Agra - Jaipur

Hi All!

We are currently in Jaipur or the 'Pink City' which is it popularly known. Jaipur is the capital of Rajasthan which is located in the north of India. We arrived here at 9:30am this morning after five hour journey from 'Agra Fort Station'. So far in Jaipur we only managed to see some of the city center where we walked around to get familiure and do a bit of shopping. Will keep you updated on the going on's in Jaipur over the next few days..

Yesterday we visited The Taj Mahal which is located in Agra. The building is not short of spectacular and very beautiful.

It was built by the Emperor Shan Jahan as the final request place of his favourite queen, Mumtaz Mahal. A monument of marble, some say it is most fascinating and beautiful monument in the world. The Taj Mahal was built by a Persian architect is perfectly symmetrical, it took 22 years to build (AD 1630 – 52) by 20,000 workers, masons and jewellers (Times if India, 2007)   

Arrived in Delhi

Hi Everybody!

We arrived in Delhi yesterday at 5:40am after enduring a 29 hour train journey from Bandra Terminus, Mumbai. Despite the length it was a great experience! Being the only white foreigners on the entire train everybody was always enthuastic to get to know your name and where in the world you lived. All the people on the train was very friendly and helpful. Inbetweeen stops people came onto the train selling soap, toilet paper, tooth brushes, samosas, chi (tea), coffee, fruit, crisp and other snacks. You could never go hungry, we managed to have five chi's, six samosas, two packs of cashew biscuits and two packs of crisp. When we were not talking to others, reading or eating we were either a sleep or sitting wathcing out the window counting down the minutes.

We got a taxi to the Shiva Intercontinental what was reccomended on tripadvisor and lonely planet. The hotel is next to the main bazaar, on Arakranshan road. The road is very very busy and noisy (more than Colaba Causeway, Mumbai) and full of hotels, restaurants and travel shops.

Today we visited the Zoo which cost 100 Rupees per person, there were Hippos, Lions, Elephants, Giraffes, Bears, Monkeys, Birds, Buffalo, WhiteTigers and more. 

A Big Cat

Baby Giraffe

 Blue the Bear

This little chipmunk was roaming free around the zoo

We also saw this tree. A zoo isn't a zoo unless is has a Sausage Tree, Not sure where the Sausages were though....maybe the monkeys ate them. 

Today we also booked train tickets from Delhi to Agra where the Taj Mahal is, then from Agra to Jaipur and then from Jaipur back to Delhi where we will be staying for our last two nights in India before we fly to Thailand.

Here is the one decent picture of the t shirt printing session I had the privilege of running with the Hampi Childtens Trust

Moving on from Hampi

HAMPI


We are ready to move on from Hampi for the next leg of our journey, we will be getting a semi sleeper bus @ 6pm leaving from Hospet to Mumbai. The bus should arrive the next day in the morning/afternoon. 

Hampi has been such an amazing place, the landscapes, the temples, the animals and the people are beautiful and ever so friendly. Here are the best of the photos of our time spent in Hampi


First the Landscapes

And a few of the animals

The Children's Trust where we visited, went on a picnic, helped with homework and ran a t shirt printing art session...

And a few more people, one is of the boy who drives the boat. The other are of the children who were swimming in the river as we were waiting, they asked me to take this photo and were so excited that I accepted..

Hampi

Hello All!

Arrived in Hampi yesterday after a 11 hour coach journey from Goa, Mapusa. We arrived at 5:30am and was bombarded with Rickshaw driver's as we stepped of the bus. We jumped in one and was taken to the river where we had to wait for the boat which was due to arrive at 7am. We sat, drank some Chi and soaked up the the beautiful landscape.We heard the Elephant will be arriving around 10am for its daily wash and decided to stick around. The Elephant arrived for its daily wash around 9:30 so we sat and watched as its carers washed it in the river along side other people and school children....It was an amazing sight. Soon after we got into the boat to cross the river and checked into Shanti Guest House.

After showering and changing into some clean clothes we headed back over to the river to see some of the temples, visit where we stayed last time while in Hampi and also look for the Hampi's Childrens Trust. I was sad to see that it wasn't where it used to be and thought it may have gone, we asked around and was directed to a new building where they have moved to. We spoke to the lady running the centre and she told us all the new stuff that is going on in the trust, we even got to spend lunch with the children and I saw some familiar faces from last time. They also remembered me and said I was Jon from last year that was upstairs. The next day we were invited to attend the picnic with the children so today we pretty much spent the whole time playing football, cricket, skipping, climbing and volleyball.

