stewmarg

just to let you know that for some reason Travelblog has not been sending out e-mails so just click on NEXT ENTRY OR PREVIOUS ENTRY to see what you have missed.... read more

Sorry about no blog recently but had a big problem with Travelblog. We are sending this from a public computer so no photos yet - we'll try later. We have found the Arabian Sea - miles long coconut fringed beaches - with only us in the sea. Bliss. Arrived at our final chosen destination yesterday - Marari Beach. Despite the disapointment of our plans being changed, the hotel management not only offered us upgraded pool rooms but also free dinner with wine. We feel amply compensated. Gala night tonight - the last sunset on a fabulous trip discovering India.... read more

Here we are sat on our personal houseboat, a glass of white wine in hand, watching the sun go down. Sorry you won’t be reading this as we have no wifi – hopefully we will have tomorrow. The day started in Kochi and then an hour and a half drive to Punnamada Resort on Lake Alleppey. Our houseboat has two ensuite bedrooms, a salon/dining room where we will be dining tonight, a galley kitchen and joy of joy a chef innit. Safety is ensured by captain and his bos’n…… Cap’n Jack…..aaarrr Once aboard we were greeted with a traditional welcome – a lighted lamp – and a guided tour of our home for the next day. We set sail henceforth and shortly after were served a feast of Indian fare. Again not hot hot, but highly ... read more

From our balcony this morning, we had a perfect view of the local kids playing cricket before they went to school/work - at 9 o'clock they had all disapeared. We have witnessed this scene throughout our journey through India - sometimes not enough money to buy a cricket bat, but using a substitute - branch of tree or lump of wood. The wicket is not usually green but more usually sandy. We now realise just how enthusiastic they are about cricket - naturally our guides are somewhat embarrassed at present. Kochi was the first European settlement in India, founded by the Portuguse in the early 16th century and retained by them for 163 years as the centre of the spice trade. The Europeanism remains to this day, obvious by the ethnic and religious mix on the ... read more

It was pitch black, and very cold when we crept down from the hotel – 6 o’clock and everywhere mainly deserted apart from little bonfires lit all through the town – dual purpose – both to clean up the rubbish and to warm cold hands. The chai sellers were doing brisk business. We noticed in Udaipur that the city was so much cleaner than Delhi, Agra and Jaipur. It’s not so much ‘clean’ as opposed to ‘dirty’, but the vast amount of used plastic left lying about everywhere – bottles, bags and packaging – some new, some old, all colours, all sizes, discarded and left to rot – but rot it does not. Nobody seems to notice or mind. However, in Udaipur the tourist industry is very important to them– there are lots of new large ... read more

Late start followed by breakfast outside overlooking the city and downtown to Old Udaipur First to the Vintage Vehicle Museum which houses the King’s vintage car collection from Rolls Royces through Cadillacs to a Morris Minor. The green open topped Cadillac (see photo) was used by our Queen in the fifties during her State Visit to India. We strolled through the markets in the old part of the City. Dodging and diving the bikes and carts we started at fruit and vegetables, through the spices and teas, jewelry, textiles, shoes and miniature paintings. Everything beautifully laid out, busy and vibrant – colours and aromas, smiles and greetings. All the children call out ‘Hi’ or ‘Hello’ with a big grin. We have only been met with kindness and courtesy. You'll see a photo of a standard issue ... read more

We stopped in Jojawar for the night because the drive from Jaipur to Udaipur would have been too long a journey. In fact the journey from Jaipur to Jojawar was more than long enough. – over six hours to cover 300 kilometers. A lot of the journey was on the expressway and the remainder weaving in and out of traffic on dusty roads through villages all alongside the new expressway which is in the process of being constructed. The general countryside was scrub, very arid and dry, dusty and not much agriculture. We drove through the main marble quarry region – Makrana – allegedly the best marble in the world and used in the construction of the Taj Mahal. More lorries – how they withstand the weight of the marble is anyone’s guess. Our hotel in ... read more