I arrived safely in India and headed out to see the sights of the 'Golden Triangle. From Delhi it was a long drive to Agra, but my driver managed to negotiate the terrible Indian roads and traffic like a pro.

The Taj mahal is every bit as beautiful as the guide books say and it's the most stunning building I've ever seen. If it wasn't for the thousands of tourists and even more touts, guides, beggars and hawkers it would be perfect.

From Agra I headed off to Ranthambore National Park with the hope of seeing some tigers. After no luck with the early morning safari I tried again with on the evening drive. As luck would have it we managed to spot one lying down in the reed beds but it was very far away and my camera wasn't good enough to capture the moment. Look for the blurred orange dot on the photo!

Finally it was over to Jaipur for temples, palaces, forts and more temples. Theye were all really nice but they get a bit samey after a while.

India is a really strange place. There are areas of extreme beauty surrounded by utter poverty and squalor. It's such a shame. Tomorrow, I head back to Delhi for some more sightseeing and the following day I fly to Goa to meet up with my folks and some well deserved R&R on the beach!

Sightseeing in Delhi was such a different experience to the previous few days, primarily because I had some company for a change. I met a Venezuelan girl called Daniela who had just arrived so we hit the town and did the tourist route together. We got along so well and it was really nice to have someone to talk to and share the experience with - not to mention someone to take photos for me.

The monuments and buildings in Delhi are different from most of the other cities as they're walled off from the city and set in really nice gardens. The contrast between the mayhem outside the walls and the peace and quiet within them is nice. The Red Fort was pretty spectacular, as were Humayun's Tomb, Purana Quila and Qutb Minar.

From Delhi it was a relatively short flight to Goa. Meeting up with my folks has been good. Because they come to Goa every year they know all of the places to go and things to see so it's been a chance to switch off and relax with some good food, the beach and perfect weather. Goa is definitely a sanitised version of India, probably due to the strong Portugese influence and the influx of lots of western tourists. The beaches are beautiful, if a little crowded, the sea is warm and the beer is cold. Just what I need right now!