At last we are back in business and it's Hols here making an overdue contribution!

Saturday transpired to be a rather productive day for Els and I. Fortunately (fatefully we like to think), we were whisked away to Connaught Place where we booked a fabulously fun-filled package touring Rajhastan for 10-11 days with private chauffeur no less, nice hotels and free entries to all the sights! An almighty risk at a chokingly expensive price but it seems to be paying off. And who said British girls are dumb eh? No no...i think that's Essex girls! Anyway, we embarked upon our enviable itinerary with our newly appointed driver (Lazar - who is an total legend by the way and utterly barking mad so we get on like a house on fire) that very afternoon. We headed off to the local site of Humayun's tomb: a mini Taj Mahal only red and not quite as large and in hindsight not nearly deserving of this iconic reference. It was relaxing there apart from being swarmed by an army of school boys who seemed quite taken with our white skin and almost carried us off!

Sunday: The next day, we left Delhi for Agra in search of the infamous Taj. The car ride was pretty painless except for a customary stop in a place we can only describe as freak central...monkeys galore, merchants rapping on our window with various goods to sell and our particular favourite, a crab of a man dragging his mangled body towards our car, heaving his body up and banging at the window...we had the shock of our life! Needless to say our doors were locked, phew. So anyway, twenty-two years of careful craftmenship to the utmost perfection (wait for it cos i'm not talking about me or Els!) the Taj Mahal - 'literally 'Crown Palace' - is an absolute masterpiece. The striking detail and inexplicable symmetry of the palace was truly entrancing, awe-inspiring and an image we will surely cherish forever in our memory. The tribute so fitting to love story brimming with adoration (even with our guide narrating in the most monotonous voice imaginable), the Taj truly merits its status as a wonder of our world. Agra fort blushed in comparison, though beautiful and seemingly full of women wanting to take our photos holding their beloved babies! Not sure the babies enjoyed us though...

And finally Monday: We set off west for Rajhastan, first stop Jaipur. Along our travels, Lazar pointed out the Red Light District which basically consisted of a series of tent-like shacks and girls barely reaching puberty discreetly displaying their flesh along the roadside to passing cars - shocking. An exasperating 6 hour car journey left us with little time to explore but Lazar kindly took us to Jaipur fort to snap the stunning views of this allegedly Pink City. Later we visited a local jewellery store where (you'll love this mum) we each had our palms read with alarming accuracy and so caught up in the moment, we each bought rings to protect our fate, you understand. Unfortunately, Els' birthstone (amethyst) turned out to be a whole lot cheaper than the sapphire i needed, yes needed. All in all, India is definitely having an effect of my cynicism!

And that's it for now guys, keep the messages coming, we're loving it xxx