Train & Agra Day 22. Friday 22nd December Got up at 5.45 and met the sleepy Reedies at reception at 6. We had paid all our bills last night so just dropped keys off and left with all our luggage. The manager had told us that it wasn’t worth booking a taxi as the station was nearby, so we took his advice and flagged down an auto-rick which happened to have extra boot space. We crammed our bags in there and had plenty of room for ourselves. At the train station we got a porter to carry main bags, mine over a shoulder, 2 on his head and another pulled behind, he went to the end of platform 1 and crossed the track to platform 2. Although our train wasn’t in yet (it was only 6.15 ... read more

Jaipur 3 (Pink City Day) Day 19. Tuesday 19th December 2017 So a quite early start. Mal pays her food & drink tab and I explain that I will pay her room. We all see her off with Manu in the big cab, hope it all goes well for her return, she did manage to get Atithi to print off her boarding passes for this internal flight and tomorrows international one. We all got a tuck-tuck to the Pink City and walked through numerous back-alleys, remeniscent of Varanasi. This was where the dalits (untouchables) live and they were quite surprised to see us mob amongst them, very friendly though. There were goats in coats and one goat wih enormous teats (possible mastitis?) They gave us directions and weeventually arrived at the City Palace (the nearby Jantar ... read more

A Sarfarmie & A Train Day 16. 16th December 2017 Our last day at Skays Camp. Satyendra & Kay have said that Bill & Shirl can send the kids over, on their own, any time & they will be well looked after. The kids seemed keen too so that’s a possibility for the future if Bill & Shirl need a break. To keep us all occupied Satyendra drove us all (except Mal) to his nearby farm about 5 miles away. On the way we passed many small farms often with kids waving and shouting “hello”. We were on the edge of the reserve here so there were forests on one side & farms or open ground on the other, all very picturesque. When we arrived, we were greeted by 2 dogs (collie style) who seemed very ... read more

A few comments on Varanasi in retrospect (don't believe Sue Perkins!) This higgledy piggledy city built behind the Ganges river front which is made up of temples, burning ghats, bathing ghats & palaces. No cars, and the nearer you get to the river, no motorbikes or scooters either. So you would think it would be quieter. Wrong. Befor sunrise each morning there is a cacaphony of noises from chanting, bells ringing, caged parrots squawking (near the Reedies room), doves cooing (outside my room) and monkeys fighting (never far off). The streets are not just full of people; there are cows, goats, dogs, buffalo, the occassional cat (with longer legs than in the west). We watched a dog gnawing on a rat yesterday, the kids were fascinated & horrified. At night the dogs bark almost constantly, you ... read more

Day 13 (1st in Tala) 13th December We arrived tired & grumpy in our posh taxi at about 7am to be met by our host Satyendra who asked if we wanted breakfast. We declined and all went to bed. We all have nice rooms. I awoke around 11am and went to the outside dining area, where the others were already having brunch. There I met Satyendra’s English wife, Kay, who had been on the safari that I had originally booked this morning but was apparently unchangeable (I feel that we should pay extra as they have had to meet the costs for our train debacle). They are both in their early 60’s, so around the same age as us. But what a couple. Satyendra is quite a character, always laughing and joking. Ready with a tall ... read more