Whilst traveling from Trivannamalai on a cramped, hot and sticky bus I gazed out of the window and took in the sights and smells of rural India, I had a bit of a nostalgic moment and jotted down a little verse, you may need a bucket to the side of you in case you need to puke lol.

What really makes me happy!

Finally I have found out what makes life and living so rich and full. You only need a few things,

Sight, to find direction and to see the true beauty of everything you see.

Taste, to sample the foods of the world, to fuel your body and keep you healthy.

Sleep, to keep you sane and prepare you for an even better day tomorrow.

Hearing, to listen to music, the fruit of life, feet, hips and arms to dance and move like its your last chance.

Smell, to create memories good or bad, they make you what you are.

With love in your heart you can love all that makes you happy, your family, your friends and of course your one true love.

Laughter to laugh with those who share their happiness with you. A smile goes a long long way to making someone’s day.

Life is rewarding if you appreciate what you have, you only have one go at it, so surround yourself with happiness and you will get through the harder times.

Anyway enough of the gushing. The five hour bus journey was easier to do than it sounds and we arrived in Trichy. It’s a chaotic large city, which smells of piss in certain areas (like most cities). We were once again the only westerners on the block and after lots of stares later we found a half decent room to stay in which is our little sanctuary away from the nosy people and the heat and noise.

The food is amazing and we now eat curry around the clock, also eating with our hands means that we constantly smell of curry. We tend to travel the towns and cities on the jam packed local buses where we can so we hopped on a bus to the fort temple (the journey costing 3 rupees each, a little over 4 pence), a small temple on a huge hill in the middle of the metropolis, the views were spectacular and it was nice and cool up there, we also spotted many eagles soaring around the hill.

We constantly get asked where we are from and when we say England, we generally receive a warm welcome from them and we converse about where they have heard of in England. They also share with us some local tips which is quite useful. I have not quite got used to all the staring, and I have pulled a few faces at some men who are being a bit too leery. Wearing baggy clothes that cover my whole body helps but its bloody boiling. I don’t know how women travel India alone here, I won’t go anywhere without Graham stuck to my side.

All in all we are getting used to the culture here and embracing it. We sit and sip chai with the locals in the streets and share nibbles with them over a beer in the dingy looking basement pubs. I was told yesterday that Indian women don’t drink here, so now feel a little awkward going into them. Stuff it!