tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90507465135966248912024-02-21T10:40:04.593-08:00Stu In IndiaStuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07432929013788756540noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050746513596624891.post-60682829770701010052008-05-30T03:32:00.000-07:002008-05-30T04:26:58.496-07:00You say you want a revolution!<span style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffff00"></span><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5206123016472098786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1mxIHmCP8d6vAk3rGIlhodaZ8gk-XJOg2WpALzi5mI6Pg1zR94C_1-P7pDsyX-KibRi8jR6fMJmR1YKFO87mB4OwxWYaoDFyyYNqM-6Du3jAODEMK33sFj9LMFlzJ6PyIHdTP15cNYCcS/s320/Picture+003.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br />View of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Pokhora</span> from the Yoga retreat.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5206123029357000690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1PuVjYh1ylzej8PFfgU12HLhsA7puFEKxOCloo96aZy5Fhp9mJLb0M_smZ5kKHQDnvbS7TeUyvlHaa6FYeBqtomIARH-OIl6p2yRbS5U7GN6oWBFtt2JFY8d2-8RUQj963j_RLHGARYph/s320/Picture+006.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br />Rice Paddies, Agriculture in Nepal is pretty basic Which isn't helped by the fact that most of Nepal is mountainous. Most food is imported from India.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5206118820289050578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgppG4D10fB_neohpsLcXKiaMqfQ_1XdhRAjN4cQUYCe7Y3x_CaZ7oh3_LcIOD0jKItIaLJ_hahyfXUQnWkaBK3yE6kWs5TTedwyBmt8XzA2Z1o-ZV-eA5mAGJg5srblIUYgOsz6REBsCE_/s320/Picture+001.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br />Lake <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Pakhara</span>.<br /><br />Well, the past couple of weeks in Nepal have been very interesting. On Wednesday night I went to bed in the Kingdom of Nepal and woke up the next morning in a Republic! The newly elected Maoist Party voted to abolish the Monarchy during the night and gave the King 15 days to vacate his Royal Palace! Long live the Republic!! I only wish we could be as decisive with our in-bred, spoilt, over indulged Royals. At the moment there is a bit of unrest in Kathmandu, apparently there are thousands of protesters outside the palace chanting "down with the King!" waiting to see if the King abides with the commies wishes. He's got 600-1000 personal bodyguards holed up with him, so I suppose it could get a bit messy. Although if the bodyguards can count I'm sure they'll realise there are more protesters than bullets. Hope it works out OK. Was going to go back to Kathmandu in a couple of days, but might wait in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Pokhara</span> and see what happens:)<br />For the past week I've been at a Yoga retreat in a small place over-looking the Lake just outside <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Pokhara</span>. The programme involved getting up at 5.30, then 45 minutes meditation at 6, followed by at walk, then a 1 hour Yoga session. After that- breakfast, then a mud/steam bath, 30 meditation, lunch, chanting, Yoga session, dinner, bed. Met some very interesting people, learnt some new and painful Yoga positions and discovered I'm fucking useless at <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">meditating</span>! Your meant to <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">empty</span> you mind of all thoughts, but all I could think of was what was for breakfast. Oh well, practice makes perfect:)<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5206124622789867522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvxSICg-_bfPvLvV-v9RnGY9b6jdW7A_cOIpmkd9q3IWBfW3EFuWoT44DISfWyEFuVyrNX4hyFKBPxf6icQz7DjkOGdArSxHljKdew52QiCE-s-gQ_BO8ZfSA9qqR5qllZPBwsy-icp9LZ/s320/Picture+004.jpg" border="0" /><br /> Guru Adams in Lotus position after mud bath.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5206125765251168274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBjty6bcBozufF7Z9c6zJqbi8ydkk2CIOgwUIHuxPbqAE3_aFXRg8YVYA57EO3fCQpKJanV6jhCQi6XolLmDKgQzyUuruEhM_byMrrc4QRjqarLj79C8jY06YYAEU0ARWeGxvRq5fuZZCz/s320/Picture+007.jpg" border="0" />Various Yoga positions.<br /><br /><div align="justify"> </div>Stuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07432929013788756540noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050746513596624891.post-37913800709679597122008-05-18T23:19:00.000-07:002008-05-19T02:31:35.896-07:00Annapurna<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN7ytdaYiMfm0lcjnaQcmZ7Ul0umkD1DkbdXKm2hvYWiVzFfUA9xrvbg5PQ6y9z170oehbrx_dHOSEEzd5KhZ0qrzb5R2PXZKLKMy9NIADQVaCHDnEw9JTtkGgCZ00MCbofghyphenhyphenQi-2mT-X/s1600-h/1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN7ytdaYiMfm0lcjnaQcmZ7Ul0umkD1DkbdXKm2hvYWiVzFfUA9xrvbg5PQ6y9z170oehbrx_dHOSEEzd5KhZ0qrzb5R2PXZKLKMy9NIADQVaCHDnEw9JTtkGgCZ00MCbofghyphenhyphenQi-2mT-X/s320/1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201973758126267730" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Daybreak on the South Face of Annapurna. This massive 3000m high face was famously climbed by the Brits in 1970, led by Chris <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Bonnington</span>. Annapurna is 8091m high and after K2 is probably the most difficult 8000'er to climb. For every 2 people to summit, 1 person pegs it! While I was at base camp, an number of Russian climbers were getting evacuated with frostbite.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfr3VG4S-JCc5JwWOr0vu0VBNvOg56u9AzCTtUj-0lYr6PvmpeeeWUX5aVgOMXwDLmjx37dGDcznbDeWJCXPOzryNM-MbfY0vMlmJsf14U3HHyh32ThMDGF_hG-vcMD-vq8yyeXSfO4h9x/s1600-h/2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfr3VG4S-JCc5JwWOr0vu0VBNvOg56u9AzCTtUj-0lYr6PvmpeeeWUX5aVgOMXwDLmjx37dGDcznbDeWJCXPOzryNM-MbfY0vMlmJsf14U3HHyh32ThMDGF_hG-vcMD-vq8yyeXSfO4h9x/s320/2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201974784623451490" border="0" /></a><br />Warm by the fire. Inside one of the lodges, sheltering from the daily rainstorms that tended to hit every afternoon. The Annapurna region is so remote everything has to be carried in on the backs of the small but considerably strong local <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Ghuregs</span>.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_wilfx1Y7iLXtpiO0o5GFwe-Cmoh-xEzMID9ZTcsw2szmUVjBfk2MP4UEYJA-n0gsUYRo9s4_veHkPfn4RcePcsfns2mbOYdl3-Cy7oal8iNuWaYWrDCNUNNlpKCL1koIq3eVp5wS_E-O/s1600-h/Picture+079.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_wilfx1Y7iLXtpiO0o5GFwe-Cmoh-xEzMID9ZTcsw2szmUVjBfk2MP4UEYJA-n0gsUYRo9s4_veHkPfn4RcePcsfns2mbOYdl3-Cy7oal8iNuWaYWrDCNUNNlpKCL1koIq3eVp5wS_E-O/s320/Picture+079.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201983056730463650" border="0" /></a><br />Goat traffic jam on a suspension bridge.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMeGGgbU8ldvs1aV00PMSsmw9tjqxPseKRFr_hHmqHcTga3-zmxF5O1p0jvS2ZPHFDrH_cqatnu365fV8KoI9PDaV7HHfCzL-e-m8pLCh2vVZt7A_XPiliEC_ichO2w0Xyjvkxl5c96un4/s1600-h/Picture+082.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMeGGgbU8ldvs1aV00PMSsmw9tjqxPseKRFr_hHmqHcTga3-zmxF5O1p0jvS2ZPHFDrH_cqatnu365fV8KoI9PDaV7HHfCzL-e-m8pLCh2vVZt7A_XPiliEC_ichO2w0Xyjvkxl5c96un4/s320/Picture+082.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202007542339018162" border="0" /></a><br />Just press play, dude..........................<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcbrQ0mIGDlzLbIavgf0KzfnXxzvn6KFFE1g7d_iVK2-KAXMbz8OqpVDUiq7FYsvx-5RHaW2Lt86y4x097NEkleYVyjCQhdH3Hm5UXXQz6nA0YnnGY0U2lWdR3c0Lo-WDxPVjA7IAHcze_/s1600-h/4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcbrQ0mIGDlzLbIavgf0KzfnXxzvn6KFFE1g7d_iVK2-KAXMbz8OqpVDUiq7FYsvx-5RHaW2Lt86y4x097NEkleYVyjCQhdH3Hm5UXXQz6nA0YnnGY0U2lWdR3c0Lo-WDxPVjA7IAHcze_/s320/4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201977494747815298" border="0" /></a><br />.....................another <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Jimi</span> Hendrix convert.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe8Vnp6lXDcp1ahEmAwZC3gMDeEi2iwWMBkgDrAihIgEawabC3e7LYA2ntv50S8xjsEYWu0gnox_hzzWqAwcu_gg5vprOoaY0Cyfk_kbghw9Pm-uVn6iRWNEYjsoOfXW_zf6NaaMceXe4x/s1600-h/3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe8Vnp6lXDcp1ahEmAwZC3gMDeEi2iwWMBkgDrAihIgEawabC3e7LYA2ntv50S8xjsEYWu0gnox_hzzWqAwcu_gg5vprOoaY0Cyfk_kbghw9Pm-uVn6iRWNEYjsoOfXW_zf6NaaMceXe4x/s320/3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201975914199850354" border="0" /></a><br />Dhaulagiri, 8167m and 7<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">th</span> highest mountain in the world. Very pretty mountain.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhceGRjfbXC7caCY5KN0RbycXMK0zLUSenLE1AIObcWYB03bdb3wtdhAkgTG3HPKrlKn9uLbk36eG3BrJokdR2QwS-3NnO70INyY5qpmzEC5BAhceAX5wFynUnnoaYyS4fObg2ST0TRISjl/s1600-h/5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhceGRjfbXC7caCY5KN0RbycXMK0zLUSenLE1AIObcWYB03bdb3wtdhAkgTG3HPKrlKn9uLbk36eG3BrJokdR2QwS-3NnO70INyY5qpmzEC5BAhceAX5wFynUnnoaYyS4fObg2ST0TRISjl/s320/5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201978233482190226" border="0" /></a><br />Me at Annapurna base camp, with S face of Annapurna in the background. Been there, got the T-shirt.