Blogs from Gokarna, Karnataka, India, Asia - page 5

Hello to those who are new to the list. You may like to read the previous blogs to see whats been going on since the start. We are at the very end of our trip. So much has happened and we have had lots of time to put perspective on a lot of "stuff". So it is with some kind of renewed energy and strength that we will drag ourselves kicking and screaming back to a very uncertain reality. It is a bit like leaving one warm, balmy, cheap, suspended reality and rejoining a much colder and economically challenged one. But that we must do. The beach here at Kudle in Gokarna is a mixed place. Once the dogs calm down and the cows retire to the shade for a bit longer each day, the beach ... read more

Having torn ourselves away from a cosy reality we boarded a 5hr train to the far flung white sandy beach of Kuddle, Gokarna. The journey was made more interesting because we met David and Sara from San Francisco. We really enjoyed talking and swapping book notes on holiday reading. So far I have read Engelby - ok The Reluctant Fundamentalist- well written quick story The Kite Flyer - not as good as A Thousand Splend Suns Mr Pip - interesting story set on a tropical Island The Outsider - a thriller beautifully written The Book Thief - narated by Death, it is quite funny in places When you are Engulfed in Flames - David Sedaris -best bok so far - Thanks Breda Walshe xx The savage Garden - crap The Secret Life Of Bees - desperately ... read more

Hey Leute, wie ihr vermutlich schon alle wisst, gab es vor knapp 2 Wochen ziemlich schlimme Anschlaege in Mumbai, die allem Anschein nach gezielt auf westliche Geschaeftsleute gerichtet waren. Ich wollte mich hier nicht eher dazu aeussern, bevor ich mir nicht einen konkreten Ueberblickt verschafft habe. Als ich das in der Zeitung gelesen habe, hab ich die ganze Geschichte ueberhaupt nicht ernst genommen, weil in den Zeitungen staendig ueber die letzten Anschlaege in Dheli und Malegao berichtet wurde. Am naechsten Tag wurde von ueber 80 Toten gesprochen und dass Geiseln im Taj Mahal und Trident Hotel genommen wurden und in irgend einem Haus eines bekannten Israelis. Nach allem was sie dort berichtet haben, musste das wohl echt drunter und drueber gegangen sein und auch jetzt noch im Nachhinein wurde das schwache Vorgehen der Polizei und Einsatzkraefte ... read more

I left Lahore sunday morning. The border opened at 9.30am and I wanted to be there when it opened! After fond farewells on the Pakistani side, I headed toward the Indian customs and immigration centre a bit warily, as I now had a cancelled visa, as well as a brand new 6 month job, and if they felt like it, could have given me a hard time. As I was the first through, they weren't quite ready, so chai was sent for me, and I had a very civilised breakfast with 3 customs officers who were very interested to know about what it's like in Pakistan. After chai I headed for the scrum that was a sea of taxi drivers vying for my business. A price was agreed after some serious haggling, and I set off ... read more

So we struggled out of our hotel in the morning determined that there would be no more taxis, we would be proper travellers and get the train down to Gokarna. I was completely ruined from the night before and struggled not to be sick on myself on the way to the. I say train station in the nicest possible way but as everything is in India, this was a shack with a train platform attached. We were then informed that the train was late/possible not coming and faced with the prospect of five to ten hours waiting for it or a cab for 2.5 hours we gave in and champagne backpacked all the way to Gokarna, one of the most uncomfortable trips of my life, made less so by one of my newly purchased Alprozolam or ... read more