Just a quick update before we move on to Jodhpur this afternoon. Yesterday we walked down to the main market to get some supplies. We were given flowers each down the street and when we went to have a look at the Holy Lake were told we needed to throw them into the river (pool) as the river is dry at the moment! They then took us separately to perform some elaborate ceremony which ends in them asking for money. We knew that this would probably happen but they...

Pushkar is amazing! We took the train from Jaipur the Ajmer and then got a taxi to Pushkar as there is no train station, but it's only about 10k from Ajmer. We arrived yesterday and had been given the name of a place to stay that was good and cheap. So, we headed there (Hotel Aravali) and we took an en suite room with a balcony for just 4.20GBP per night! The room is basic but great for us. There is also a roof top chill out area with hammocks in the sun and a sh...

Our guest house in Jaipur is great. The room is huge and there was a man painting ornate detail around our door frame when we arrived. We looked out of our window the afternoon when we arrived and watched camels go by, pulling carts, chipmunks and parroquetes in the trees opposite and about 20 monkeys playing in the trees opposite too. There is also a great rooftop restaurant at the hotel, which gives you a great view. The next day we had arranged for a ricks...

On our last day Mumbai we went to Elephanta Island. We walked to the Gate of India and then took a ferry to the island, which took about an hour. The ferry was an experience. In true Indian style they just pull up next to other boats and ask you to walk from boat to boat until you reach the one which you need to be on! We then left the busy port by crashing into other boats rather than taking the long way around, so their boat driving is just like their car drivi...

In Mumbai/Bombay at the moment. Took the overnight train a couple of nights ago from Goa. Second Class AC this time. Similar layout to Sleeper Class, but obviously there is Air Con and they give you bedding and soap. Much less crowded than Sleeper and not so many people walking by. Plus a loy quieter, as there are windows which don't open due to the AC, so you don't get the track noise, and people in 2nd class tend to keep themselves to themselves more than ...