Hey all,

I've addded some more photos to this site but i couldnt be bothered to sort them into different places so yourl have to wait till i get home or guess!!

Since our last blog entry we have been really busy. We had a 3 hour drive from Jaipur to Ranthambore National Park on sunday. When we arrived we had a few hours to relax in our rather posh hotel with huge gardens and swimming pool, before visiting Ranthambore fort. It was built in the 10th centry and you have to climb up hundreds of stairs to reach the top. Fortunatly the views were worh it even if the temple buildings were a bit the worse for wear. The place was also heaving with monkeys!

The next morning we were up at 5am for a canter (stretched jeep/low opentop bus thingy) safari at 6am. Was really good fun which was helped by the cool temperatures that early in the morning! We saw spotted deer, monkeys, a mongoose, a crocodile, peahens,peacocks, and loads of different birds, but unforunatly no tigers, leaopards, or sloth bears. In the afternoon i satyed back at the hotel to chill out while jon went on a second safari and the lucky guy saw 3 whole tigers!!!

On the tuesday we had another early start as we had a 7 hour drive to Agra. The hotel was alright - the room was nice but it was a it out of the way. Went to see the Taj Mahal in the evening. To get in we had to queue for half an hour before getting to the front, only to be told i was meant to be a womans queue and so i had to wait another 10minutes whlste Jon went in. It was also very expensive for tourists (Rs750 = 8-9pounds) compared to indians (Rs20 = 35p). Inside the Taj was really nice but unbelievably crowded!! You can probably tell from the photos. Bhinda, our driver took us to see a marble factory where they still use the traditional methods of marble design which are the same as those used for the Taj mahal. It was really interesting up until they started trying to sell us table tops - which they could either insure and post home for us or we could carry them with us(?!) all for a few hundred pounds! as if!

That evening at we went for a wander around the streets near our hotel in agra to have a look for internet and somewhere for me to phone home. Ended up in a smal and qute cheap internet cafe where i got laughed at for talkin a photo of a lizard on the wall! then while i was on the phone, jon was chatting to some indian teenagers who laughed at everything he said and then took pictures wih us and asked for our email addresses!

Yestrday we said goodbye to Bhinda at Agra's train station where we caught a rather posh train with reclining seats and lots of legroom to Jhansi. On arrival the tourist info desk told us to get the Khajuraho bus from the front of the station. unfortunatly there were no buses there. We met a couple (Anna and Simon) also looking for the bus and in two rickshaws we were taken to where we were told the bus would be. The local bus depo. For those of you that dont know, a local bus is one where people sit on the roof, are packed in like sardines and hang out the doors! After three suggested start times from the drive of 12.30, 1pm, and 1.20pm we finally left at 1.10, packed fuller than i thought was ever possible with Simon (Australian) and Anna (from Belgum), a polish couple, and 3 australians. It was a 7 hour, very hot and bumpy trip with extremely hard seats. Jon, Anna, and i took it in turns to sit on the end of our row (we had fortunatly managed to get seats!) which meant getting peoples elbows and luggage balanced on your head, and sweaty armpits, bums and male groins in your face! Despite all the hardships it was surprisingly good fun! Eventually we arrived at our hotel, which i personally thing is our best yet. Mostly beacuse the food was nice and more importantly there is a range of shower temperatures (as opposed to either freezing or scolding) and the shower head sprays water in just 1 direction rather than around the whole bathroom - luxury!!

This morning we had a much needed lie in before visiting a nearby waterfall. It was really pretty and quite impressive when u realise that although all we could see were rocks and a little water, during the monsoon water would fill the canyon right upto where we were standing (see the photos to understand me). Then went to the famous Khajuraho tmeples which are decorated with erotic karma sutra images! see photos. where we again met up with Anna and simon and have spent the afternoon with them. Are goin for dinner with them this evenng too.

It's really nice to finally meet other tourists as until now it has been just me, jon and Bhinda which was fine but its always nice when theres a larger group.

Well, hope every one is well. Tomorrow we are heading back to Jhansi by bus as we have to catch an overnight train to Varanassi. wish us luck!

miss you all, love Fran xx