Just a quick enrty as I'm running out of time on the internet and I'm getting hungry. I've had a good first two days. The hotel has sorted me out with a car and driver for the day as i'm on my own so I've managed to see a fair few things. I will upload photos when I get a chance as I forgot to bring my camera down. I haven't met anyone doing the same tour as me yet so I'm looking forward to tomorrow as I'm getting a little bored of my own company which is making me very homesick. I'm also feeling like a bit of a celebrity as a white female on her own and have even had a family ask to take a photo with me which I found a little bizarre! I'm starting to get used to the hustle and bustle of Delhi although I'm still happier at the tourist sights and at my hotel where I feel the safest. I'm sorry that this isn't a longer entry but I have been writing everything in my journal so far so that I don't forget anything and that i can update everyone when I can, although I might shorten it down a little as my journal seems to be fairly long lol!

Missing everyone like mad which seems crazy as it's only been a few days and I've gone without seeing people for much longer. This blog entry was to mainly make sure that everyone knows that I'm safe and a woman that I met on the flight gave me her number in case I get into any problems whilst I'm in Delhi. But all in all I'm being well looked after. I hope to write more in my next blog entry and also to add photos. But untill then I hope that you all are well and safe.

Lots of Love Siobhan

Ok I have a little more time so I can add to this blog. I now have some friends! Yay! Their names are Valentina and Rachel and I will be meeting the rest of my group this evening : D

So onto the nitty gritty of what I have been upto. My first stop on Saturday was to the Lotus temple which is one of the most peacefull places I have ever been. It is a temple for the Baha'i faith which is all about equality and peace to all religions, colours and sexes. It is also a really good example of modern architecture at it's best. I absoloutely loved this place and would happily go back again. I have photos that I will put up at a later date as again I have forgotten my lead. I think that I might start carrying this around with me.

My next stop was to a market where I didn't mean to spend any money but was given a cup of masala tea which was an experience in itself and ended up buying a top. I did however get it down from 1200IR down to 580IR. For the rest of the market I made it quite clear that I was not going to be purchasing anything. This however didn't stop them from talking to me. One lad even tried to teach me some Indian and I was doing quite well but I unortunately have a memory like a sive and have forgotten it all already. They also showed me some amazing carvings of elephants that they produce from wood and stone, these carvings have baby elephants carved inside the elephant and the larger ones with several layers of elephants inside. They were quite remarkable.

My next stop was to the Indian gate and then onto the parliament houses. This is where I found it facinateing as the buildings all look very authentic Indian but are all British architecture, something I'm guessing has remained here from our rule.

After this my driver took me to a Hindu temple and gave me a guided tour of all of the different gods. At each alter we were given a red spot on our foreheads for good luck. I didn't realise that on this temple it was also for Buddhists and sikhs as they're all apparently sympathetic to one another. I think this was probably the highlight of my day. I was also reminded that the swastica was originjally a symbol of peace and harmony and was everywhere at this temple.

My final stop of the day was to another market although I was informed by my driver that the quality at this one was quite poor so I wasn't tobuy only to browse. And that was my first day.

Day 2

Today I went to the National Museum. Here I was able to learn alot more about the history of India and was able to see artifacts from India's history, from ancient pots to bronzes, stoneworks and jewellery. I was also able to learn alot about the history behind the Indian minature whivh is fascinating. Unfortuntely I have no photographs of this.

I then went onto Humanyuns tomb. His tomb was built by his wife and was a pre-cursor to the taj mahal and was breathtaking. There were other tombs around it that I explorede but unfortunately they haven't been completely restored yet but I'd like to come back in a few years to see them again once they're also at their full glory as this is now a World Heritage Sight.

I then took astroll in the gardens although I can't remeber what they were called but they were very idylic and peacefull especially as they were in the middle of all of the hustle and bustle which is Delhi. I was given a time limit on visiting these though by my driver, I think because I had taken my time with all of the other events of the day. For some reason my driver then took me to this really posh shop called the Emporium where I was treated a little bit like royalty which felt a bit weird as I'm used to going into posh shops in the UK and treated like dirt. I don't think they liked the fact that I didn't purchase anything though. This was mainly because I think I've spent more than I should've in the last few days and also because their stuff was so nice that I hated to ask how much and also though that I could easily ruin anything that I purchased over the next few months.

But that is all for now : )