Left Agra early and headed back to Delhi, we have done a huge big circle on this trip, the road from Agra to Delhi is pretty perfect, nearly all freeway so a good run back into Delhi, about a 3 hr drive but stopped midway for a coffee break. Looking forward to getting back to the Crowne Plaza, a very comfy hotel. After lunch we headed in the central Delhi area to the Chandni Chowk Market area to the spice market, before arriving at the spice market we were asked did anyone have asthma or any sort of lung problems!! The fumes of all the varieties of chilli etc is unbelievable, even some of us who are used to chilli, had a few coughing fits! There are just hundreds of huge sacks of chilli and all ... read more

Arrived in Jaipur around 4.30-5.00p.m. - booked in dropped bags and then out and about in Jaipur....what a great city! Around 7 million so a bit chaotic but not like Delhi...we started on our bus and then the driver dropped us in the old part of Delhi where we took a walk through the markets...scents, smells, aromas of yummy food and sights to see...what a place! After a long walk went up on an observatory and had a great look all over the area....then caught bicycle rickshaws for a long jaunt through the alleys and streets of Jaipur before arriving at a textile factory... some of the girls did a bit of shopping and then onto dinner in a lovely restaurant in a garden setting with dancing and music, had some veges, YES! John was actually ... read more

Well the Crowne Plaza was a very welcome place at 12.30a.m. after travelling for 24 hours - we were wrecked - lovely hot shower and straight to bed for a few hours. Thankful our bags made it with 3 plane changes. Up early Monday morning down for buffet breaky - it was fantastic - so many choices and very yummy what we had. Then we had decided to head out for the day and catch the Metro into old Delhi, but a little tuk, tuk driver coerced us into going with him, which in the end turned out to be a good move - $10 for about 6hrs taking us all over Delhi. So far so good, thought that Delhi would have been much worse that it is - there are so many green spaces around ... read more

Well had this side trip booked for a few months to celebrate our mate Mark's 50th birthday...he hadn't been to Tassie, so it was about time to explore. We flew down with Tiger without mishap and have a lovely little apartment in Sandy Bay just a couple of hundred metres off the Sandy Bay shopping strip, a two bedroom two bathroom with everything you could possibly need in it...an old art deco home that has been renovated into 4 apartments..great spot! Flew down Sunday night so when we arrived decided to go to Solo Italian Pizza and Pasta...we were not disappointed one of the best meals we had in Tassie...linguini marinara was delish, as was John's spicy Calzone and Mark commented his pizza was the best he has had!! All washed down with a bottle of ... read more

Up early and on the road by 9.00a.m. first stop is a terracotta factory to show the type of soil the terracotta is made from and also the lacquer furniture..all very interesting... then onto a tea house for another tea ceremony, thoroughly enjoyed all the beautiful teas that were on offer and then went upstairs for lunch. Great lunch banquet with plenty of choices and always served with a bottle of beer! 22 degrees today so is a bit cooler and we are all thoroughly enjoying that. After lunch we walked to the entrance of the area of the terracotta warriors, quite a long walk and boy oh boy was it worth it...what an amazing site with all those terracotta pieces....can't believe that this was only discovered in 1974 when a local farmer, who didn't get ... read more