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. As per this time it was some magic washing detergent stuff. Haha I don't speak Hindi but was funny watching this guy push his products. Done this little demonstrate with this red piece of cloth, when he got it all manky then miraculously made it all go back to red again after the treatment of this stuff. It was like a magic trick. Low and behold 'territorial leg space man' fell for it hook line and sinker and bought two, what a plonker.

Got off the bus and managed to navigate myself to a reference point, in this case a tourist attraction, then went back from there. Had a cheeky curry and rice, veg side dish and 3 chapattis for 36rs en route for good measure. Walked back up the main bazaar and felt strange to be returning somewhere, walked back into the hotel and there was Lawrence. This time with a big jacket on and a longer beard as he had all his stuff nicked and didn't have a blade, as he explained. Was so good to see him again, the guy is such a legend. Backpacking connoisseur and general down to earth guy. Met Lindsay, a lad from aus and Elser, a lass from the Netherlands who Lawrence met in Egypt but had arranged for a meet up as they were in the same area but coincidence. We all went for food later and it was a nice evening, chow mein and a few chais on the streets later.

31/12/2013

Got a shower in the morning from the hottest water known to man. If they could just install this into a shower, and not just from a tap it would be heaven. For them few seconds when you pour the jug over you it's golden. Then you realise you're standing in the naked cold and its freezing. Done research. Went on the forums and asked for advice and got lots of replies. Got an itinerary for Indonesia sorted. (However this has since changed and I'm hitting north Thailand instead and will be hitting Indonesia in months time).

Having being their before and been canny chilled with the workers I decided to just chill in my room, and leave at half 6 for my train and not 'check out'. The hotel was dead and it was new years eve, shouldn't be that much of a problem. When I left the guy made pay for the room, but I only paid half (100rs). Looking back I was pissed off, wish I it was the main boss guy, but was just one of the wannabie lackys who had no craic. Could have easily got out of it and guilt tripped the guy.

Was planning on grabbing some street food but didn't really have time so bought 4 chapattis and rushed to the station. Met Pon, a south Korean guy and a Jap guy in my compartment, and it was nice to know I wasn't the only tourist. Just before the train was about to pull away two more tourists got on, a man a woman. This time from Israel. Turns out the wifey worked in the bridges on a barrow!!!! Hahaha was laughing my head off and honestly couldn't believe it. Turns out she'd only been there for 5 weeks over the Christmas to sell some products, and knew nothing of the Sunderland area. Just how to go from her house to the 'shopping centre' as she called it. Later on she got out her products she sells and it was so funny. It was a small pouch of liquid called Click It. Inside there was a small coin which you clicked, and it would set off a chemical reaction which caused the liquid to solidify into a solid and heat up. She had different shapes and styles, and agreed to sell me one for Nepal for the trek. Haha it was so funny! They were also reusable, ideal.

Was interesting to hear her take on England, she says she was shocked when she arrived, as this was once the country which ran the world, but when she got there all she found was 'white trash' mams of 16 pushing around prams with big nose piercings etc. I told her these folk are known as charvers, and live off a system called the dole! Welcome to Blighty pet!!!! It aint all kings and castles like in the books. She also said she got a 'what am I doing here' moment when she first arrived in Sunderland. She also told me about South America, and how its not safe like Indian, and that you need more vigilance.