<br /><br /><br />Well, I made it out off the mountains alive!! After 2 weeks of continually walking up and down hillsides, living on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">dal</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">bhaat</span> (lentils and rice) and getting up at 5 am, I'm now considerably fitter and a few pounds lighter. Which is no bad thing after doing minimal exercise and eating curry everyday for the past 6 months. The adventure started off quite slowly. My legs just weren't use to walking up hills, and my pace dropped even further when a friendly guide gave me a load of locally grown weed. Oh well. After a few days the going got easier as I adapted to getting up early, doing the days hike, getting to a lodge by lunchtime, then watching the storm clouds envelop the mountains from the comfort of my pot filled room:) In common with the rest of the trip, my plans of where a was actually going were quite fluid. The original plan was go and trek up to a town called <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Jomson</span>, but after talking to a couple of Argentinians, it didn't sound that great. Instead I decided to go up to the Annapurna Sanctuary, where I could get a much closer look at the South Face of Annapurna, and get right into the big mountains. As always, the Lonely & Paranoid guide book turned out to be complete bollocks yet again, describing the route as dangerous and avalanche prone. Turned out to be a pleasant 5 day walk, up beautiful forested valleys, topped with HUGE snow capped mountains. Annapurna base camp is at about 4100m, so in the evening it tended to get a bit chilly, but any physical discomfort was completely overshadowed by being surrounded on all sides by massive Himalayan peaks.<br /><br />I'm now safely back in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Pokora</span>, where I'm happily drinking beer and eating anything but fucking <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">dal</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">bhaat</span>. Immediate plans are to have a shave and a hot shower, then go and do some white-water rafting and then maybe stay at a Yoga Ashram for a few days. With only 3 weeks left, for the first time I'm going to have to be a bit creative with my time management!<br /><br />P.S Happy birthday, Mum!!<br /><br />P.P.S Thanks for reminding me, Dad.<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN7ytdaYiMfm0lcjnaQcmZ7Ul0umkD1DkbdXKm2hvYWiVzFfUA9xrvbg5PQ6y9z170oehbrx_dHOSEEzd5KhZ0qrzb5R2PXZKLKMy9NIADQVaCHDnEw9JTtkGgCZ00MCbofghyphenhyphenQi-2mT-X/s1600-h/1.jpg"><br /></a>Stuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07432929013788756540noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050746513596624891.post-21678214595868553842008-05-02T23:48:00.000-07:002008-05-03T00:41:17.761-07:00Namaste NepalWell, that's it. I'm out of India. Probably just in the nick of time, as the temperature in Delhi was over 40deg Celsius. A bit oppressive really, so I was quite thankful to get on the plane and arrive in the mountain Kingdom/Maoist Republic of Nepal where the temperature is more reasonable. The guide book describes Kathmandu as a noisy, hectic polluted city, but to be honest, after 6 months in India it seemed like an oasis of calm to me. The city itself is a bit of a tourist trap, 40 odd years of catering for western travellers, trekkers and mountaineers has created an enclave of shops selling all sorts of crap and restaurants offering pizza and filter coffee. On a more positive note, the beer in Nepal is about 100 times better than the piss water you get served in India. Kathmandu has one place of interest-Durbar Square. A complex of old temples and gompas set around the now redundant Royal Palace. Nepal has a strange mix of Hindu and Buddhist religions. Everyone seems to get along with each other. Even with the Muslims.<br />After a couple of days in Kathmandu it was time to catch the bus to Pokhara. Why anyone 'backpacks' is beyond me. While I was sweating away on the bus, knees cramped under armpits, looking out at the wonderful landscape of mountains and terraced villages, all I could think of was " Shit, I wish I was on my bike." Anyway, Pokhara is the Nepali version of Chamonix. It's right by the Annapurna range, and pretty much the national centre for trekking, rafting and any other adventure sport you'd care to name. In the next couple of days, weather permitting, I'm gonna head up into the mountains and do some trekking for a couple of weeks. With it getting towards the end of the trekking season, the cloud tends to build up in the afternoon and it starts raining, so unfortunately its going to have to be a low altitude/not very dangerous trek. After 6 months biking around India, best not push it! Don't think theres many internet cafes in the Himalaya, so don't worry if you fail to hear from me for a while!!:)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAXIDcFroFXUXBDUALzSvCI0XvLTl7l8cyBkQZRL3ZsGuPnoYnhfxfYC66yOQnPClQn13P0cKOGXjbQIujBPFRAo3to2EYIfTXPdegldff-xT5CHXT4FKbYWyaEKI50cv8GHCWqAByBHQU/s1600-h/Picture+001.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAXIDcFroFXUXBDUALzSvCI0XvLTl7l8cyBkQZRL3ZsGuPnoYnhfxfYC66yOQnPClQn13P0cKOGXjbQIujBPFRAo3to2EYIfTXPdegldff-xT5CHXT4FKbYWyaEKI50cv8GHCWqAByBHQU/s320/Picture+001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5196044846068663794" border="0" /></a><br />Temple, Durbar Square, Kathmandu.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmvhsFAqTyQy9s74Mp7F00k3ZkKmXXAQBsXHId33IYY3pqJLF578v-gHjPygxLSuhvEyr-851auKZTDzqn3LgtqHKCR5r7sJZ0gvFc0a3WJLvi-gJD4Lu8PDhdTxkWmbIED5LqaHbkPEiF/s1600-h/Picture+002.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmvhsFAqTyQy9s74Mp7F00k3ZkKmXXAQBsXHId33IYY3pqJLF578v-gHjPygxLSuhvEyr-851auKZTDzqn3LgtqHKCR5r7sJZ0gvFc0a3WJLvi-gJD4Lu8PDhdTxkWmbIED5LqaHbkPEiF/s320/Picture+002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5196045846796043778" border="0" /></a><br />Cool lime green Enfield custom, with interesting hemp leaf motif, Pokhara.Stuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07432929013788756540noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050746513596624891.post-19872324248584389822008-04-25T23:46:00.000-07:002008-04-25T23:50:21.725-07:00India TT. Lap record : 165 days: 15 hrs: 35 min: 16 sec<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHK5rdJVbo1GBwnEdnvb8gC5ENgrhCfLshfaw1MVuiRhTbum-XPc4V797bqXJBkwewB9uc1v5wSGHKDNBnaNMWJDApLpsJCfuiIiOjKLAvaFoSb_CbnnGRFZh978n05vvowqI12LsRQ-D_/s1600-h/map.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHK5rdJVbo1GBwnEdnvb8gC5ENgrhCfLshfaw1MVuiRhTbum-XPc4V797bqXJBkwewB9uc1v5wSGHKDNBnaNMWJDApLpsJCfuiIiOjKLAvaFoSb_CbnnGRFZh978n05vvowqI12LsRQ-D_/s320/map.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193442044347680194" border="0" /></a>Stuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07432929013788756540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050746513596624891.post-53460659908705279132008-04-25T21:49:00.000-07:002008-04-25T23:40:56.605-07:00Namaskar IndiaWell, that's it. I'm now back in Delhi. The bike has been sold, and I've now become what I most despise- a backpacker. God damn it. It seems strange to be at the end of the road of the Indian leg of my journey, but after 13,000 odd km it had to end sometime! I'm slightly amazed that I got round with only one breakdown (knackered ignition coil) one crash (slipped on some train tracks in Darjeeling= grazed knee/bruised ego) and no punctures. Considering the state of Indian roads that must be some sort of record!<br />After 6 months in the country it's still pretty hard to put into words what I feel about India. I'll start with the obvious , India is a land of contrasts. There is no middle ground. Everything is black or white, you love it or you hate it. You can have the most beautiful building, be it Hindu, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Mughal</span> or British and next door there will be the most hideous slum or department store. You can have a vast modern metropolis, with international banks and shops, then 1 hour into the country you can see farmers ploughing the fields with bullocks and planting crops by hand. The contrast between the rich and the poor in this country is vast, and unfortunately like everywhere else in the world the gap is only going to get bigger. The new middle class are going to continue buying mobile phones and designer jeans, and the poor are going to continue to beg for a few rupees. Its horrible to say, but the sight of a kid covered in filth, picking through the rubbish becomes normal.<br />India undoubtedly has some major problems. A population of 1.2 billion and growing is always going to create problems. To its credit, unlike China, India has a vibrant and functioning democracy. The country is always colourful, load, brash, chaotic. Every day is an adventure, and never fails to produce something memorable. A mathematician or philosopher studying chaos theory need only get on a plane to India to see it in action. To the untrained eye, the country, the transport, the economy, the infrastructure- all seem to be governed by chaos. Underlying all this is a kind of equilibrium, if you wait long enough everything works out in the end. Water comes out the taps, the curry you ordered eventually arrives, the train gets to its destination. All you have to have in India is a few Rupees and lots of PATIENCE.