Hey crazy peeps... sorry that I have taken so long... but illness struck me down and I could barely get myself up yet alone get to a computer... but more of that in the blog.

22nd March- Drive to Jaipur

Nothing all the exciting happened today, all we did was drive to Jaipur on yet another fun filled ride, with our driver still speeding over bumps and beeping like a maniac. In 1 hour he managed 397 beeps. My god I could of killed the man as I was exhausted what with the persistant cough! We spent the afternoon just chilling and using the internet. Took me 4 hours to upload my photos between STA and Facebook. FOUR HOURS. But on the plus side I have had some great comments from my friends and it is good that they can see how I am getting on... particularly as they seem stumped at the whole 'blog' concept! In the evening we watched Notting Hill.. which almost made me cry with joy, as it is an epic movie. It also made me a tad homesick, as England is awesome and I miss it!

23rd March- SARA'S BIRTHDAY and our day in Jaipur

Had a great day today as it was Sara's birthday!! We woke up... or in Sara's case she was woken up by an over enthusiastic me singing Happy Birthday at the top of my voice. Bless her, she smiled through gritted teeth haha! We then went up to the rroftop restaurant for breakfast and opened the cards I brought over from England... which were lovely. I was touched by the lovely things Dad, Mum and Ben wrote in a card for me. It stopped me from feeling left out, but did intensify the homesickness! We then went on a tour of the Amber Fort, which was huge and very different from the other forts we have visited. There were Elephants taking people up the steep path to the Fort, but being cheap skates we just walked it. It was a lovely day, and nice to just wander in and out of the courtyards of the fort. However, it has struck me how much more poverty there is in the south of Rajesthan. I find it hard to see the small children of 5 or 6 years carrying their baby brothers or sisters in their tiny arms. It is so sad, and difficult to comprehend how little one can do to help them. Most of the time these kids are covered in flies, and the babies are either naked or have little clothing. Also, the amount of disabled beggers, ones without various limbs... it is so difficult when they tap on the window of the car at traffic lights to just ignore them. Well... anyway, I have found Jaipur to be the worst for poverty, probably due to it being the largest city in Rajesthan. But this is what I came to experience, and it makes you realise that Slumdog Millionaire is not just for edited for cinematic purposes, it is true.
After the Amber Fort we saw the Floating Palace and visited various shops and markets, where I bought various presents!! Then we went to the City Palace and enjoyed another audio tour, with the sexy head sets. It was very pink, although Sara and I agreed it should actually be called the 'Terracotta City' not the 'Pink City' as the colour is quite clearly to orange to be pink. But I suppose the 1000 year long dynasty prevails over our judgement!
Upon leaving the Palace, we were met by a parade of women on their way to the temple. There was a real party/carnival atmosphere, and it was great to see so much jovality in their faces. They all carried flowers on their heads, and their were cars adorned with decorations. It was very interesting.
In the evening we went for dinner at K.C (our driver) Uncle's house ub one of the villages just outside Jaipur. They were so sweet and hospitable, although we did feel slightly like we were animals in a zoo when pretty much the entire village came to see us. It is hard with a language barrier to do anything but sit their whilst they watch you intently. I am never going to quite view Zoo's the same way! When they found out it was Sara's birthday K.C went and picked up a lovely cake for her, with her name on it and everything! It was the sweetest thing anyone has done for us whilst out here... and made me rethink my awful comments about his driving... although you all would be the same I bet! We enjoyed a meal cooked by his aunt, and then returned home. We watched 'Father of the Bride' which AGAIN made me homesick... I miss our dog walks daddy!

March 24th- Travel to Ranthambore and Tiger Safari

We woke up at 6am to get to Ranthambore in time for our afternoon safari... but having not had a great night sleep the early morning beeping did not go down well. My cough has gotten worse and I was distressed in the night not to be able to sleep due to it. After 2 consulotatiosn and 8 different tablets you would think they could get it right. Plus, I had a slightly iffy tummy in the morning, but just brushed it off as the early rise and got on with our 6 hour journey.
We arrived in the hotel and had a couple of hours before the safari, when I slept as I was styill not quite feeling myself and was tired due to like of sleep the day before. We got picked up in a jeep and were joined by 4 Americans, who had already done a morning Safari and seen a Tiger. I swear that this doomed us. It is rare to see a Tiger ever... yet alone twice in a row!! But although we did not see a Tiger on our 3 hour Safari, we did see deer up close, and peacocks, various birds and tons of mokeys, some with babies!
Unfortunately I was not feeling myself on the Safari, and had a bit of a temperature. It was a real shame as it was a great experience. But when I got back to the hotel room I was really shaky, and then during the night I suffered horrific sickness. When they say Delhi Belly is one of a kind they are not lying. Combined with my cough I was feeling very sorry for myself. It just makes you ache all over, and all I wanted was to be tucked up in my bed at home, with a bowl of mum's leek and potato soup, lucy in my arms and an episode of Scrubs. It really has been a homesick week... as well as a sick sick week.

March 25th- Travelling to Agra

I woke up... or more like surfaced from the depths of the bathroom... feeling awful. Two nights of poor sleep and no energy from food as I have stopped eating to stop the sickness, made me a rather grouchy character. I had no breakfast, just some water and a glass of Mango juice. Two hours into our 7 hour journey to Agra and the Mango juice decided to resurface... all over K.C car. I was so utterly embarassed, but there was no time to stop it! A rather groggy 5 hours later and we arrived in Agra, with me still not 100% as you can imagine. I am now starting to feel a touch more like myself. I managed to drinka can of coke... and 2 hours down the line it still hasnt come up. Though everytime I cough I worry something else might come up with it. Its a relief not to have anymore driving with K.C, although he is a nice man, its just so tiring. Luckily I had a lovely long call with Liam, which perked me up alot (he has a way of doing that) and now I have made it to the computer it is a relief. Hopefully I have seen the last of Indian sickness!!

Missing everyone more than ever, perhaps as I am illl. Tomorrow at 6am we see the Taj Mahal which will be exciting! Can't wait to finally see it. Hope everyone is well, and don't hesitate to write on my message board.. it is a touch depressing that no one has since the 13th March :( Love you all xxxxxxx