I will upload all photos when I get a chance...

Jon X         

Moving on from Goa

Hi Everybody!

Travel logistics to Delhi are all complete. We are leaving Goa on the 17^th and getting a sleeper coach to Hampi (Journey time 13 hours) stay in Hampi till the 22^nd. We then get a semi sleeper coach from Hospet to Mumbai (Journey time 16 hours). Spend a day in Mumbai and then get a train on the 24^th from Bandra Terminus to Delhi (Journey time 37 hours).

Our time in Goa has been wonderful and we have been looking at some of what is has to offer, today we went to the local flea market in town where they have hundreds of stalls selling clothes, jewellery, watches, bags, food, magnets and much more. The market was very busy and seemed to go on forever..

A few photos from the flea market.....

We also visited some beaches........ These two pictures are of Anjuna Beach

And saw a few animals along the way

There were many, many cows in Goa but this was by far the biggest and best around!












And of course the local Elephant........












Our last bit before we head of is a few photos of the children who come to Goa and walk the beaches for hours selling or begging to make money.

 This Little girl in the beautiful bright pink sari asked us for money and for us to visit her shop where her family made their living

This boy came to us on Calangute Beach selling Pineapples.  

Goa

Hi All

Yesterday We arrived in Goa after a 16 hour coach journey from Mumbai. Word of advice: For long journeys on buses in India get a Air Conditioned Sleeper, but be warned the air con is constantly turned on and it more than likely cannot be turned off. Which means it is freezing cold...all the time! I was wearing my shorts and t-shirt and thought the sleeping bag liner I had would be enough (a sleeping bag liner is basicly a thin sleeping bag made of silk). I could not sleep most of the time due to always being cold. So please...when on a A/C Sleeper bring extra clothing or maybe a blanket to keep you warm.

There were different stops available once the coach reached goa as they have many different beaches. We got off at the first stop which was Mapusa and jumped into a take to a place called Anjuna, the reason we chose this was because it was where the hotel recommended by lonely planet and trip advisor was located.

The place were staying is called Coutinho's Nest Guest House and only cost 600 Rupees (£7 – £8) per night, not sure that is good or not in comparison but it was it scored 89% or more on the sites we researched it on. It has WI-FI internet, Satellite TV, and private bathroom with hot showers. We are staying in Goa for five nights and already have another bus ticket for Hampi which leaves on the 17^th. This one is a non A/C but not by choice, it was the only coach company that went direct from Goa to Hampi.

After looking around for the day we soon saw that Goa is beautiful and so are its people, there are many beaches along the coast and each on is a nice as the next. This place hosts to a lot of Europeans (Like Us) and is a holiday hot spot for all. Here are one of the beaches we visited today.

Also a few local games....

.

Elephanta Island

Hi All!

Went to Elephanta Island yesterday and had a fun time...Despite the name there isn't any Elephants, only lots of caves, dogs and best of all Monkeys (Should be called Monkey Island Really!!) The monkeys over populate the place and have come accustomed to free food by tourist. Like this little guy

We went to the Island in the afternoon which I personally would not advise as it was over crowded and very hot. We got there by boat and it was a relaxed and breezy journey to the Island that took and hour. On arrival we had to walk along a long narrow wall and then tracked up some 130 or so stairs to reach to top. There we mostly watched and took pictures of the monkeys. like this one, they were getting water from the tank.

The Caves were cool but we got through them quickly...here is a picture of the Hindu God/Deity Shiva

We went back shortly after as we did not want to miss the last boat.

Book Club

Hi Book and potential book clubbers, I could not get hold of 'Anne Franks Diary' what I did get however was Gypsy Boy and Gypsy Boy on the run both by Micky Walsh and The Man Who Broke into Auschwitz by Denis Avey. Feel Free to read, Gypsy Boy is my first and Gypsy Boy on the run follows..It's very good! 

