Varanassi: 1st-4th February So we bunged ourselves up with Imodium Plus and left Delhi to catch the overnight train to Varanassi where we were planning to see the sunrise over the Ganges and the morning rituals of the locals and pilgrims bathing in the Ganges, stay overnight for one night, then catch the overnight train to Agra to see the Taj Mahal. The train ride here was ok and the Imodium seemed to have done the trick. We both felt very weak but definitely ...

Delhi: 27-31 January Our flight into Delhi was without issue and we picked up some cash and a pre-paid taxi to the hotel where we've booked our first 4 nights in India, which is where things got a bit more interesting. The driver was accompanied by an English-speaking chap who as we got closer to our destination said that he didn't know our particular hotel and would have to stop for directions from the tourist info office. It was getting pretty late at night at...

Hong Kong: 23-27 January We landed in Hong Kong in the mid-afternoon and negotiated the airport express and subway (all very efficient as you'd expect) through to our hotel in the Wanchai area of Hong Kong island (just to the east of Central - the main finance sector - or on the left hand side of the picture-postcard view of Hong Kong across Victoria Harbour, although we're a few blocks back from the waterfront). It's so nice to be somewhere warm and to go out...

Beijing - The first time around - 21-23 January We arrived in Beijing shortly after 2pm and caught the underground to our hotel. The underground is cheap as chips and is very easy to get around (the English signs help enormously). Checked into our hotel where we are staying for 2 nights which is a 3 star business hotel. Its clean, modern and comfortable and situated very close to a fabulous shopping area, Tienanmen Square and the Forbidden City (Imperial Palace)...

Trans-Siberian 3 20-21 January Up bright and early this morning at 5.45 am to board the train for our final leg to Beijing. This time we had a 2 berth compartment and to our surprise it was more spacious than the previous 4 berths that we had - we even had a little arm chair in the corner this time! Also, much to our delight we had a toilet/wet room which we shared with the adjoining 2 berth cabin. Luxury indeed, one toilet between 4 rather than 2 toilets betwee...