After some sad goodbye's, we arrived in Delhi after a very pleasant flight. Dalup and Jo met us from the airport and toom us to the hotel. The Indian roads were a bit of a shock. A 3 lane carriageway becomes a 6 lane carriage way, with a 'hard shoulder' thats used for walking, donkeys and just about anything else. It's quite possible to take a snapshot and see about 7 different types of transport at any one time! When you get into the built up areas, the roads are manic, and roadworks are everywhere. Its not really possible to describe it in words. Completely facinating though.

We met up with the group, there's 15 of us, and everyone seems to be gtting on great. On the firt night we went for thali (see the photo's) all yu can eat Indinan dishes for 300 rupees (about 4 pound 50). We also sampled the local beer on the first night called Kingfisher.

The next day we went around the Old Delhi for an orientation walk, and ending up at the 'red fort' in Delhi. This place was quite a contrast, people sleeping, eating, having their haircut, cooking, selling and going to the toilet all in the same street.

The smell that lingers is very hard to forget. Above your head, there's endless wires, that are electricity wires, and every so often you see a confused person on a bamboo ladder attempting to untangle them. It became apparent why there are so many powercuts!

We then got the sleeper train to Jaisalmer which was an 18 hour trip. We entertained ourselves by hanging out of the doors, and as we went around a bend, you could see people hanging onto the roof. Every so often in the night, then train would stop to make sure no one was trying to hang on underneath.

Very crazy strat to the trip, but so interesting and the group we're with are really nice.