Gorukhpur, Lucknow and Bareilly

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After leaving Lumbini, we stayed the night in Sonauli before crossing the border back into india. We actually got through all the Bureaucratic form filling and stamping relitively quickly.

We were then on a hunt for a bus back to Gorukhpur. We managed to get exactly the same bus that had taken us to Sunauli in the first place (shudder). The bus was packed to bursting point and I had to endure 2 and a half hours with a bloke asleep on my shoulder and one head on my back. Amy had the relative luxury of being between me and the window.

We arrived at Gorukhpur and found a great (glass half full!) little hotel right by the train station for only Rs 250. We went out for dinner where we saw a massive spider on the window. it was a yellowy green colour and was just like the one on spiderman's chest. Got back to the hotel barracaded ourselves under the mosy net (it keeps out morrissey as well as mosquitos) til morning.

Got the train to Lucknow, which for a biggish city was actually not bad. It took us ages to find a hotel. we eventually found one that was well over priced and booked in for one night only. We found a cheaper one the next night owned by a particulary bossy woman (she was nice really).

Went out for a very eventful lunch. Found a great little place and ordered a massala dosa each. They are spiced mashed potato wrapped in a pancake. We were about half way through our meals when I noticed movement on the floor (can you guess where i'm going with this?) Mickey and all his considerable family were running from booth to booth and right by our feet! Amy through her toys right out of the pram and said she wanted to go. So I finished up and we left. The food was lovely though! (Amy says 'eek')

Saw the Bara Imambara which is an old Mughal palace from about the 1600's. It was a beautiful building which is currently being restored. We also watched some lads playing cricket in the park. I think they quite enjoyed the western audience!

Bareilly: This is where we are now and where we had our first experience of Indian Cowboys! Got off the train and were imediately surrounded by a hoard of rickshaw and tuc tuc drivers (not many tourists in Bareilly!). We got into a tuc tuc and agreed a price of Rs 50 to take us to a hotel. After visiting about 8 hotels with no luck we again found another over priced lodging. As we were about to go to our room I thought I'd better pay the blokes and we thought we'd be nice and give them an extra Rs 20 as they'd been so good. I went to hand him the money to which he shook his head. The hotelier translated and said that the tuc tuc drivers had agreed Rs 50 per hotel with us to which my reply was 'f&@k off!' (i think they understood that one!) The filthy pirates were trying to swindle us out of Rs 400. Good job i had my cutlace! we stood firm and told them firmly to walk the plank! which they did after we paid them a very, very generous Rs 70! Following day found a cheaper hotel and we are about to catch the night train to Dehradun.

so long me hartys!

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