<br />India is governed by religion and cricket. Although I can understand the latter, I still, happily remain a cynic on the former. After six months visiting churches, temples and mosques, I still remain convinced that religion is a pile of crap. This was confirmed to me a couple of days ago when a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">brahmin</span> said a prayer for me. I then got on my bike and broke the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">kickstart</span>. So much for good karma. The only place I felt a tinge of spirituality was at the Golden Temple in Amritsar. A complete oasis of calm and beauty in the heart of a busy Punjab city, where the Sikh pilgrims were incredibly open, friendly and welcoming. Different to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">alot</span> of mosques and Hindu temples, where you can be made to feel like a bit of an outsider. Forget the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Taj</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Mahal</span>, anyone visiting India for the first time should head straight for the Golden Temple.<br />I've absolutely loved my time in India. Its an incredible country that never fails to amaze you with it's wonderful people, geography and history! Well that's it, I've run out of adjectives to describe India. All I can say is, if you've never been to India"GO". You won't be disappointed:)<br />Lastly, I've been carrying a sketch book round India, so here's a 'best of' selection.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Vc3rbjHH1Wv-es-z0gzrVBLxKOvMrJ8dbw66AetJUwYvpt-tZHEytubjUQ1lWDccUGFa5X4rALbU7LkdFFcS6YNZUJJmMx-oJfoSTQyLH5SBfiMiTfrCOuhyphenhyphenTJwhgYsJKIMcEWVomZzH/s1600-h/Picture+001.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Vc3rbjHH1Wv-es-z0gzrVBLxKOvMrJ8dbw66AetJUwYvpt-tZHEytubjUQ1lWDccUGFa5X4rALbU7LkdFFcS6YNZUJJmMx-oJfoSTQyLH5SBfiMiTfrCOuhyphenhyphenTJwhgYsJKIMcEWVomZzH/s320/Picture+001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193427471523644786" border="0" /></a><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Taj</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Mahal</span>, Agra, November 2007.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjWmG93JkBY0tUwTZElKUncwgYDNF5r3rKfN7SBYqRrabF7FFrPeFDupGWAXQ1OA3UwovpYsW7eNH7MNFC34MZR2H1VSl03bgklj1HeAEdgixwGaMTvhbagfdJBL8qkUQQXryc4K33hrHH/s1600-h/Picture+002.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjWmG93JkBY0tUwTZElKUncwgYDNF5r3rKfN7SBYqRrabF7FFrPeFDupGWAXQ1OA3UwovpYsW7eNH7MNFC34MZR2H1VSl03bgklj1HeAEdgixwGaMTvhbagfdJBL8qkUQQXryc4K33hrHH/s320/Picture+002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193427480113579394" border="0" /></a><br />Rickshaw driver waiting for a fare. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Pondicherry</span>. February 2008.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTq0YDlfoUzlnpDpYg6xNTXCYiBgqzACmbfOKHSNjqGEy25hdWf9WAf2Lm-qzQznI86NWN2hycD5Jqv_xKVzdKmrUDMMWQWaQD7dToGuks5pWl_uWJBG1R1dbAu2P5OcZOdQ-Ej-9_AIQx/s1600-h/Picture+003.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTq0YDlfoUzlnpDpYg6xNTXCYiBgqzACmbfOKHSNjqGEy25hdWf9WAf2Lm-qzQznI86NWN2hycD5Jqv_xKVzdKmrUDMMWQWaQD7dToGuks5pWl_uWJBG1R1dbAu2P5OcZOdQ-Ej-9_AIQx/s320/Picture+003.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193427514473317778" border="0" /></a><br />My bike. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Varkala</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Kerala</span>. March 2008.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGG2_ZXLShVg7U-nQGsCBJCXM0tRAukKzceNd0WpkdhqnkkGEbLPZ3yXqR5V1z5LAjt6YvbNlYiKMf2rdESNm_5xli_K9wrqaYkds-xCZ71Tc9BCAmzORTfiqghru9szZKCs4ZvrVM1gjX/s1600-h/Picture+004.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGG2_ZXLShVg7U-nQGsCBJCXM0tRAukKzceNd0WpkdhqnkkGEbLPZ3yXqR5V1z5LAjt6YvbNlYiKMf2rdESNm_5xli_K9wrqaYkds-xCZ71Tc9BCAmzORTfiqghru9szZKCs4ZvrVM1gjX/s320/Picture+004.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193427535948154274" border="0" /></a><br />Inside the Basilica of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Bom</span> Jesus, Old Goa. March 2008.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-N7QdjhvyzIbq4K8OP6Ky4bHPKBYq5JY3kfNyys3aZmp8BTkZOjSViMW6_o2QKEaOFXvhpaNtYvHNcbsZqlHR3PI1ujNerLLkzgeFxZuheq0JFPfsUT9YAjTOsggOzQQAS03FwAn_nCeT/s1600-h/Picture+005.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-N7QdjhvyzIbq4K8OP6Ky4bHPKBYq5JY3kfNyys3aZmp8BTkZOjSViMW6_o2QKEaOFXvhpaNtYvHNcbsZqlHR3PI1ujNerLLkzgeFxZuheq0JFPfsUT9YAjTOsggOzQQAS03FwAn_nCeT/s320/Picture+005.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193427540243121586" border="0" /></a><br />Lake <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Pichola</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Udaipur</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Rajasthan</span>. April 2008.Stuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07432929013788756540noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050746513596624891.post-41647434783131817002008-04-17T22:47:00.000-07:002008-04-17T23:55:46.719-07:00Gujarat & Rajasthan<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><br /></span>Its only been a couple of days since my last post, but the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">broadbands</span> pretty quick here in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Rajasthan</span>, so I though I'd take the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">opportunity</span> to upload some pictures now rather than later!<br />Since leaving <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Mumbai</span>, I spent a few days in Mahatma <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Gandi's</span> home state, Gujarat. I am now back in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Rajasthan</span> in the town of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Udaipur</span>, famous for the setting in the Bond film '<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Octopussy</span>' (crap Roger Moore 1980's one) and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Bhang</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Lassis</span> (a potent and very nice <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">yogurt</span> drink laced with hash:)<br /><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisuRXZcfaIM5SfvZ9tHKv22gt94zE-ZYnkT9creESTybzfh7pVwIChA3XiTla4Qcx3lVcG1LdchcgfktxaFKFUdStUdgjWEW2wRgZEs1DWanGJnSGYZjtQT3pufvf0qcozJ0b9nu6whGk5/s1600-h/0+001.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisuRXZcfaIM5SfvZ9tHKv22gt94zE-ZYnkT9creESTybzfh7pVwIChA3XiTla4Qcx3lVcG1LdchcgfktxaFKFUdStUdgjWEW2wRgZEs1DWanGJnSGYZjtQT3pufvf0qcozJ0b9nu6whGk5/s320/0+001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5190466605796551282" border="0" /></a><br />Mahatma <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Gandi's</span> Ashram, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Ahamedabad</span>, Gujarat. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Gandi</span> was based in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Ahamedabad</span> from 1915 - 1930. All the important decisions on the struggle for Independence were made in the small room on the left.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdrz2y1THvBkpJwy6uRE9rxglZ-OAcj_OqyhgZdr6MVIUSbsB7OHNO1pgMNjaC_tlXqzj2dQUG4ovyhIGpvJBT13MMcy7CefyyKKeCvNsacC0ZhzTLmr21mpoD0MpJ9dmwGXAzcbgTsR3o/s1600-h/0+002.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdrz2y1THvBkpJwy6uRE9rxglZ-OAcj_OqyhgZdr6MVIUSbsB7OHNO1pgMNjaC_tlXqzj2dQUG4ovyhIGpvJBT13MMcy7CefyyKKeCvNsacC0ZhzTLmr21mpoD0MpJ9dmwGXAzcbgTsR3o/s320/0+002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5190466618681453186" border="0" /></a><br />Chaos on Relief Road, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Ahamedabad</span>. The state of Gujarat is a bit off the track, everyone seems to bypass it going from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Mumbai</span> straight to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">Rajasthan</span>. Which is a shame. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">Gujaraties</span> are <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">incredibly</span> friendly, and the food is by far the best in India. Gujarati <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">Thali</span> is a meal, consisting of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">numerous</span> small dishes- sweet, sour, hot, soothing, different textures, then you savour each dish a little at a time. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm</span>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsYSDub9627xWqNZy75EImrwyqxYmZVZO3VVT9YIrf1SN2pOqK7J9q5rGTSsDe9rog4esJV3XrAWpyJjDXlffxvjyPMblOhzQVdTCKYpVYoEo_lpd1BpG9RHrBXOd4h_sEeYdbJGxc2QJp/s1600-h/0+003.