To Kate's esteemed blog fans - a moment on Ali Baba pants: Some of you may be aware that Kate Paxton has a certain pair of Ali Baba pants that she talks about in the same way one may describe a first born child or family heirloom. They are baggy, blue, and according to her "the best item of clothing in the world". As we were swimming in the warm waters of the Arabian Sea this afternoon, discussing such crucial traveller issues as where to dine and what time to rise, Kate's attention was diverted in much the same way as a pointer will sniff out its prey. Yes, at 100 feet she had spied a fellow traveller wearing Ali Baba pants, walking the other way, quietly minding her own business. "Quick, they're not see through!!" ... read more

well i was wrong about Pune!! It is great here.. i have been biten by some weird bugs which i reckon probably came from the bed Charlie and i are sleeping in .. which is disgustingly dirty (even though i am sleeping in my lovely silk sleeping bag liner!!) still.. it is grose!! however we have had a lovely christmas in Pune. We decided to splash out and paid about 6 pounds each to spend the day at a very posh hotel at their roof top pool.. it was gorgeous.. a luxury i think i won't be seeing again for some time! We have eaten delicious food and the people who we have met here are very nice (the tourists are mainly here to visit the Osho Centre.. which we aren't going to as it is ... read more

I have just written a lovely long blog … and my lovely new netbook froze and I lost it!! So.. basically here is what Charlie and I have done today: • Been ripped off by numerous taxis/tuk tuks !! • Walked for what seemed like miles through down town mumbai.. which was fab.. • Eaten some delicious street food; when I was in the process of scoffing down the second street side snack and offered charlie some he said, ‘i can’t believe how hard you’re working to get a dodgy tummy!’.. but the last laugh is on me as my stomach is fine and the food was well worth the risk!! • We visited, the Taj Hotel (where I used the loo.. of course!) • Victoria Terminus which is amazing with its massive gothic architecture • ... read more

As I sit in my flat, the night before I am due to leave on this adventure, with empty shelves ready to store someone elses ‘stuff’ for 4 months, I wonder who I will be when I get back. I have been talking about and planning this trip since last year and it is finally here. It is incomprehensible to think how it might affect me... how it might change the parts of me that make me me. But here I am. Still putting off the inevitable packing, still making lists that I probably won’t read, still trying to decide what is really necessary and what is a luxury I don’t need. But as I sit here enjoying my ‘nest’/creature comforts for the last time in 4 months I can not really imagine how I will ... read more

I was recently reading a travel article which asked the question, “What are your travel passions?” Well I’m not sure... I haven’t really thought about it!! I’m usually asked, “What is my passion?” to which I am able to confidently reply, “travelling”. But asked to elaborate on this and I’m not really sure how to respond. I love meeting new people, seeing new things, experiencing new cultures, having adventures…simplifying i.e. living out of a back pack with minimal luxuries and no T.V. And I like to think I am on some sort of spiritual journey. But my travel passions? Gosh... I don’t really know. The article then elaborated, “Think about your three most recent trips. What activities were common to all three? What are the things you seek out when you travel, the experiences that really ... read more