We drove up into the Thar Desert to a small village outside Jaisalmer where we hoiked ourselves onto the back of a camel to go on a trek into the sand dunes. It was great fun although a little uncomfortable in different ways for men and women respectively! We watched the sun setting from the dunes - it was so quick - before heading back to the village for dinner. We sampled some traditionally made whiskey - Steve obviously sampled more than me - and watched d...

We left Pushkar this morning which was a relief - just to get away from the Hare Krishna choir!!! Drove to Bikaner and checked into a very nice place although the staff all looked like Che Guevera. Visited a rather delightful rat temple (Karna Mata) where it is considered good luck for one of the little blighters to run over your feet.... Also went to Junagarh Fort and the camel breeding farm which was surprisingly quite interesting before heading back to th...

Arrived in Pushkar - the camel festival is on at the moment where 150,000 traders flock to this small town to sell and buy camels, horses and cows. Its also the full moon festival where Hindus flock to Pushkar to worship Brahma and cleanse their souls in the waters. To say it is busy would be an understatement...it is absolutely crazy! We had to go to the lake to give thanks to Brahma and throw flowers into the lake. We then got given a red dot on our heads ...

Headed to Jaipur today, very very bumpy road though. Stopped on the way to see the monkey temple - very run down and lots of people bathing and washing clothes in water that can only be described as green. Many monkeys obviously and got a red dot put on my forehead by an old and very cross eyed lady although it is apparently good luck! The hotel is decent and run by a nice family - we watched a hindu wedding party from the balcony. Crazy dancing when the gro...

Left Delhi this morning - what a relief! Huge culture shock as predicted but the place is truly manic and we have definitely been taken out of our comfort zone. Massive poverty but the people are still so polite and welcoming. Good to see a bit of the countryside as we drove down to Agra, stopped off for a coffee and at a large Sikh temple. Arrived in Agra 5 hours later and staying in a good hotel with hot water which is good after the very cold shower last ...