Hey everyone!

Sorry that this has been so delayed as we have been enjoying ourselves too much! Right then so here it goes....

07/03/2011 Delhi India

After a long grueling flight from Heathrow we landed in Delhi, India at 11.30am and it was hectic! We met up with our driver who had us running all through the airport, probably to save on parking, as we landed an hour after estimated time. Within ten minutes of a life threatening drive we pull up at traffic lights to have our first taste of India in the form of begging children and women with newborns tapping on the windows (not the best start). Within our first few hours of being here we saw stray monkeys running around, cows holding up traffic, people relieving there bowels on side of the street, nearly died about eight times in the ruthless road traffic and to top it off the jet lag did not help. All in all our first day was a bit mad and a massive eye opener. Everyone seems to want to speak to you (not all being genuine) everybody knows everyone and there is all cash to be made from tourists. Our advice about Delhi, don't always believe what you hear. We ended up meeting a really nice Indian guy who had a girlfriend fly in the same day from Holland. We got chatting went for lunch (his choice where we went) and then he kept trying to persuade us to go to tourist offices for train tickets etc. after bumping into him a couple of times it turned out he was a tout for the tourist office and probably for the restaurant......sneaky git.

By our second day we had settled in a bit better and kept our wits about us. We went for food and lost our voices saying 'no thank you' 'no thank you' to every tom, d*** and Harry. After food we went about booking our onward transport from Delhi. We booked a driver to take us around Delhi all day and to take us around Rajasthan. Got a real good deal as our hotel was charging twice as much. We went sight seeing around Delhi. We went to see humayans tomb which was spectacular (see pics), after that we went to the lotus temple which looked really nice but we turned up at the wrong time of day (prayer time) so once you go in you can't leave. It's disrespectful to get up and walk out in the middle of prayer but nobody told us that haha. We watched an Indian guy try and make a run for the exit and he got told off. Was so funny. There was six or so different holy men and women so when someone got up to leave all these people who work there would home in on you and very calmly tell you to sit back down. By the end of the day we were shattered and had a walk around the shops by our hotel (by the way, don't ever take clothes to India; the shopping is amazing and cheap as chips!

The food in Delhi was amazing, such variety. We have ended up eating a mostly vegetarian diet as what they have on offer is so god dam good.

If we could sum up Delhi in one word it would have to be INTENSE!

09/03/2011 Agra, India

Moving on from Delhi we took a five and a half hour (bumpy) journey down to Agra. Our driver picked us up from our hotel in Delhi and it seemed to take forever. Lots of road chaos, we saw a guy get knocked off his bike because some clever sausage decided to open his car door on a main road. On the way down we saw so much poverty. People just living on the side of the road, under trees, and trying to make a living from passing tourists. There was some guys that we pulled up next to that had a monkey doing tricks. Was terrible.

After finally getting to Agra and finding a hotel we could finally go and see the Taj Mahal (see pics). Taj mahal is one of those things that you see in books or in a photo but it just doesn't do it justice. Upon entering the main gate and you see the building right before you, it just completely takes your breath away. We couldn't get over the sheer size and beauty of it. If there was one god reason to go to Agra before you die it would be the Taj Mahal.

On the evening, things around Agra calms down slightly. We went for a chilled walk around the main bazaar and come across a roof top restaurant called the Hoste overlooking the Taj Mahal. We met a guy who was playing us some Bollywood style dance tunes, then Lee decided to get out his Tidy Weekender album on the MP3 and the guy loved it haha! We had a few beers there also with some Dutch couples (shtompy yesh). After we left we took an auto rickshaw back to our hotel (dangerously fun). This was our best night in India so far.

10/03/2011 PushKar, Rajasthan, India

So this was the morning of our long drive into the area of Rajasthan. We left Agra at 6am sharp to make the eight hour car journey across to Pushkar. Almost as soon as we went over the border the scenery started to change dramatically, now and again mountains would pop up, farmers (mainly women) picking their crops for the chapatti flour, brick makers, marble sculptors all hard at work. The smell was beautiful; it smelt like a constant array of incense coming through the windows. When we asked the driver about it he said it was all the mustard growing nearby. The eight hour journey seemed to go very quickly, possibly because we slept for a lot of it...well ......lee did:-P

In the afternoon we arrived at our destination Pushkar. This was like no other place we had been to so far. It was smaller and quieter and way more laidback. Pushkar is a holy town and upon entry it is asked that you do not take or consume any Meat, Eggs, fish, Alcohol or drugs while here, although they do sell the famous 'Special Lassis' (bhang) which we think is similar to wacky bacci, haha! Which is allowed????

We checked into the most beautiful hotel. The rooftop has a beautiful view of the Holy Lake, but our room backs out onto a lovely garden with views over the hills and a huge temple(see pics). Absoloutly outstanding all for a bargain price of 500 rupees (about 7 squid) and to top it off we have HOT WATER!!!!! The much needed hot showers were very welcome after not washing properly for two days! The rooftop restaurant is fantastic. We drank tea up there last night and music started around the lake (to do with the prayers I think). It was so atmospheric and could be heard through all of Pushkar. Last night we went around the town and the shops were fantastic selling such bargains. Kate got a pair of reversible silk trousers and a funny looking waistcoat for about $1.50. The temples are outstanding around here, there are over 500 in and around pushkar. There are holy Hindu men roaming the streets everywhere as well, so the atmosphere is like no other. Everyone seems to be on the way to a temple to pray or to be blessed.

On the way Home there was a wedding procession taking place and a big group of people were walking and playing drums, it was fantastic, until we realized that it was taking place at the back of our hotel! Think we stayed up till about 1am, bear in mind we went to bed at 10.30pm! Was an experience all the same.

Today is our last day and night in Pushkar. So far we have loved it! Camels everywhere, monkeys everywhere, minimal hassle, and above all, lots of lassis and very friendly people. The weather here is about 30 degrees and continually rising, it is set to hit around 36 degrees by the end of the week which should be worst for us as we are heading slightly south!!!!!

We could stay here for a long time as it is so chilled and relaxed. This town reminds us of why we wanted to come to India. It has a certain magic around it that you can not explain.

Tomorrow we head off again to Udaipur. It will be a seven hour journey but hopefully it will all be worth it as it is nicknamed the 'Venice of the East'.

Thanks for reading

With love from India