Q&A I thought I would take the opportunity afforded by regular internet access to answer a couple of the questions that some of you have asked on the Message Board. Firstly, Dad you asked me what I liked about India, and Vick you asked what I missed about England. I have been giving both a lot of thought, and so here are my current conclusions. Dad's question made me worry that due to all the tales I have related of heat, dirt, chaos, mad traffic, being st...

A Ladies' Trek I have returned to Almora, the small and attractive hillside town where I came from Nainital about ten days ago. In the interim I have been to Bageshwar, from where Mauro and I did a six day trek to the Pindari Glacier. I will attempt to tell you all about it, although you will have to bear with me, as this computer is frustratingly slow, I am tired after a 5.30 am start and longish bus journey, and having just parted company this morning with my ...

Goodbye to Amarpurkashi So, in the end I conceded victory to the heat and decided to leave Amapurkashi two days early - both Mauro and I felt that really we weren't offering or gaining much holed up in our rooms, an anxious eye on the fan in case one of the regular electricity cuts should prevent it working. We had decided to travel together for a while and head for the Himalayan foothills, in desperate search of cooler climes. Our decision was met with unders...

The School Trip, the Temple and the Sadhu NB. I am actually writing this from the town of Chandausi, which I am delighted to find actually makes an appearance on the Off Exploring Map! Not sure exactly how you lot access it, but thought I'd let you know. Anyway, as usual I have more stories to choose from than you can shake a stick at, but I think I'll tell one that allows me to illustrate a few things that have become key themes of my stay at APK. It was Tuesd...

Impressions of Rural India Unfortunately I am not able to write these blogs with the leisure and attention to detail I enjoyed when I had daily interent access, but will do my best to keep them up! I have spent the last ten days at the project in the rural village of Amarpurkashi, and I think that the vast chasm between the world I know and this one is only just beginning to fully reveal itself to me. I am having to peel back the layers of my Western thinking, ...