Tigers,Thalis and the Taj

---

Having left Rajasthan behind it was time to get back to nature. The small roadside village of Ranthambore consisted of jeeps, camels and lodges. Our mission to spot the elusive Bengal Tiger in the wild. A 6:00 start led us into the jungle on a 4x4. Rare eagles, large deer and antelope were spotted in the grassland,but still no sign of the Tiger. Monkeys howled tolet us know they were present, but spotting one in the camouflaged grasslands was another thing. After 2 or 3 hours searching we backtracked down a well trodden track and there he was basking in the sun.

After a trip to another fort - this one being a bit of an unexpected gem, hidden up on the hill top above the jungle, we braced ourselves for another trian journey and the staring eyes and confusion that was ahead. This time we were beginningto feel more confident aboard the trains of India and went for a third class carriage with a change over half way through - more confusion.

We arrived in Agra to be greeted with the usual crowds, dust, dirt, noise and the more than keen auto rickshaw wallahs asking the ususal questions ....Hello sir, where you from? You need rickshaw...(is that a command or a question?) and then ...you need hashish? (a last ditch attempt to get their hands on some of our rupees)

An early start the next morning to catch the first light glimpses of the Taj Mahal before the crowds was well worth while and an image that will stay with us for a long time to come. Picture perfect. Yet another fort that day confirmed our decision that we had definitely seen enough forts to last us a lifetime - at least for the rest of our India leg!

---

Photos

Goodbye Virgin Active
As he goes for the record for the most consecutive curry's in one fortnight

Comments

[Kirsty]

Mathilda Mae
Hi guys Don't know if you've not been able to access facebook - wanted to let you know that Mathilda Mae Stitfall arrived safely into the world at 9.15pm on Wednesday 17th February, weighing in at 7lbs 9oz. She is a little beauty and although I was in labour for over 50 hours and ended up delivering her in the operating theatre after an epidural - she was helped out with forceps - it was all worth it! I am still taking it easy now... Pics are on facebook. Loads of love from the 3 of us XXX

[Pa]

Tigers etc
Hey guys Looks fantastic, look forward to next update, in India? Where to next? Really cold here you will be thrilled to know! Look after yourselves, Pa x