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsYSDub9627xWqNZy75EImrwyqxYmZVZO3VVT9YIrf1SN2pOqK7J9q5rGTSsDe9rog4esJV3XrAWpyJjDXlffxvjyPMblOhzQVdTCKYpVYoEo_lpd1BpG9RHrBXOd4h_sEeYdbJGxc2QJp/s320/0+003.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5190466627271387794" border="0" /></a><br />Elephant traffic jam, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">Udaipur</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">Rajasthan</span>.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg7BGS70KOLZC-m5np0NowHRrv6kokzQvuopQlzR12JYLy57FYZdAPTvMUO6rPpv7_GWs_hak7gnt4sMNiauKyyT6kCbKVHyOIUEDI_hy4nDBZ92yVriU8Zsx4yes5gKPLJSyPMExi4N6w/s1600-h/0+004.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg7BGS70KOLZC-m5np0NowHRrv6kokzQvuopQlzR12JYLy57FYZdAPTvMUO6rPpv7_GWs_hak7gnt4sMNiauKyyT6kCbKVHyOIUEDI_hy4nDBZ92yVriU8Zsx4yes5gKPLJSyPMExi4N6w/s320/0+004.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5190466635861322402" border="0" /></a><br />King of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">Udaipurs</span> 1924 Rolls <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">Royce</span> and me, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">Udaipur</span>. One of many Rollers in the kings collection. The jammy bugger also had a number of old <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28">Merc's</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29">Cadillac's</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_30">Buick's</span> and a couple of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_31">Morris</span> Minors.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjzGDyeNZra48LyeG_pWWtlw5eDLgMbEsQ3J7N2Gp7JTqKnovZkk_o8A8XJ-3TaC0X07o-tNK5J6FkGAzDKtTN7nNhuhAUlF-Pp1-xF7xJ9RgQ4-ks1jhoofJKKbJr0MPwToypL3PDaYWJ/s1600-h/0+005.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjzGDyeNZra48LyeG_pWWtlw5eDLgMbEsQ3J7N2Gp7JTqKnovZkk_o8A8XJ-3TaC0X07o-tNK5J6FkGAzDKtTN7nNhuhAUlF-Pp1-xF7xJ9RgQ4-ks1jhoofJKKbJr0MPwToypL3PDaYWJ/s320/0+005.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5190466644451257010" border="0" /></a><br />Lake <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_32">Pichola</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_33">Udaipur</span>. <br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjzGDyeNZra48LyeG_pWWtlw5eDLgMbEsQ3J7N2Gp7JTqKnovZkk_o8A8XJ-3TaC0X07o-tNK5J6FkGAzDKtTN7nNhuhAUlF-Pp1-xF7xJ9RgQ4-ks1jhoofJKKbJr0MPwToypL3PDaYWJ/s1600-h/0+005.jpg"><br /></a>Stuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07432929013788756540noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050746513596624891.post-17322718920492978812008-04-15T22:45:00.000-07:002008-04-15T23:46:22.383-07:00Bombay NightsSince the last post, I've continued up the west coast and spent 4 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">plesent</span> days in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Mumbai</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Mumbai</span> (formally known as Bombay, but changed back to the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">pre</span>-British name) is <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Indias</span> largest city, about 16 million residents, and is by far the most <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">cosmapolitan</span>/westernised place I've visited so far. Which is hardly <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">suprising</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">givin</span> that <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Mumbai</span> is positioned on a headland facing the Arabian Sea, and has always had trading links with Arabia and the west. The prominent community in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Mumbai</span> are the Paris- originally from Iran/Persia who got kicked out with the rise of Islam. Interestingly they hold water, earth and fire to be sacred, so they leave there dead in towers, to be picked at by vultures! Nice.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGZGlv5GgJIhqgnDF8uf5ls0l8Y86GxyhH2yXEOoZrkkotjWm5m7H2S_n_dGVTkIEW5u6cU8Uhpmn3tCuxXIgvOxHechYeAeVH1V7oOuEjta6F_sfVVoehhYHR5ZH53ItdA8FagGE8CyMV/s1600-h/pic+001.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGZGlv5GgJIhqgnDF8uf5ls0l8Y86GxyhH2yXEOoZrkkotjWm5m7H2S_n_dGVTkIEW5u6cU8Uhpmn3tCuxXIgvOxHechYeAeVH1V7oOuEjta6F_sfVVoehhYHR5ZH53ItdA8FagGE8CyMV/s320/pic+001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189717825493133858" border="0" /></a><br />View from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Arthers</span> Seat, Western Ghats. About 250km south east of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Mumbai</span> are the northern tip of the Western Ghats, a chain of mountains that run all the way down to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Kerala</span>. The views are incredible, and the mountain roads are hair-raising.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqfpIcPF07NqXcheAx-4QFKjKitsdK2ohufIhvyCYHWD-D6IPG6j-ylb-ogUlCEBCbriR-SVAnpTuNOCXhnKXK2fmrnCDh0sBVAJGMHzqjUJTlcRowiqDMweNrosluTM9p2kUXxAHQD8FG/s1600-h/pic+002.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqfpIcPF07NqXcheAx-4QFKjKitsdK2ohufIhvyCYHWD-D6IPG6j-ylb-ogUlCEBCbriR-SVAnpTuNOCXhnKXK2fmrnCDh0sBVAJGMHzqjUJTlcRowiqDMweNrosluTM9p2kUXxAHQD8FG/s320/pic+002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189717829788101170" border="0" /></a><br />Sunday morning cricket, Oval <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Maidan</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Mumbai</span>. There is a big patch of grass outside the High Court and Bombay University that is used by <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Mumbaites</span> for playing the national game. Its an amazing sight seeing thousands cricketers running around, creating dust clouds. Everyone plays, young and old. If you go in the evening you can see businessmen in there suits running around like school boys before they go home! The joy and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">enthusiasm</span> with which the game is played is really infectious. Much more fun than watching a game at Lords!!!!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVWwNZ7H05vvipx9WRpcLrwd-oITzl3CjzsDYxZtO6JGt3hAUok2he9pqjr3nIJe0BQqYZ8Fvt3AT7hU7LG8RifH_pYdx6lFTenMoMmlHTXfv73rEAfjGsdrZJDiYqrkOGPeUOGCp-EBEq/s1600-h/pic+003.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVWwNZ7H05vvipx9WRpcLrwd-oITzl3CjzsDYxZtO6JGt3hAUok2he9pqjr3nIJe0BQqYZ8Fvt3AT7hU7LG8RifH_pYdx6lFTenMoMmlHTXfv73rEAfjGsdrZJDiYqrkOGPeUOGCp-EBEq/s320/pic+003.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189717834083068482" border="0" /></a><br />Mighty <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">bladesman</span>, having a go. As you can see from the completely gay stance, I went to a state school. Didn't make any difference in the end, the bowler kept spraying it down <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">legside</span> for some reason.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHaZCm5gmtaSiKyq3lflErdMh3JbrfWmEsgjtSFIwyA-vnXPBatRR1o7c0KvqHu0cZtic41k2FC6LLf13Mj3q9ZGd2MQ4l2TFwSLGHt29qflZmErLRic5MC-u_rPzn-WNATrZ0ewopy3kS/s1600-h/pic+004.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHaZCm5gmtaSiKyq3lflErdMh3JbrfWmEsgjtSFIwyA-vnXPBatRR1o7c0KvqHu0cZtic41k2FC6LLf13Mj3q9ZGd2MQ4l2TFwSLGHt29qflZmErLRic5MC-u_rPzn-WNATrZ0ewopy3kS/s320/pic+004.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189717842673003090" border="0" /></a><br />Victoria Terminus, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">Mumbai</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">Affectionately</span> known as VT, this is all you need to see why Britain had a vast Empire. To invest so much money and time in a train station says it all. Now all we get is the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">Millennium</span> Dome. All the same - Empires a bad thing, kids. Anyway, most of the old city is littered with these <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">incredibly</span> ornate <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">neo</span>-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">gothic</span> buildings.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpY7zmR6oIGx9Me39G2Kb038W0xxHjj-BZPInI-gCGrQWPZ5ZY8sSDZMPFNYcZ9WHHvtSnV6HcUGNKGjhns8GFDHG1sMMGMJs_dBQX2W20lxo1jMRE7wptnZMCBrTmEJLp-ZdI8B_nNMF1/s1600-h/pic+005.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpY7zmR6oIGx9Me39G2Kb038W0xxHjj-BZPInI-gCGrQWPZ5ZY8sSDZMPFNYcZ9WHHvtSnV6HcUGNKGjhns8GFDHG1sMMGMJs_dBQX2W20lxo1jMRE7wptnZMCBrTmEJLp-ZdI8B_nNMF1/s320/pic+005.