to the outside....so .....back to my Jack Wolfskin designed for a woman's figure ... it fits very well, it is comfortable and everything fits inside with room to spare. All the stuff weighs 14.5 kilos and the day pack comes in at 3k. Fridge defrosted, garbage wrapped up, electrical heaters cleared of obstructive objects , thermostat set at 10 degrees celcius, keys to the neighbours, hot water tank shut down, and every electric plug pulled. Only the freezer and the heating will guzzle power for the next two months. The Hydro bill will determine wether or not I embark on a trip this time of year again! The drive to Toronto should take 4.5 to 5 hours. All depends on ... read more

All things required for the nine week journey are now strewn upon the dining table; sleeping bag, water pills, quick drying clothes, safety pins, needles, thread, waterbottle, purification tablets, dental hygiene products, first aid stuff, books to read and hand sanitizer, etc, etc, etc. With great anticipation and holding my breath, I hope it all fits with room to spare. Things will be left behind ... but what ... oh the decisions, the decisions, the decisions .... once on the plane the trip will be in motion, worries will be left behind and new ones will be confronted. At this writing Christmas dinner is on top of the to-do-list; M&M ordurvees, cheeseballs covered in nuts, liver dumpling soup, duck not goose, red cabbage, basmati rice, a myriad of home baked cookies, Viennese coffee, eggnog spiked ... read more

Wendy and Barbara Prepare for a Nine Week Tour of India The guidebooks were bought February 2005. Lonely Planet cost $38.95CAD plus tax. The DK Eyewitness Travel Guide had a similar price tag but was aquired at a 20% discount. LP is beginning to fall apart from overuse. It has good information all round. DK Eyewitness books are my favourite on any topic and I do love good pictures. For maps of walking tours and enticing illustrations, this guide definitely whets ones appitite. The Grand Adventure begins. My Women's Institute aquaintance, Wendy, whose husband is not a traveller, instantly agreed when I suggested she come with me to India. It has been one of her lifetime dreams. Weekly dinners and shopping trips began and we came to know each other better. Nine months later: we ... read more