Didn't end up going to Elephanta Island that day as we over slept. We did however pay a visit to the Gandhi Museum, but not before we got taken to the Prince Of Wales Museum first which was a 5 second ride away, the man tired to charge up 160 Rupees when his meter read 16 Rupees. I gave him 20 Rupees and decided to start again, the next taxi driver knew where it was and we were on our way. The Museum was ever inspiring despite bumping into an over friendly Indian man who assumed I knew more that I did about trading metals. He asked for our emails and I couldn't refuse and we exchanged. He then spent the rest of his visit following us around and asking how much things cost back home (London). After seeing all we could we left the museum and walked to Chowpatty Beach (Which I heard translates Beach Beach). We grabbed a taxi back to Colaba and ended up outside the gateway the ride cost just 62 Rupees and I handed the man a 500 Note to which he did not have change. By luck he ended up pulling down the street right outside the our hotel and pointed for me to get change there. Me and Rachel stepped out and I went over, I asked the guy for changed which he did not have, he asked how much the taxi and I told him 60 plus a tip is 100. He handed me a hundred and said to pay him back later, also he said you stay at 105, I was a bit confused, he said when I was there earlier I left my room key and his been keeping it safe. He gave 100 for the taxi driver and the key to my room I never knew I lost......Later when I gave him back the 100 I gave him another 100 to thank his kindness....What A Community!   

Hi Everyone!

So far Rach and I are having a great time relaxing in India, the flight over was fine despite a 1 minute spout of heavy turbulence in which I started sweating terribly. We picked up a taxi from the airport and headed straight to Colaba which cost 480 Rupees (About 6 - 8 pounds) bit pricey I though buy paid willingly. Heading to the Taxi a man decided to make himself useful and grab the ticket from my hand, read it then lead the way. saying "ah! 5189, come with me". After finding the Taxi he asked for English Pounds. I gave me 20 rupees as the taxi drove off. On the way the heat was intense and we were almost in a few minor collisions (quite the norm for India) on arrival we checked into the Carlton Hotel and paid for four nights, we paid a bit more than I assumed but that was justified when the guy showed me the brand new bathrooms and showers he had installed. After that we ate at Leapolds and then went back to the hotel and slept till the next day. First sleep in 30 hours.

Today we were asked by a guy named Joel to take part in the Bollywood movie, one which we had to refuse as it was short notice. He said his Norwegian friend is hooked up with a casting agency and she need twenty Europeans and the coach will arrive in a hour. 

Tomorrow..Elephanta Island 



       

2 Days to GO!

It's almost time to leave on our travels and I can hardly wait! I found it difficult to sleep last night as was thinking about all stuff I still need to do before we head off. Still need to ensure we have everything we need, print off all our documents, get more travel money, pack our gear, check in to flight and more which I have surly forgot to mention.   

Preparation for travels

Hi All!

Cannot wait to start my around the world travels! I am going away for four month and travelling around India, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand and USA. However there was so much preparation I needed do before hand and thought it may be helpful if I shared my experiences.

Good Idea!! Have a solid financial foundation. My girlfriend and I were saving for over six months before we could afford the tickets and are still saving for spending money for our travels. After you have a bit of money in your bank account starts researching!!

Research Topics: Where to go, when to go, for how long, who with, how much will it cost, what travel company to book with, what I will need on my travels.

After doing some extensive research my girlfriend and I decided on the countries above and booked with 'Round the World Experts’ we compared individual flights against the custom made itinerary and found the cost was similar. Advantage to booking with a travel company is they gave a price instantly and offered package or custom made travel itineraries. Also they assign you a 'rep' what they call a personal butler.

Next we decided we should look at the countries we choose to visit in more depth to get an idea of where to go and what we could do while we were there. We used websites like trip advisor and lonely planet. We found both to be very useful for ideas of places to go and where to stay. Just to be sure it is a good idea to cross reference. Especially as far as accommodation goes as different sites has different reviews. We also purchased 'Rough Guide' books from Waterstones at 3 for the price of 2. The other option was 'Lonely Planet' but personally I felt 'Rough Guides' are better books just because they have more colour and are easier on the eyes.

We bought five in total: one for India, Thailand, Australia and New Zealand and one titled: First Time Around the World all. Most of the questions you have plus ones that do not even cross your mind are pretty much covered in these books. (Again good idea to cross reference)

After that it was the case of "where is the best places to go in each country", "how best to spend our time", "what budget will we need", "how much stuff should we take" etc.

Obviously what I like, what budget I have, what I want to see, reasons for travelling, how long I want to go for (realistically go for), who I go with is totally different from the next person the possibilities are many.

Any who! It's almost time and we are very excited. Hope this was helpful.