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189717846967970402" border="0" /></a><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">Chowpatty</span> Beach, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">Mumbai</span>. The place to be in the evening. Everyone <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">congregates</span> to eat food, and watch the sun set, with the city of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28">Mumbai</span> as the backdrop. Ended up getting pissed on the beach with some friendly <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29">Mumbaites</span>. The evening ended when they went off to find some hookers and I went back to the hotel to watch Chelsea v Arsenal.Stuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07432929013788756540noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050746513596624891.post-87513074092702846632008-03-30T23:45:00.000-07:002008-03-31T01:04:00.359-07:00Boats,Beaches,Vindaloo and FenniHello. <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Currently</span> in Goa, on a beach...................Nothing much to report as far as that goes, apart from the seas warm, the beers cold and the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">vindaloo</span> is <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">spicy</span>!!!! To be honest, I'm not much of a beach bum, sitting on a beach all day is kinda boring, but I'm slowly getting the hang of it:)<br />In a place called <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Amarol</span>, which is one of the more chilled out <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">hippy</span> beaches, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">rather</span> than the rave/rape/murdering beaches further south. India has been in a frenzy over the whole British teenager murder, so there are police everywhere in Goa. The place has a reputation of being a bit druggie, but <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">theres</span> not much of that going on at the moment. For the first time in 5 months I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">actually</span> got pulled at the boarder crossing and had to show my docs!!!! God damn fuzz.<br />Anyway, apart from the police overkill, Goa is a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">pleasant</span> place. You see the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Portuguese</span> influence in the State capital,<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Panji</span>, in terms of the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">architecture</span>, food and Port wine. Pork <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Vindaloo</span> is a famous <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Goan</span> dish, not as hot as the UK version, but much, much <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">tastier</span>:P The locally produced white spirit- Fenni, made from either cashrew or coconut, is pretty lethal as well. At 10p a shot it would be rude not to!<br /><br />Next stop: <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Mumbai</span> (formally Bombay)<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5183801514434040498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8i4Qtai7aZfHQdagz6AiT97Au6Saj8wS6Bfff_aK0uOiFWSIL2rimDEbMrcl9Q3rE5T0-V7HnIzhTnNUnFVWByhRpHixBTK_lB6mrm-veb7jrmMbqLDprJjsVjAwGFbn3kzUsiNo1SE1b/s320/indian+pics+001.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br />Man overboard in the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Keralan</span> backwaters, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">Kollam</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">Kerala</span>. Most of the coastal region of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">Kerala</span> is covered in a network of canals, rivers and lakes, where fishing, prawn farming and toddy taping are the main industries.<br /><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv_7bwQXiIC28IfW7wMoJTSoUB1a5E84rGORQ_mEM1JYvZxE0cnsRArNoQ6tYXDPGJMz0aWqIYTFX_G-GhW_f1M5c_CNZinlQ33dEXGFo8tpBMoPcna0aoZRYGlH5WsssWoduH7Phs-11p/s1600-h/indian+pics+002.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5183801523023975106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv_7bwQXiIC28IfW7wMoJTSoUB1a5E84rGORQ_mEM1JYvZxE0cnsRArNoQ6tYXDPGJMz0aWqIYTFX_G-GhW_f1M5c_CNZinlQ33dEXGFo8tpBMoPcna0aoZRYGlH5WsssWoduH7Phs-11p/s320/indian+pics+002.jpg" border="0" /></a> </p><p>Chinese fishing nets in Fort <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">Kochi</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">Kerala</span>. Loads of these fishing nets on big <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">canti</span>-levered wooden structures line the coast around <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">Kochi</span>.</p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnC42rGWSruZ1SeXuMthd8sSOdZXJeNRaaiHQxUjnuxcdA0ewqR186lM28zHO4g5jDbL7Dk4Pubh9cNEUQr74sem3FObifprBsY2Owf5SBGhqCZ900ZzTZwAYFvSAqI2EzJxaqeSNIlcUE/s1600-h/indian+pics+004.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5183801527318942418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnC42rGWSruZ1SeXuMthd8sSOdZXJeNRaaiHQxUjnuxcdA0ewqR186lM28zHO4g5jDbL7Dk4Pubh9cNEUQr74sem3FObifprBsY2Owf5SBGhqCZ900ZzTZwAYFvSAqI2EzJxaqeSNIlcUE/s320/indian+pics+004.jpg" border="0" /></a> </p><p>Church of the Immaculate Conception, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">Panji</span>, Goa. Goa is an old <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">Portuguese</span> colony, so has loads of Catholic Churches, Cathedrals and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">monasteries</span> dotted around the place. A more useful <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">Portuguese</span> after-effect is the amount of Port wine that is available in the state, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28">mmmmmmmmmm</span>.</p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihEig2m-zglmG4P0WiG3cTwleqsBaITZAKKoH0UF18gr5K3h9Jp1kw7XraH4feoHWIhqPEp9y37xsiGJUOmSzTqiiz6M_xFU6sDTIdZYYbcg8s_yJTGhD5kYiVq44seVIsJ1g_vCYOPXpQ/s1600-h/indian+pics+005.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5183801535908877026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihEig2m-zglmG4P0WiG3cTwleqsBaITZAKKoH0UF18gr5K3h9Jp1kw7XraH4feoHWIhqPEp9y37xsiGJUOmSzTqiiz6M_xFU6sDTIdZYYbcg8s_yJTGhD5kYiVq44seVIsJ1g_vCYOPXpQ/s320/indian+pics+005.jpg" border="0" /></a> </p><p>View from my beach <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29">shack</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_30">Amarol</span>, Goa.</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSTwiD3mH6njQUAtk-75IjJrUKEtr9cUE7a1R_uk41mER28oSWWUWvmJnlbHFDcKcZmUDtKJVhcYgHLtUYyni3TAisNILtWHk9wdC4WyZTFVewVCuGtnIhvDxonK3G0fzLPIWUkPw8-p3U/s1600-h/indian+pics+006.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5183801540203844338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSTwiD3mH6njQUAtk-75IjJrUKEtr9cUE7a1R_uk41mER28oSWWUWvmJnlbHFDcKcZmUDtKJVhcYgHLtUYyni3TAisNILtWHk9wdC4WyZTFVewVCuGtnIhvDxonK3G0fzLPIWUkPw8-p3U/s320/indian+pics+006.jpg" border="0" /></a> </p><p>Cows on the beach, a uniquely Indian sight. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_31">Amarol</span>, Goa.</p><p><br /> </p>Stuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07432929013788756540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050746513596624891.post-10381726063692667282008-03-14T05:07:00.000-07:002008-03-14T05:35:16.963-07:00For all you geography students out there.....<a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKvvnLsCbfiAL3Ijz8P7BkFT2FPdgfYpu5x0vNEdMhdH-KNvjlKzgl5qnX-IFafIx7K2ofWSJf1KV2-QL9QuPX9XZUWc4v-yrIMXrX5H8bZUZiA4eCnRkxXw2zsXfo6ibLEcwU0pN_MS2N/s1600-h/Map-India2.JPG"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">I thought I might as well let you know where I've been for the past 4 months or so! Below is a map marked out of the route taken so far. Starting off in Delhi in November, I've travelled about 10,000km on my trusty old Enfield, in varying road conditions, and managed to get to the southern tip of India, hurrah. Well, 'The Plan' now is to go up the west coast and visit along the way - Goa, Mumbai and Udipur and be back in Delhi by 28th April to catch a flight to Nepal:) Obviously 'The Plan' is quite fluid, so we'll see what happens!</span></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKvvnLsCbfiAL3Ijz8P7BkFT2FPdgfYpu5x0vNEdMhdH-KNvjlKzgl5qnX-IFafIx7K2ofWSJf1KV2-QL9QuPX9XZUWc4v-yrIMXrX5H8bZUZiA4eCnRkxXw2zsXfo6ibLEcwU0pN_MS2N/s1600-h/Map-India2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKvvnLsCbfiAL3Ijz8P7BkFT2FPdgfYpu5x0vNEdMhdH-KNvjlKzgl5qnX-IFafIx7K2ofWSJf1KV2-QL9QuPX9XZUWc4v-yrIMXrX5H8bZUZiA4eCnRkxXw2zsXfo6ibLEcwU0pN_MS2N/s320/Map-India2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5177569056734268690" border="0" /></a>Stuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07432929013788756540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050746513596624891.post-42541113286874785742008-03-02T23:20:00.000-08:002008-03-03T00:17:27.655-08:00Temples & Tigers<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4WaPcLvCgOIHUnW4Y8XAEtuFYjOHSq6uBGDnFrkBF6JXiIFdhrQWVfta54uV93hkqZpWZ9qh-jEB23oxiGsAFKeTS4bVbFBTPm9JWsZn7DAzMQp3Ggwi1TIj_2S8BqlhurSleHaLEqFKD/s1600-h/Picture+001.