Hello!!

Thank you all for my birthday messages especially Sally, Chris, and the girls, and Kate and Andy who sent cards out with Jess. It was very nice to be able to open them on my birthday! Also, thank you for everyone who put money into my account or gave me money. I am going to try to buy myself a nice ring or necklace with the money, or maybe treat myself to a dive in Thailand. But i shall let you know what i spend it on!

On the 22nd we had very short drive (only 2 hours!!) to Jaipur. We didn't really do much with the day, but it was really nice just to have the chance to sort things out and just relax for a while.

On the 23rd (MY BIRTHDAY!!!) i opened my cards over breakfast, then we went to see the Amber fort and the Jai Gadh fort and the floating palace. There were loads of elephants that took tourists from the street up to the fort, and although we didn't go on one we got some really good pictures and jess even got slobbered on by one! After the fort we were then taken to a textiles factory where we were shown how block printing is done and we were told about all the dyes they use (all natural, from various plants and vegetables) which was quite interesting. We then went to a gem factory where we were shown and told about how they cut the rocks to get the best stone and how they shine them. I wanted to get a nice ring with my birthstone in (Aquamarine) but they didn't have any i liked so i have saved my money for something else.
After a bit of window shopping we went to the city palace and had a look around (complete with audio guides). When leaving the palace we saw a parade going past, i have no idea what it was in aid of, but it was very colourful and loud!!

In the afternoon we went to our driver's cousin's house where we had a really nice traditional home cooked meal and KC (our driver) brought me a birthday cake, it was a really nice cake and it was so nice of him to do it. His family was so welcoming to us and although they didn't speak much english i had a really nice evening. On the way back to our hotel we tried some Paan (this wierd mouth-freshener stuff which you chew, again i'm not too sure what it was, but it was somethihng red wrapped in a bay leaf), it was a bit odd but it was good to try it because i always see people chewing it.

On the 24th we travelled to Ranthambore. Our hotel was quite nice and had a pool, although i didn't get the oppertunity to have a swim. In the afternoon we went on a safari around Ranthambore national park. We saw mokeys, peacocks, summer deer, deer, stalks, and lots of other birds. Unfortunately we weren't lucky enough to see any tigers but i still really enjoyed myself and had a really good safari. The park itself it really pretty.

Today (Day 54 - can you believe it??!) we had a very long drive to Agra, i was feeling a bit peaky which made the journey seem that much longer. I am feeling much better now though (i'm not really sure what was wrong!!).
Tomorrow we are going to see the Taj Mahal first thing in the moning which i am SO excited about!!

I definately put photos up in Calcutta, but i will try to find a place in Varanasi.
Lots of love. xxxxxx