19th Nov, Had a 6 hour bus journey that was hell! The roads were bumpy and my bum still hurts from the camel ride. Upaipur is known as the most romantic city in India and apparently Brad and Angelina have just been on holiday here, staying in a hotel known as the Floating Palace - slightly more higher in class than the place I'm staying! Mind you, my room is on the roof and has great views of the huge lake that surounds the city - perfect for a beer at night! I went to an Indian dance and music concert that night and was not sure if I'd be that fussed, but it was amazing - a woman was dancing whilst balancing 9 big pots on her head!

20th Nov, Went around the Royal Palace, which took a few hours and then saw the palace that inspired the Taj Mahal. Then I went to a painting shop, where you can learn how to do the traditional miniature paintings.  I choose not to learn because you had to pay, but I did get a nail painted for free with a camel on it! In the evening I went to my tour leader's house and met
his family and they put on lots of fantastic food which tasted great.

21st Nov: Udaipur is where they filmed Octop**** and everywhere shows it so I did!! Also went on another boat ride around the lake and that was very peaceful in the hot weather. The other thing I find funny is how popular The Vengaboys are over here. I first came accross this at a bar in Nepal where they just played the album over and over - then all the Indians ask me if I like them and start singing the songs! There are more than I thought and quite catchy after a while! All the locals ask me if I'm Indian and start speaking Hindi to me and are quite disappointed that I'm not a Hindu, but they do recognise my look!!