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4WaPcLvCgOIHUnW4Y8XAEtuFYjOHSq6uBGDnFrkBF6JXiIFdhrQWVfta54uV93hkqZpWZ9qh-jEB23oxiGsAFKeTS4bVbFBTPm9JWsZn7DAzMQp3Ggwi1TIj_2S8BqlhurSleHaLEqFKD/s320/Picture+001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173416445834050066" border="0" /></a><br />Roadkill.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMqjRa-4jku24ORs_rVMhFkb-rYSzzSTvlrcdg8juogCnijAxedEE8f74_45NEx1q0TC2F3HLrMk126Sdrf5OIZ2wn_qvI_uDs3U1OWJwgYOxVxBfd-I7Olat4kGr6ipvT8qSRQgdrNkdH/s1600-h/Picture+002.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMqjRa-4jku24ORs_rVMhFkb-rYSzzSTvlrcdg8juogCnijAxedEE8f74_45NEx1q0TC2F3HLrMk126Sdrf5OIZ2wn_qvI_uDs3U1OWJwgYOxVxBfd-I7Olat4kGr6ipvT8qSRQgdrNkdH/s320/Picture+002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173416454423984674" border="0" /></a><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Scaffholders</span> working on the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Sri</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Meenakshi</span> Temple, Madurai, Tamil <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Nadu</span>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzYPLCjnxfQ4OhYNIelOvR-eCJOVMQfII9dkCibNFIzeyW9mCH4Q4i5GyPiOe4yv4fonCvnScrtAftLT7C_Rv0iPphBrbhaxghSuzQ44QubS2KMCoTzWBKk6vL8JgGxqE5MP8skZXKp2LL/s1600-h/Picture+003.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzYPLCjnxfQ4OhYNIelOvR-eCJOVMQfII9dkCibNFIzeyW9mCH4Q4i5GyPiOe4yv4fonCvnScrtAftLT7C_Rv0iPphBrbhaxghSuzQ44QubS2KMCoTzWBKk6vL8JgGxqE5MP8skZXKp2LL/s320/Picture+003.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173416463013919282" border="0" /></a><br />Close up of one of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">gopurams</span> , most of the temples in the south are painted up like this in Dravidian style.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIRxJ19c_5WTzLzmMS0SlZGCPu4B-srUIYV7bQq9R3PvG8d5eSpWWza1wjfrcJjlKFbxgHkeW9FIOXcaJi3WgFZLxj78Da4M49hsRP041XLUzuxk-3ExItYngE_pt9AGXevIo1JOciEZRo/s1600-h/Picture+004.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIRxJ19c_5WTzLzmMS0SlZGCPu4B-srUIYV7bQq9R3PvG8d5eSpWWza1wjfrcJjlKFbxgHkeW9FIOXcaJi3WgFZLxj78Da4M49hsRP041XLUzuxk-3ExItYngE_pt9AGXevIo1JOciEZRo/s320/Picture+004.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173416475898821186" border="0" /></a><br />Me in the jungle. The gaiters are to stop leeches getting in! <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Periyar</span> Tiger Reserve, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Kerala</span>.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyizhyphenhyphenVdd-HCpDJbLcEO4uPIKf09Ip8QERFK2z8bQU0quJd_5qBCe-a82q3iosI8xmyAQE2HvIuvLIg4NGp8VimPkPLNOzDTaYOh8IHBEEBTxcNVpSX-Otbxk9LRSsc4G_sqQCrQ6ZMP5s/s1600-h/Picture+005.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyizhyphenhyphenVdd-HCpDJbLcEO4uPIKf09Ip8QERFK2z8bQU0quJd_5qBCe-a82q3iosI8xmyAQE2HvIuvLIg4NGp8VimPkPLNOzDTaYOh8IHBEEBTxcNVpSX-Otbxk9LRSsc4G_sqQCrQ6ZMP5s/s320/Picture+005.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173416488783723090" border="0" /></a><br />Spot the elephants.<br /><br /><br />Hi there!!!! Since my last post <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">I've</span> been doing plenty of temple spotting in Tamil <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Nadu</span>. Down here in the south the temples are <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">completely</span> different to up north. North= <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Ayran</span> (not the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">blonde</span>, blue eyed type) South= Dravidian, therefore <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">completely</span> different language, culture, temple design, etc. I visited the three biggest temple towns of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Tanjour</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Trichy</span> and most famously Madurai. To be honest, the Temples all looked pretty similar, although the complex at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Trichy</span> was bloody massive- about 60 hectares according to Book of Lies. All were very impressive and colourful.<br />After all that cultural stuff, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">I've</span> crossed the border into <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">Kerala</span> and am now at a small town called <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">Kumily</span>, in the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">Cardomom</span> Hills. The whole place is surrounded by tea and spice plantations. For the past few days <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">Iv'e</span> been living off cinnamon and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">cardomom</span> tea <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">hmmmmmmmmm</span>. Anyway, right next to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">Kumily</span> is the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">Periyar</span> Tiger Reserve. Yesterday I went on a jungle walk and saw lots birds, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">butterflies</span>, monkeys, elephants and buffalo. No Tigers though, with only 40 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">tiggers</span> in a 700km sq reserve it was always going to be a long shot. After seeing some of their paw prints as big as your hand, in retrospect it was probably for the best.<br />Well I'm <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">knackered after all this running around</span>, so tomorrow <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28">I'm</span> heading for a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29">Keralan</span> beach. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_30">Laters</span>....Stuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07432929013788756540noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050746513596624891.post-36885274154809152962008-02-22T00:53:00.000-08:002008-02-22T01:34:01.783-08:00South India<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMpwkk-3nkJPlGypzjZOkIVwrhl05MHV0G61YpJ1MLUxDgooBykgezqFp3XDmoQSR89leI8QwNqXY1TJwD67EtfckCGan2zmmFQ1YRwi9-3Bk8FTO5sKNVal858pv2YJ7a8szXgRAIaRGr/s1600-h/Picture+001.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5169728147131915762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMpwkk-3nkJPlGypzjZOkIVwrhl05MHV0G61YpJ1MLUxDgooBykgezqFp3XDmoQSR89leI8QwNqXY1TJwD67EtfckCGan2zmmFQ1YRwi9-3Bk8FTO5sKNVal858pv2YJ7a8szXgRAIaRGr/s320/Picture+001.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />On the road south, with Eastern Ghats in the background.<br /><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-SWCLrdiiOL_YTuUPVJQ86ARMF0BspNSq4cSAHZX1LGg2y_XSLKTGUOxNC9v18idBXVKAm9BbZGw_o6tiHDk7p9FOOOFeqR3g6tBKbIQ4beK41N4sIMYo9gjPkn7mT9j-3T4vXcJjSkrB/s1600-h/Picture+002.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5169728160016817666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-SWCLrdiiOL_YTuUPVJQ86ARMF0BspNSq4cSAHZX1LGg2y_XSLKTGUOxNC9v18idBXVKAm9BbZGw_o6tiHDk7p9FOOOFeqR3g6tBKbIQ4beK41N4sIMYo9gjPkn7mT9j-3T4vXcJjSkrB/s320/Picture+002.jpg" border="0" /></a> </p><p>Slightly insane schoolkids, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Mamallapuram</span>.</p><p><br /> </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrqBPGmrbIWKbpd2WhawGBTYyWwt6D-RWhvbUiB9eaptDzhQvv3GKQa14y4S9SNgFrKAwK2_lfe_5vgBVO7huIagfXEqjw0q6YJCahmppTik-dz_92JUWDgySGx4XwWuTNYoG-niynVKXv/s1600-h/Picture+003.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5169728177196686866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrqBPGmrbIWKbpd2WhawGBTYyWwt6D-RWhvbUiB9eaptDzhQvv3GKQa14y4S9SNgFrKAwK2_lfe_5vgBVO7huIagfXEqjw0q6YJCahmppTik-dz_92JUWDgySGx4XwWuTNYoG-niynVKXv/s320/Picture+003.jpg" border="0" /></a> </p><p>Temples, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">rockcut</span> from a single boulder. No <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">separate</span> parts what so ever! <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Mamallapuram</span>.</p><p><br /> </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNEVNQZTFlcwjCkAZwqpStzXhQIhBteCZIWNYmoHjR3IqeIJJrRBXDsjyC1hiv_-T6-9Ebej_qr9x5psE-i1g6FdoD09lkqgSBOcb2yPiOqZmsdyqj5xfyyAj9NzbPYzKbrY_IZRalMi8Y/s1600-h/Picture+004.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5169728185786621474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNEVNQZTFlcwjCkAZwqpStzXhQIhBteCZIWNYmoHjR3IqeIJJrRBXDsjyC1hiv_-T6-9Ebej_qr9x5psE-i1g6FdoD09lkqgSBOcb2yPiOqZmsdyqj5xfyyAj9NzbPYzKbrY_IZRalMi8Y/s320/Picture+004.jpg" border="0" /></a> </p><p>The Ambassador, king of the Indian roads, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Pondicherry</span>.</p><p><br /> </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFFAnLrJMHMUQQ7P_vXsXjzJwxY8W4PJj-AKV4jRbIt4Q_J49VaQ9yL90dwSgO4YB2kklV_yx3TfisYyS0zQ09Yyqe74Wi_axkfIG8VkSwRLvqjwu_c7rtzDV7DIrTj7EXB_qAdfzxH3Ud/s1600-h/Picture+005.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5169728190081588786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFFAnLrJMHMUQQ7P_vXsXjzJwxY8W4PJj-AKV4jRbIt4Q_J49VaQ9yL90dwSgO4YB2kklV_yx3TfisYyS0zQ09Yyqe74Wi_axkfIG8VkSwRLvqjwu_c7rtzDV7DIrTj7EXB_qAdfzxH3Ud/s320/Picture+005.jpg" border="0" /></a> </p><p>Typical tree lined street. