We can't believe we have reached the end of the first stage of our trip across Asia. Our three months in India have come to an end , culminating in a few days in India's third biggest city Bangalore. Known for its burgeoning IT industry Bangalore is considered one of the places to find young, affluent Indians. With this in mind we weren't sure what to expect. Maybe it would be a high tech place full of expensive cars and restaurants, rather than small roadside dhabas, and stray dogs. When we arrived we were pleasantly surprised to discover a place with a relaxed ambience , green spaces and fresh air. We managed to explore large areas on foot, despite the challenge due to the poor state of the pavements- which required 100% concentration at all times. We also took the chance to try out the expanding Bangalore Metro- which runs on elevated tracks across the city. Currently only running on two lines, although more are under construction, the metro here offers a clean, cheap and safe way to get across town. With a three stop journey costing around 14p it doesn't do our budget any harm either. Bangalore is far from being a sterile place. It still retains many aspects of Indian life- street food, rickshaws, free-roaming cattle, temples, and honking traffic, although it is possible to find oases of calm. Communication had proved surprisingly more challenging here with many people only appearing to speak Kanada. In other parts of India a combination of Hindi and English has usually managed to get an appropriate response, but it's not been so easy here. The script is different too- so even writing down doesn't help. Needless to say, the intrepid spirit lives on and it hasn't dampened our mood. In fact extra challenges along the way all add to the learning experience, and coping strategies learned will no doubt come in useful during the rest of the trip. So it's with sadness that we leave India, although we've left lots to see so we gave to return for another trip. We loved, laughed and marvelled at the things we saw here. All destinations had their own characteristics and were different from each other in many ways. The people we met were interesting and colourful, and fascinated as much by us, as we were by them. The highlights of the trip were many. John's favourite was the elaborate display enacted at the Pakistan/India border crossing, as soldiers from each country performed over dramatic marching routines, including exaggerated legs kicks and arm swings. Each side trying to outdo the other, and please the patriotic crowds. For me time spent near animals, or water is always enjoyable so sitting by the lake in Udaipur, camel trekking in Bikaner, or watching the chipmunks all have equal place alongside dolphin watching from our breakfast table on Christmas Day. There are just too many great experiences to list - but thankfully many have already been documented on the blog, so even with my poor memory they wont have a chance to slip away. If you get the opportunity to come to India take it. Spend time to experience the different languages and cultures. Some things will irritate you, (like pushing in), some will frustrate you (like littering), and some will make you want to cringe (like hoiking phlegm and spitting). We constantly had to remind ourselves that many of these things were prevalent in Britain when we were growing up ('cause we really are that old!). India is aware of its issues and there are signs that many people want things to change. You will have a fantastic time if you take a sense of humour, a willingness to share a smile, and consume a daily quota of lassi.