Hallo hallo, Cazzaline here - oh my oh my mmmm I am sat here writing to you and have just been served up a yummy Banana & Chocolate pancake doubled up & it's the size of my head, well more the size of Matt's forhead tee-hee, SORRY Matt, I am also sharing the Internet booth with four lizards attached to the wall above my head eyeing up my grub, I am happy they are sat with me though as they're gobbling up the nasty Mozzies, of which there is an abundance of the blighters who seem to have a paunchent (spelling?) for our fair skin. Matt recently had a little mousey by his feet whilst typing, I stiffled a girly scream as it was so unexpected to see one just sitting there...

Well again, I haven't written for ages tisk, tisk but I have either been off enjoying myself or waiting to get on the site with power downs galore, Matt haha or sweltering heat inside the booth to contend with!

When I can get my pic's to upload, I will do a quick message for each place as I am behind from Jaisalmer. Since Jaisalmer we have been to Amristar in Punjab, which was fab by the way, then off to Dharamsala, (sorry for spelling mistakes of places, I need to refer to the Guide book but alas I don't have it to hand), from Dharamsala popped up-hill & stayed in Mcleod Ghanj where we sat in with the Dalai Lama for a couple of hours teaching which was amazingggg, WOW I have been within feet of the Dalai Lama!!! - Whoooo!! (Any others of you who don't know who he is; SHAME on you, look him up). Also walked in the sunny hills, & got a little snow/sleet /cold from being so high up & popped to a Waterfall with some monks - I stood in the pool beneath it which was freezing, but poor Matt was suffering from a chest infection & a cold so declined the water. Typical Man-flu syndrome - ha, nah he was pretty ill really. All better now though...

Popped into warmer climates after Ghanj down into Delhi, which was refreshingly modern in places & went to the Cinema twice for a fix of normal life, also sat in a park drying my clothes on the grass just chilling, which was bliss!! Didn't do the typical temples etc just needed to relax a bit, yes I said relax, travelling can be hard man, it's not all a breeze! Did a spot of window shopping surprise, surprise lol in one of the many huge mall type area's. From Delhi to Agra, which is not a very pleasant place to visit in general but we had to go there, you cannot come all this way to India and not visit the old Taj, Taj Mahal that is & well worth the 750 Rs I felt angry to pay in the beginning seeing as locals pay just 20!!! But the grounds itself were peaceful, beautiful & the Taj in all it's glory shone at us through an archway, just a glimpse & I was hooked! We enjoyed being there immensley!! Agra to Varansi by night train was in itself an adventure as local women adopted me and a lovely Japanese lady & MADE us dance & sing with them which was cool & fun & I was happy to oblige - plus we got a make over - GROAN but ohmigosh but very embarassing when nearly the whole train crams around and many men are eyeballing you including the military men haha! One came & sat next to me later when I was listening to my MP3, he popped my earphone out my ear & plugged himself in, I don't think he liked my taste in music much as he didn't stay long but just goes to show how almost everyone here is real friendly like, I mean can you imagine one of the Queen's Royal Guards cosing up to you & having a chat over Chai - Nah me neither...

Right to my point & why I popped online quickly. We were supposed to be off to Darjeeling next & then Sikkim BUT, I don't know if you back home are aware? there have been strikes of the hunger variety in Darjeeling due to Government problems and locals are starving themselves in protest, plus government have been cutting off water & food supplies & transport to certain area's. Strikes have ended I believe for now & it appears safe enough for tourists to enter that area however strikes & the burning of effigies may resume on 11 March?... We have made a decision to bypass Darjeeling & Sikkim & go directly to Nepal, based on the fact that if we do go & all the chaos resumes whilst we are there, it may prevent us from being able to get into Nepal on time for us to be on shedule etc... We are quite sad as it was a place we were looking forward to visiting very much but well sometimes you gotta take note of what's going on in the news & use your noggin a little hey... so as I sit & write to you the hours & minutes are ticking by until our departure tonight, & that means no more India - boo!! as fustrating as it has been at times it seems too early & sad to depart but we must & we're both looking forward to Nepal & it's Mountains & Wildlife Sanctuary Parks & the beginning of a new adventure for us! Whoo bring it on!!

Righty-ho, over & out then from India sob! Next blog from Nepal!...

Ciao for now, love & xxxxx's

Caroline xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx