From Goa it was a turbulent plane journey to Delhi and then straight on to Agra, courtesy of our personal driver who would be taking us through the whole of Rajasthan. Backpacking at its finest. After a slight delay due to a problem with our hotel's room service (Godd) we were on our way to what is commonly considered the jewel in India's resplendent crown: The Taj Mahal. Before we arrived, one of Dilip's many surprises was revealed to us in the form of a tour g...

Every country has its a******s. It was in Goa that we found one of India's. During the course of our journey from the airport to our hostel, we were subjected to the loathsome presence of a young, obnoxious taxi driver who, not knowing where to go, accused us of providing him with the wrong hostel phone number, the wrong hostel name and blamed us for not having GPS for him to follow. When we finally arrived at the hostel, which did indeed bare the name first give...

On the fourth day we went to India's largest slum, Deravi. The decision to take the trip came after a frank discussion about the ethics involved. We wondered whether we would be assuming the role of colonialists, taking a glimpse into the lives of the underprivileged, exposing them to a judging foreign eye, simply for our own gratification. However, after speaking with Dilip, a man who had lived in the slum for years, we were convinced that it was looked upon pos...

It was on our third day in Mumbai that Alice and I got a proper glimpse into life in Mumbai. After being picked up by Baboo, Dilip's old friend and driver, from our hostel, we were taken on a tour of the … city. This first entailed a trip to the laundrette where in the place of machines stood a group of men who simply beat clothes clean in large trenches of water, all day, every day. The most surprising aspect of the launderette was that it was responsible fo...

After eating a hearty breakfast of omelette bread, literally an omelette wedged between two slices of bread, a banana and masala chai, which is a strangely refreshing blend of ginger, cardammon, tea, hot water and milk, we made our way to the impressive ….museum. Not only was the landscape picturesque, but the building itself contained some impressive architecture and interesting exhibitions. Walking around its large interior, we were taken through a history o...