Hello All, Firstly- Happy Birthday Lou Pooh- hope you are having a fantastic day- thinking of you, and wish i was there to help you celebrate! Todays email installment comes from the capital of Rajistan- Jaipur! the past few days have been interesting to say the least, on the evening of the last email i sent you all, the groups luck took a turn for the worst..........7 out of 12 of us became very sick- a severe bout of food poisoning we think struck them all at about 3 in the morning and we were all up debating exactly how we were going to make our way to Jojawa- 6 hour bus journey- if the majority of the group were suffering! Thankfully i was not one of the unlucky few, so those who couldnt handle the bus journey got taxis directly there, and were making regular stops on the way......bless them.......the rest of us roughed it on the bus- although am beginning to quite enjoy these journeys- couldnt be any more of a culture shock if i tried! ha So arrived in Jojawa- wow! indeed, as expected was very small, but the complex we were staying in was absolutely divine- certainly not travelling accomodation- but was well needed for the suffering group! Large beds, airy rooms, swimming pool, massages and beautiful food......certainly was a relief when we arrived! We were greeted by the staff who were playing the bongos as we entered in the courtyard, as we got out of the jeeps we were showered with an array of coloured petals, and a traditional Indian henna was placed on our heads..........we all felt quite delighted with our welcome.....should make this a regular thing! ha. Spent the day around the resort, as Jojawa has little to offer really, was more of a pit stop between Udaipur and Pushka........apart from the doctor having to be called early eveing for some of the girls....still v ill, it was a relaxing day! Stephen also managed to join in the others by having a disastrous day.....starting by splitting his head wide open by swimming into an under water ledge.....not good....and in the evening, he managed to walk out of our room, which was pitch black outside, and thinking that a lilly-pad filled pond was a grass verge he fell right in, and was up to his arm pits in algaed water.......although i havent wet myself laughing so much in ages.....turned out he had really bruised and grazed his ribs and both arms.......quite a sight, but both still managed to see the funny side! Left Jojawa for Pushka.........hhmm........fantastic shops.......and a very hippy town, plenty of dreads and very chilled out people....also a fair few westerners.....we shopped til we dropped, and paid a visit to a local temple on Friday as it was Stephs Nans funeral and also lit a candle for Hayleys Grandad....was a peaceful temple, clean and white, and only the four Brits in there.......so was nice to escape the bustling streets for half an hour. Unforunately Stephen missed most of Pushka due to illness.......Delly Belly struck.......ha ha ha, wasnt funny at the time, although laughing about it now! We went for our best meal so far in Pushka.......it was absolutely yummy....our first real taste of western food since leaving England on the 20th....and it was well needed by now i can tell you! So i indulged in a yummy pizza.....but stomach has defo shrunk, as was stuffed! So we worked off dinner with a final shop......Pushka is known for its excellent silver......so bought a lovely ring ( i am really missing not having my jewellery on out here!) and some pressies for an approaching birthday Miss Pass........te he he......also bought a fantastic green top....think im going to have to do some back pack re-arranging....ha ha, is so hard not to buy buy buy......Roxwell you'd certainly be struggling honey! We arrived in Jaipur yesterday........and it is even busier than Delhi........and i also found out today that the population of Delhi alone is larger than the whole of Australia.....hopefully that will give you all an idea of the population here....is pretty impressive how many children these Indians manage to have!!! ha Our hotel here, Diggi Palace......wow...is like a retreat.........lots of green lawns and flower beds.......i am really appreciating the greenery here after so much dessert and vast open dry land in recent weeks.......is like a hot summers day back in England.......although maybe a tad nicer- te he he! Last night we ventured into town and went to a nice restaurant and today visited the Fort and Bazaar....plenty to see and do here, although not much time, as we leave tomorrow for Agra......The Taj Mahal........so excited! Tonight we are off to see a Bollywood film........although im pretty sure i could have seen the same thing in Uxbridge, ha ha, we have seen the cinema itself and it is huge, extravagant, and full of character...........will let you know, though doubt it will be quite the next Star Wars! Right best be off, am making the most of the internet access here, as yet again could be a few days until i am in the vicinty of a computer......... Hope you are all well, is lovely to hear what you are all up to, so keep the updates coming.....will make my 18 months fly by! Take care, and much love to all Ellen xxx PS Was in a man ridden rick shaw home last night with Sophie, John and Aesha, and the little man peddaling asked if John would like to try, and in the end we all gave it a shot.......ha ha ha, the rules of the road here leave little to be desired, so i ended up scooting accross three lanes, through a red light, had four very scared passengers, and onto oncoming traffic and roaming cows.........and apparently i was doing it just fine.......oh lordy lord......think i'll leave it to the professionals next time!