Blogs from Almora, Uttarakhand, India, Asia

24-12-2011 Today we had the plan set in motion to go and visit Almora. It was a sunny bright Saturday, we had gotten up early and had prepared a daysack for the gruelling 3 hour journey with the bus through the mountains. Half way walking down the hill we realised it might be handy to take a wee map with us (Lonely Planet) so we can at least orientate slightly upon arrival. We marched back up the incline to the hotel. As I waited outside I had a brief chat with the reception dude who told me, much to my dismay, that there had been a landslide on the road to Almora. Bye bye plans for the day. Dunc was completely bummed out once he heard the news but with no other choice we decided to ... read more

Kaytan nyt hyvaksi taman tilaisuuden paasta nettiin, vaikkei mitaan ihmeempia olekaan tapahtunut, kun huomisen jalkeen olemme pitkaan pikku kylilla ja siella ei valttamatta ole koneita. Saattaa olla, etta jo huomenna illalla olemme Nepalin puolella. Mikaan ei ole kuitenkaan niin epavarmaa kuin matkanetenemisvauhti nailla teilla. Oikeastaan hitaus ei johdu niinkaan teista kuin jatkuvista pysahdyksista. Joka tapauksessa tietkin ovat tietenkin mutkaisia ja nyt ne nayttavat kartalla erityisen kiemuraisilta. Eilen oli Kallen synttarit. Annoin hanelle aamulla pienen paketin, joka sisalsi sikhirannerenkaan ja suklaata. Suklaa tuntuu taalla viela ylellisemmalta herkulta kuin Suomessa, silla se on muuhun hintatasoon nahden hyvin kallista, ja siksi se sopi hyvin synttariherkuksi. Siina on silloin jotain erityisyyden tuntua. Illalla paatimme viela kokkailla Kallen synttareiden kunniaksi, kun gu... read more

Rain-bow Delhi was a really fun place to be, to hang out for a few days. Mix with some people from there and such. Old delhi, wow what an experience. I got a good vibe from the city, which is good since I plan to live there, har har harrrrrrrr. Funny to imagine me, in a city that big and smelly. But you know, 6 hours on a train and I am in the Himalayas. So life can't be that bad can it. After Delhi, we caught a night train to Haldwani (referred to in all them glorious tourist hand books as the 'gate way to the himalayas') fantastic. The night train was calm this time, not full of wacko families. It's crazy arrive into a town at 5 in the morning.....the day just beginning. And ... read more

Finally, I am a free woman again :-) It feels wonderful to be able to go to places on my own again, decide when and what to eat, and take a rikshaw by myself. The ride from Srinagar to Jammu took about 8 hours, the distance was only 290km! And going down those hills (compare it to the roads in Italy or South France) is quite something here. The drivers don't stay in their lane, not even just before or in the middle of "blind" curves. Instead, they horn to warn the drivers on the other side.. It's best not to look at what's ahead too much. Just enjoy the view and not think about how dangerous the ride is. But I made it, alive and kicking :-) Once in Jammu, I got to the train ... read more

Travelled, in a cab, yesterday from Nainital to Almora. I'd read in another blog someone saying they found Almora a bit busy, hectic and unfriendly after their travels in the mountains. Whilst it can be a little hectic around the Mall area, it's quite easy to 'get away from it all', and so far, most of the people I've met have been friendly enough. Once I'd checked in yesterday, I went for a walk about Lallal Bazaar, which is a pedestrianised market area, behind/ above the Mall. Here you can buy anything, from woven shawls to television sets, plastic toys to headache tablets. I had half an eye open for some ball mithai, to take back for my mum, as whenever I go away, I try, like a good, conscientious daughter, to bring her back something ... read more