Hello!!!

So we left Jodhpur early doors and arrived in Jaipur after a short train journey!

Jaipur is known as the 'pink city' as the buildings were all painted a pinkish colour, it was more terracotta though we reckoned! Anyway we had three nights here to explore and have a look about, so we took it easy and didn't rush; we visited the Palace and enjoyed chilling out in the hotel's garden with plenty of delicious mango lassis! We wandered the city and as usual got pretty lost. This was cool though as we ended up away from the other tourists and surrounded by locals, all saying "good morning" and "hello". The kids are so lovely, chasing us up the road to say hello and shake our hands, some of them requesting rupees as well, but you can't blame them.

Jaipur done, then to smelly Delhi, Which wasn't actually that smelly at all really. We travelled around the city by metro, which is pretty fancy pants and modern, however, guards stand by to try and prevent people from barging and pushing their way on to the trains, before anyone has a chance to get off! Its madness, like your back at school and someone has just shouted "BUNDLE"!! And 'no spitting' signs have been put up to remind people to give that a rest aswell. I have never seen so many people spitting since we have been in India, not just spitting but serious hawking up and gobbing, it's not so pretty.

Whilst staying in Delhi we took a day trip to Agra, to see the Taj Mahal. It was beautiful. Really stunning. It's actually a tomb, and was built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, in memory of his wife, who died giving birth to their 14th child.

We were glad we only went for the day and didn't stay in the surrounding town as it was a bit grot. This is where i saw a dead dog amongst the rubbish in the street and people doing their number two's quite happily along the side of a road! We arrived in Agra first thing in the morning, and found a random, but recommended restaurant for some brekkie. Now, we have been eating nothing but Indian food, of course, but we were feeling a bit fed up of it and decided to order some 'muesli'! Ha ha! What we got wasn't what we had hoped for; it was hot cooked rice, mixed with lumpy yoghurt, sprinkled with a few cornflakes and a few chunks of mushy fruit! I didn't manage to get it down me, and ordered a naan instead! ha!

We had been warned about the touts and pushy people in Agra, so was prepared for some hassle, but people were lovely, especially the rickshaw drivers we had, they were really nice blokes, and worked so hard.

We headed back to Delhi in the evening. Whilst sat at the train station we people watched and lots of people had a good butchers at us too, a couple of guys even requested to take our picture! Once on the train we were sat opposite a couple who weren't so polite and didn't dare ask i don't think for a photo, as they sneakily took my picture on their mobile phones! Cheeky sods!

So we are now in Varanasi. It's how i imagined India to be. The streets are a maze of little alleys, the buildings are old and hickeldy pickeldy, it's dirty, very hot and there are loads of flies about, cows wander the streets alongside you, and monkeys swing from building to building! It's very busy around the market area, horns honking constantly, as bikes, cars and rickshaws weave around one another, and lots of blokes trying to persuade you to look in their shops.

This morning at 6:30am we went on a boat ride on the Ganges. We rowed past the different Ghats and watched as people washed, swam and prayed in the holy river water. The sun was rising up through the misty air as we passed a couple of different cremations in progress. Varanasi is thought of as 'the holy city of India' and is one of the most sacred pilgrimage places for Hindu's in India. Many people come here to die and to be cremated.

This evening, we boarded a boat again and rode up the river again to watch the evening prayers and ceremonies take place. Hundreds of people gathered to watch as the prayers were performed, with candles, incense, perfume and petals.

Varanasi has been brilliant. Tomorrow back to Delhi!