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Pondicherry</span>.</p><p><br />Well, after 3 1/2 months in North India, I'm finally here in the South. Everyone says there are two <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Indias</span>, the North and the South. My impression is that theory is true. Its certainly <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">ALOT</span> hotter down here. Seems to average around 90deg, so my body is still getting use to the change to a tropical climate, and having to take siestas in the afternoon. Still, it beats freezing your arse off in a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Himalayan</span> hill station! Everyone is <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">alot</span> more laid back down here and the pace of life <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">alot</span> slower, the hawkers and the rickshaw drivers are much less <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">aggressive</span>, which makes a welcome change. </p>Well, I left <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Puri</span>, up in the North on the 8<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">th</span> Feb, and basically nailed it down the coastal highway(which was actually a 2 lane highway, and not a potholed dirt track, for once the map didn't lie!) so I was averaging over 400km a day. A personal record. <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Unfortunately</span> the weather all the way down to Chennai/Madras was '<span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">changeable</span>' so whilst riding I was going from sweating away to soaked to the skin, then back again. After spending a few days in Chennai, an old British East India Company fort and trading post, that has turned into an industrial city of about 6 million people. I went down to a small coastal village called <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Mamallapuram</span>, a backpacker haven, so slightly touristy, and a about twice as expensive as elsewhere, but it did have some beautiful 7<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">th</span> century temples on the beach. Half the village is designated as a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">UNSCO</span> World Heritage Site.<br />Now a bit further down the coast in the old French colonial outpost of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">Pondicherry</span>. Its a weird infusion of Indian and French culture. The town is set out in wide <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">boulevards</span>, all the streets have French names like - rue Dumas, the cops <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">wear</span> kepis, French style hats. Also the coffee shops actually serve half decent coffee and pain <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">au</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">chocola</span>.Stuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07432929013788756540noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050746513596624891.post-60982149265276523942008-02-17T02:45:00.000-08:002008-02-17T03:05:05.816-08:00Things Iv'e learnt in India* Don't ask leading questions like "Is this the way to Chennai." because you'll enevitably get a "yes" and a nod/shake of the head.<br /><br />* On the flip side, asking for anything generally results in "Yes, no problem."<br /><br />* Indian bike mechanics are the best in the world. + The quickest & cheapest.<br /><br />* All Indian coach and bus drivers are homicidal cunts.<br /><br />* Riding a motorbike with the gearshifter on the wrong side and upsidedown.<br /><br />* Eating raw chillis, good for the digestion.<br /><br />* Why have 1 person do a job when you can have 8. (This does not mean things happen 8 times faster, rather the reverse.)<br /><br />* Indians hav'nt figured out what to do with rubbish, other than dump it in the street/River/Sea.<br /><br />* The Lonely Planet guidebook is a pile of crap.<br /><br />* Everything is really cheap.<br /><br />* Everyday in India, you see somthing hillarious, insane, heartbreaking, breathtaking, ugly or beautiful.Stuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07432929013788756540noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050746513596624891.post-40083070111997038782008-02-08T00:29:00.000-08:002008-02-08T00:50:43.864-08:00North West Bengal<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMgIVs_n8H0RmUwvhPozvLtSMlutRQng_o13331gpaVJA2myLNH0BwdTboiigQaZLmUzVC3Xb6zwC00JTcGJSxW4C5p4oKVIxAhkf7eIC158ndsNGzYTXVGU4W5tvNstfoPiZTU2TxQvvD/s1600-h/marije+001.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5164528462567500370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMgIVs_n8H0RmUwvhPozvLtSMlutRQng_o13331gpaVJA2myLNH0BwdTboiigQaZLmUzVC3Xb6zwC00JTcGJSxW4C5p4oKVIxAhkf7eIC158ndsNGzYTXVGU4W5tvNstfoPiZTU2TxQvvD/s320/marije+001.jpg" border="0" /></a> Kolkata, Park St.<br /><br /><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizGCekFMDW701lpdCAXhK3o5P5vHy03CMvEAb83Rkg_VFBmesXTG21EHFtKhjN41DtmitoCvhyphenhyphenkd1G-v55RKsTPi5p4PD9zblcMbh0hlj1-2wbx1Obbebzf7ll-YdhyphenhyphenEV5rEQOGCpGqPaQ/s1600-h/marije+002.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5164528475452402274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizGCekFMDW701lpdCAXhK3o5P5vHy03CMvEAb83Rkg_VFBmesXTG21EHFtKhjN41DtmitoCvhyphenhyphenkd1G-v55RKsTPi5p4PD9zblcMbh0hlj1-2wbx1Obbebzf7ll-YdhyphenhyphenEV5rEQOGCpGqPaQ/s320/marije+002.jpg" border="0" /></a> Puri beech</p><p><br /> </p>Hello everyone. Sorry I've not posted for a while. Since leaving Darjeeling not much has really happened! Tried to get into the Kingdom of Bhutan- but couldn't because I didn't have a visa- even though the Lonely Planet book of lies said you didn't need one. Oh well only a day wasted. It was then a bit of a nightmare journey down to Kolkata. A mixture of really heavy rain, then i got 'ill'. Completely lost my appitite and couldn't sleep- hence completely knackererd and no bike riding. Luckilly my appitite has returned, ,and i'm back on the curry:)<br /><br />Finally made it to Kolokata last week. Very cool city, very cosmopolitan. Looks a bit like an old derilict version of London. Got bike serviced+ new front suspension. the old ones were completely shot.<br /><br />Now about 300 miles down the coast from Kolkata in a place called Puri. Its on the beech and very chilled out. think I might stay here a few days and enjoy the sun:)Stuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07432929013788756540noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050746513596624891.post-67436419559518102982008-01-17T01:47:00.000-08:002008-01-17T02:50:05.392-08:00DarjeelingFor the past week I've been living in Darjeeling, a hill station famous for its views of the Himalaya. A view that <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">until</span> today was denied to me by some very English weather. <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Fortunately</span>, the town has plenty of stuff to do and can get pretty lively. The town has a big <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Ghurka</span> population who want an <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Independent</span> State. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Theres</span> always <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">demonstrations</span> and strikes going on, and the odd <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">political</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">assignation</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">is'nt</span> unheard of either. My local bar that plays <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Hendix</span>, Stones, Doors etc, has a doorman outside armed with an old Lee <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Enfield</span> rifle! Not sure why, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">nowts</span> happened yet, guess <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Ghurkas</span> just like guns and knives, must be why the British Army like to employ them.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoImv3gXIjJG9djEqGefoq0TWR1pClM2X4xfX-Lb59iGRIpgtjkr22wedSVIigwysHs2tOQ1PxaT4L3uYWhYjI2ATp3gGIKE4XyJDvp_DbUJfutVaRiHmn0D332lnT2PNcK736_-z-1Qot/s1600-h/IMG_0319.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoImv3gXIjJG9djEqGefoq0TWR1pClM2X4xfX-Lb59iGRIpgtjkr22wedSVIigwysHs2tOQ1PxaT4L3uYWhYjI2ATp3gGIKE4XyJDvp_DbUJfutVaRiHmn0D332lnT2PNcK736_-z-1Qot/s320/IMG_0319.