Blogs from India, Asia

All good things must come to an end, and in lots of ways I’m happy to be on my way home. India is an amazing country. It’s colourful, noisy, ancient, confronting, full of contrasts, dry & dusty, and the Indian people are warm and friendly. And there’s no denying the amazing tourist ‘assets’ headlined by the Taj Mahal but plenty of other temples, forts, and ceremonies. Alongside those big ticket items there’s so much to see - random cows wandering wherever they may choose, the constant throng of the traffic and urban life with rickshaws, motorbikes, bicycles and cars all ‘honking’ their way along. There is also poverty with street beggars and many people living on the footpaths and even median strips. It’s a land of enormous contrast when you see the lives of the very ... read more

I’ve gone with the word awesome (one of my favourites) to describe Agra but it’s more my description of the Taj Mahal, than the town itself. The Taj did not disappoint. It is truly awe inspiring. It’s gorgeous from a distance and also up close. But first to our journey……. On the way from Jaipur to Agra we visited yet another fort called Fatehpur Sikri, but much like all the others it was impressive. It was built by a chap called Akbar and he had separate quarters for his three wives. For his Muslim wife he built a small room, for his Christian wife he built a wing of the palace, but for his Hindu wife who gave him an heir he built a whole entire palace! Onwards to Agra where we were greeted by a ... read more

We’ve just enjoyed two great days in the fascinating city of Jodhpur and I’m writing this while travelling by bus to our next hotel in Pushkar. It’s been a whirlwind of sightseeing, shopping, chatting, eating and drinking - so much to take in. A ‘feast for the senses’ as many people warned me it would be! Jodhpur is well set up for tourism with an amazing and well preserved fort perched high the hill. It’s much drier than I expected and unsurprisingly, our guide Kamal says it’s surrounded by desert. The nearby countryside is flat and devoid of most vegetation except small scrubby looking plant life. It must be super tough for anyone trying to farm this land. The toughest life in Jodhpur is reserved for the people who live on the street. Right near our ... read more

I’m writing this post while flying from Delhi to Udaipur to enjoy the next city on our whistle stop tour. Most similar tours of Northern India either start or finish in Udaipur so we’re skipping a long drive and flying with a domestic airline called IndiGo. So far so good. Although I got in trouble going through security for not taking the right items out of my bag!! In typical Indian style, everything took an interminable amount of time. I can only assume their systems and processes are very complicated because everything seems to take at least three times longer than the equivalent activity at home, like checking in and out of a hotel, checking into a flight, etc. But it’s all part of the experience of travel so I’m unfussed and definitely not stressed about ... read more

In an era where the allure of exploring the unknown, encountering diverse cultures, and embarking on adventures has never been more enticing, many individuals dream of transforming their passion for travel into a sustainable career. Becoming a travel blogger is a sought-after way to achieve this dream, combining the love of writing and photography with the endless excitement of discovery. This article delves into actionable tips and strategies for those aspiring to make travel blogging their profession, ensuring your journey from wanderlust to a rewarding career is both successful and fulfilling. 1. Define Your Niche The travel blogging sphere is vast and varied, making it essential to carve out a unique space for yourself. Defining your niche helps in attracting a dedicated audience who shares your specific interests. Whether it’s luxur... read more