01/01/2014 New day and a new year. There was a nice pleasant atmosphere on the train. The train was also two hours late. Normally I'd be handing out the door at every stop to make sure I hadn't passed my stop, but since I was with lots of other tourists I just decided to chill and go with the flow… we obviously hadn't arrived yet. Got tuk tuk to the place and paid 'local price'… apparently. I knew we hadn't but I could be bothered to argue in front of N...

30/12/2013 Had a long walk down the hill back to the bus stop and hopped on a government bus back to the capital. Sat next to a man I dubbed 'territorial leg space man'. What an idiot this man was. stopped at a place for some food and as per all the vendors jump on too selling drinks and snacks etc. everynow and then you get a real salesman who rides on the bus for about half an hour giving his best sales pitch, and all the locals sit and watch like a movie. ...

28/12/2013 Got on the train and had one of the most enduring experiences of my life. Man this train was cold! Its alright when its hot, but when its cold its painful. Had everything wrapped up like you woundnt believe but the carriage was still freezing despite all the windows shut etc, there was a draft getting in somewhere. Granted we were up north,hurtling through the countryside at a silly speed and I had no blanket, but I was freeeezing. Had my hood pull...

25/12/2013 Christmas day!!! Got up, went to the toilet another half dozen times then left for the station. Dehli is probably the only station in India where there is a digital display which actually tells you which train departs from which platform, so I found it nice and easy. Seen some crazy things on the train this time, people singing, general beggers, trannies who simply clap their hands for money, and even a circus act with a young girl younger than 10, ...

23/12/2013 Woke up feeling a million tonne after a mammoth good sleep. Had about a million dreams. Despite lots of noise in the courtyard. Made for the tourist desk in the train station and got a ticket like you would in a post office and waited for my turn. Took about 2 hours, but eventually got to sit down with a geezer and we went through my travel requirements. Booked three trains, Dehli to Amritsar on Christmas day, then on to Rishikesh, I would have to...