So the Volcanic Ash cloud meant that in the end we all had an extra week in Delhi. In hindsight it is funny as I was worried that I would only have half a day in Delhi which I didn't think was long enough. I was pleased to be on an organised tour as it was great to have others to talk to who were in the same situation and we all worked hard to keep our spirits up and to plan our days to relieve the worry and boredom. As someone who loves to travel and spent two years living away from the UK it is hard to explain the panic you feel when there is a possibility that you might be left stranded against your will in another country unable to return to your ... read more

Wow - 4.50am start! This time we took a bus back to the river Ganges to take a morning boat ride and to see the Ghats from the water. I was amazed by the procession of people on their way to the Holy waters and how many were there bathing in it and swimming. Some people were even using soap. I am not sure I would like to take a bath in such a public place but priests were available to give blessings and some people were rubbing themselves with mustard oil to help cleanse away their sins. The river also has a very practical use as we saw lots of people washing and using a solar dryer to lay the washing out in the sun (I don't think we would be able to do that ... read more

OMG. Indian sleeper trains - what an experience. One unfortunately I will have to repeat one more on this trip! I did not enjoy the experience at all. First of all the train was late and we were waiting for nearly 2 hours on the platform. As the train only stops for 5 minutes we had a mad panic to try and get our luggage on the train and all of us in the time allocated without leaving anyone behind. We made it but then finding bed numbers on the carriages and trying to drag our luggage down the tiny corridor was almost impossible. There were compartments of four beds and a curtain with two other beds and individual curtains on the other side. They were bunk beds. Originally I had been allocated a bed in ... read more

Up bright and early at 4.50 am with just enough time for a quick cuppa before our early morning game drive. Full of sleep and anticipation we set off once again in search of the elusive tiger. A different guide and a new truck so fingers crossed! We took a different route at the Ranthambhore National Park and I had the sense that the tigers were out there and were watching us. Again we spotted the paw prints but no sign of the tiger until ….. Finally we came across 5 jeeps pointed in one direction with lots of people using binoculars and taking photo’s. Across the lake near the Maharaja’s old hunting palace you could just make out a head on the rocks and a body peeping out of the grass. Breathtaking. She was sooo ... read more

Arrived safely in Delhi after my 8 and a half hour flight and met up with everyone from my Exodus group. There are 12 people traveling together and four girls on our own. We had a very long drive to Jaipur and during our lunch stop I was brave and tried some Indian Massala tea. It was incredibly sweet and tasted a bit like chicken tika massala served in a glass with hot milk and skim on the top. Yummy! Don't think I will be trying it again. On the way in to Jaipur I was amazed by the amount of litter and the number of people living by the side of the roads, some under makeshift canopies. I had expected to see signs of poverty but not right in the cities with people just walking ... read more