Where to begin on the journey from hell! Tuesday 9am got taxi into central Mumbai to pick up bus to Udaipur, which left at 1130. I decided that as the trip was 16 hours I'd treat myself and book a double sleeper bed, grand total still only 20 quid. The bus did not have air conditioning, but I figured that over night with windows open, it would be fine. Two hours into trip and still in Mumbai, back near where I'd been staying. At this point I should have ...

Ok, since last card I have been very brave and ventured out a lot. Mumbai is overwhelming in every way, the noise, people, beggars, cows, dogs, smells, traffic, heat, humidity and sheer size. The first day I decided to brave the buses and learnt very quickly (after missing 2!) that they don't actually stop, merely slow down for you to leap on and off. Needless to say I have worn trainers every day since and not sandals. The journey is between 1 and 2 hours de...

Dear All, Words cannot describe the culture shock having arrived here after a 2 day journey. Managed to find a hotel with A/c and TV and spent better part of 2 days in bed watching Olympics, thinking I was coming down with tonsilitis. Fortunately it is only a cough and cold and I have now braved the outside world. Today arrived with friends of family in Mumbai and hopefully will be shown the sights, without too much drama. Blondes definitely do not have mor...