Hi All,

Finally and happily now in Colva, Goa. We really enjoyed our time in North India but it's so good to be in a place where we're not being hassled 25 hours a day and can relax a bit. Spent this morning alternately on a sun lounger and in the very warm sea. Well earnt we feel!

Last night was our first night in an actual bed for a couple of nights: last night was spent on a sleeper train as part of our 19 hour journey from Jaisalmer back to Delhi for our flight down to Goa; and the night before we slept on the Dunes in the Thar desert just outside Jaisalmer. That day we'd been driven out from the town and spent the afternoon on a camel safari riding across the desert. Despite severe muscle soarness in certain areas, it was great fun, if only to see Rois as her camel (Mr. Magoo) went stampeding off of his own accord over some unexplored territory. When a panicked Rois ased the guides what she should do they told her "Magoo knows". Brilliant. My camel was better behaved and we got along a treat. Once Magoo had been restrained and put back on the straight and narrow we stopped and watched the sunset then settled down for the night with our guides and a friendly French couple also on the safari. We were cooked a delicious meal on an open fire and then camped down on the dunes accompanied only by the ocassional stray dog and some peacocks. The sky was beautiful and the camp beds were fairly comfy. A great experience all round. Ironically, having survived a night in the desert without incident I (James) then got stung by a large angry looking yellow flying thing in the jeep on the way home.

WE then set off on a 28 hour journey to our guest house in the town of Colva in Goa. It all went surprisingly smoothly, the train was a bit delayed (Rois: 'a bit delayed' means an hour and a half by the way!) but we made our flight from Delhi in loads of time and were met by a guy from our hostel at Goa airport. I did manage to get pick-pocketed at Old Delhi train station though (just when we thouight our opinion of Delhi could sink no lower). We got off the train and had to fight our way up this packed staircase with what seemed like the rest of Delhi's population and about three or four steps from the top I felt my pocket which now had no wallet in it. Fortunately I saw a fairly suspicious looking bloke walking hurriedly away, so Jason Bourne-like I knocked over the unfortunate people in front of me (including Rois), ran up to this guy, we exchanged words and took back my wallet which (stupidly) he was holding in his thieving hands - amateur. After Rois and I had told him exactly what we thought of his work we hurried off to the airport, hopefully never to return to Delhi.

Still, we're completely happy and content now in Goa, off to another stretch of white beach tomorrow so all is well! Have still been unable to find a computer that works with our camera so will try again soon to put up our photos. Thank you all for your messages, until next time, much love, Rois and James x