We now find ourselves in Dharmashala (residence to the Dalai Lama and headquarters of the Tibetan Government in exile), it took us a couple of days to get over our mammoth trip from Kashmir and settle in. Compared to Kashmir this place is heaving with foreigners and Indian tourists.

We are staying in Bhagsu upper Dharmashala in a small damp guest house. We're told that on a good day from our balcony you can look down over the beautiful Kangra Valley, but since arriving the valley has been covered in a thick mist.

For most of the 5 days we've been here it has rained about 80% of the time. I'd not mind so much if we were sat in a bungalow on the beach in the tropics, but when you are confined to either your damp guest house room or one of the small busy cafes it starts to become a bit tiresome. I'm sure this place is beautiful at the right time of year, its just too wet and damp to take in the beauty now.

To get us through the pain of the constant rain we've (well I've) had a couple of massages and learnt how to make mala jewellery.

Ant is unwell again, this time with the flu. We've worked out that for at least half this trip he's either had stomach problems or the flu, it is really starting to get him down - we may have to look at amputating his head!

We've decided to cut our India trip short and head for Indonesia for 1-month, we will leave here on 14th September and head for the beaches of Lombok and the Gili islands. We've no idea where we'll head for the next month in India, we just want to stay away from the heat and rain - I think that's going to be pretty difficult seeing as we are in the middle of the monsoon.

For today though with the rain setting in, I think I'll head to a cafe with my book for a pot of mint tea!