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5156384366789885490" border="0" /></a><br />In the Darjeeling Planters Club, with <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">temporary</span> membership! A place with hunting <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">trophies</span> on the wall, tea on the table and a slight <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">wiff</span> of Empire in the air. Ended up playing snooker with some guys that were on 'The Rickshaw Run'. A race in rickshaws from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Kerala</span> in the south to Kathmandu! I won, so 1-nil to the bikers:)<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgboax_1O-P-G6juiuYBhZhaNxmW-f_2TZ4-XCF1CQhkyJUUPl5PYwKtrUWh5r91DqGyySX3xlhEoWNEchyphenhyphenMSSoxkYNycEnRVMk1DmsA6It4mANSbiWZO2hWYyqD14aAmQbzsydHVjYYpii/s1600-h/IMG_0323.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgboax_1O-P-G6juiuYBhZhaNxmW-f_2TZ4-XCF1CQhkyJUUPl5PYwKtrUWh5r91DqGyySX3xlhEoWNEchyphenhyphenMSSoxkYNycEnRVMk1DmsA6It4mANSbiWZO2hWYyqD14aAmQbzsydHVjYYpii/s320/IMG_0323.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5156384371084852802" border="0" /></a><br />Tibetan <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">Refuge</span>, where Tibetan exiles make carpets, textiles and handicrafts.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEA1o2ENBi24Y9unqvItZx9UDcdOfGFxiSW3eMGoloCaBNS32uXjTL0zqQKl3Pcf7Y-P69jwLM_Ormny2t8y-f9mP1EltdAHvJEKMi6Ik24zrWHaoKy8YxetSIBQ2n_FF0KYUA1LV6swqS/s1600-h/IMG_0328.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEA1o2ENBi24Y9unqvItZx9UDcdOfGFxiSW3eMGoloCaBNS32uXjTL0zqQKl3Pcf7Y-P69jwLM_Ormny2t8y-f9mP1EltdAHvJEKMi6Ik24zrWHaoKy8YxetSIBQ2n_FF0KYUA1LV6swqS/s320/IMG_0328.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5156384379674787410" border="0" /></a><br />Young monks. I'd like to think they know at least some <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">kung</span>-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">fu</span>.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4khfWp4hRnD1Gt0sHWKrzEaoUacnDzaWIvMsyn_KMguBeN8EAIz3DJamBQwFckYr5cvc5T9vjzaPxfnZs3U5JOE-WhSjedvSu3CCR3ssfMd7mzv3_XsrkXzgWc3_kpyrVcmCPJOnvS-kF/s1600-h/kanchenjunga.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4khfWp4hRnD1Gt0sHWKrzEaoUacnDzaWIvMsyn_KMguBeN8EAIz3DJamBQwFckYr5cvc5T9vjzaPxfnZs3U5JOE-WhSjedvSu3CCR3ssfMd7mzv3_XsrkXzgWc3_kpyrVcmCPJOnvS-kF/s320/kanchenjunga.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5156384396854656626" border="0" /></a><br />View from Tiger Hill, with Darjeeling in the fore ground and Kanchenjunga in the background. Kanchenjunga is the 3rd highest mountain in the world, and I can confirm that its fucking massive! Its 60miles away in the picture! Also saw Everest, zoom wasn't strong <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">enough</span>.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbxiWT_v3mWM77ufYwB8NZ-t5wBiKm8vciZS_l8nOUbgYe-sVWwXCgmSkiQCJYO9wXben5gm-8H_GAzhMgJWCo8g18Sit9FvDqsvnwiAbFnhNQDXzHHqq3gaitdB3ts_TKY4_Fh6tNRBe6/s1600-h/IMG_0344.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbxiWT_v3mWM77ufYwB8NZ-t5wBiKm8vciZS_l8nOUbgYe-sVWwXCgmSkiQCJYO9wXben5gm-8H_GAzhMgJWCo8g18Sit9FvDqsvnwiAbFnhNQDXzHHqq3gaitdB3ts_TKY4_Fh6tNRBe6/s320/IMG_0344.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5156384383969754722" border="0" /></a><br />Me and Kanchenjunga. Apologies for the hat, but its cold in the Himalaya in winter. Who'd have thought it!Stuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07432929013788756540noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050746513596624891.post-26809205617247232502008-01-12T22:01:00.000-08:002008-01-12T22:32:01.726-08:00Pictures<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWMbP0HPMq8mJJM08lgfW3UTGufT2MsFAUjjCsqgNjawRk3qJkIAISuPcdtucYMx-c_hrTYu3wuLkLe432MQIfsfv_4uaHsdgsJjQuMmK002OVFvKt8YjavNUOSkOL9OrhEwg_Xx6_twzU/s1600-h/1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWMbP0HPMq8mJJM08lgfW3UTGufT2MsFAUjjCsqgNjawRk3qJkIAISuPcdtucYMx-c_hrTYu3wuLkLe432MQIfsfv_4uaHsdgsJjQuMmK002OVFvKt8YjavNUOSkOL9OrhEwg_Xx6_twzU/s320/1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5154842198652714466" border="0" /></a><br />Puja ceremony at the main ghat, Varanasi.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijFwF0PW74w86qccgciBPOIVWVtCyIMhhq13EeFbj21eWBY2rsKBrzDDijopLykGzz5ST8Cyl4_sComwGedfmw8182U7YtObisGrUOW9RfLfv99LLnMZ6p35_CUF3-1w927l4BurtsjBHF/s1600-h/2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijFwF0PW74w86qccgciBPOIVWVtCyIMhhq13EeFbj21eWBY2rsKBrzDDijopLykGzz5ST8Cyl4_sComwGedfmw8182U7YtObisGrUOW9RfLfv99LLnMZ6p35_CUF3-1w927l4BurtsjBHF/s320/2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5154842211537616370" border="0" /></a><br />Ghats, Varanasi. To right of the picture are the burning Ghats, with boats full of wood. The wood is paid for by weight on huge scales at the river bank.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJYw9doG6ZoM7P7BhXAcphSPVCFbLJguutlAeW2gFUmtOTA4OaqaTFnjE969s7IT9Jjv5CydP-EsFPlNnvTrpMAIY8XUYIveNBBvwYHyB536_Uq8UlwMkA4STPbZTfX80rwdtZ6ILDTAPj/s1600-h/3.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJYw9doG6ZoM7P7BhXAcphSPVCFbLJguutlAeW2gFUmtOTA4OaqaTFnjE969s7IT9Jjv5CydP-EsFPlNnvTrpMAIY8XUYIveNBBvwYHyB536_Uq8UlwMkA4STPbZTfX80rwdtZ6ILDTAPj/s320/3.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5154842245897354754" border="0" /></a><br />Underneth the Bodi Tree, BodhGaya.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3BL58mAYcQH2nV2VSbhc-NG1aNaIGNMgE94DVRmmQOZcgG6Ra6Oj568FhLTnzPKQrIK5nczzhJFXVuYweI3hwOUwVX0RpBMbyxLlyj4x2Ni2cUkBCtJDr4r8V-nVe89MthsI4JYpVKyyM/s1600-h/4.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3BL58mAYcQH2nV2VSbhc-NG1aNaIGNMgE94DVRmmQOZcgG6Ra6Oj568FhLTnzPKQrIK5nczzhJFXVuYweI3hwOUwVX0RpBMbyxLlyj4x2Ni2cUkBCtJDr4r8V-nVe89MthsI4JYpVKyyM/s320/4.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5154842267372191250" border="0" /></a><br />Monks praying at the Mahabodi Temple, BodhGaya.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkYGU60T6Pb-sBXsfMMuSN2ZEDWh4wiH2UQ2bL61oH6s-IPuR4T9eHXvnsKiB3W-V7L6zRP725_i3zl-xbRlyZgwXRwnYFzUdG8euT952OeJ78Lk3M7p458xk8kfF5rk_a3ygfTXxjP3T1/s1600-h/5.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkYGU60T6Pb-sBXsfMMuSN2ZEDWh4wiH2UQ2bL61oH6s-IPuR4T9eHXvnsKiB3W-V7L6zRP725_i3zl-xbRlyZgwXRwnYFzUdG8euT952OeJ78Lk3M7p458xk8kfF5rk_a3ygfTXxjP3T1/s320/5.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5154842288847027746" border="0" /></a><br />Darjeeling, with tea plantations on the lower slopes.Stuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07432929013788756540noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050746513596624891.post-61621234767464092492008-01-07T22:38:00.000-08:002008-01-07T23:30:40.613-08:00Happy New YearHappy New Year everyone! Hope you all had a good one:)<br /><br />Well, where to start? Since my last post I've visited a few mad places. Mad, even by Indian standards. After Lucknow, I travelled down to Varanasi, the most important town in the Hindu faith. The town is on the west bank of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Ganga</span>, the main attraction being a series of Ghats (steps that lead down to the waters edge) that run for about a mile. On the Ghats, Hindus perform their rituals, praying, lighting candles, bathing in the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Ganga</span> (which this far down the river is more raw sewage than water. Probably <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">healthier</span> having a bath in your own poo. But they seemed to enjoy it)+ the odd game of street cricket.<br />Varanasi is also a very auspicious place to die, since dying here breaks the cycle of re incarnation. Which means Varanasi has a couple of 'burning' Ghats, where the dead are publicly cremated on an open funeral pyre. Not something you see everyday, not in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Leamington</span> Spa anyway. Seeing a pair of feet or a head poking out off a fire is not as shocking as you think. In the context of where its happening, and all the relatives look on it as a celebration, it seems perfectly alright. Bet it tastes like chicken.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikbMhsRhJcCGrrkrjf1GM9zkbb1YgcczoQExgfyNvjVns9_9ZD5JWXgW8jE0WlW8DOYTYIg1sp2Fr-mRRMEAxGS9CEa5hgb1aWLyRx5fhP68EWNpUKC4lTEktEqaoAqFNkYtLFrYREwWoS/s1600-h/varanasi2.bmp"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikbMhsRhJcCGrrkrjf1GM9zkbb1YgcczoQExgfyNvjVns9_9ZD5JWXgW8jE0WlW8DOYTYIg1sp2Fr-mRRMEAxGS9CEa5hgb1aWLyRx5fhP68EWNpUKC4lTEktEqaoAqFNkYtLFrYREwWoS/s320/varanasi2.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152997312630586834" border="0" /></a>Seeing as though its considered 'bad form' to take photos of bodies, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">here's</span> a picture. Carn't upload any pictures on this computer anyhow.<br /><br />Well, Varanasi was a bit intense, so after 3 days I made my way to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">BodhGaya</span>. Its a town famous for being the birthplace of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Buddism</span>. In the 6<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">th</span> century BC the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Buddha</span> sat under a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Bodi</span> Tree and became enlightened. For the past couple of days I've been sitting under the same tree and nothings happened! Although it is entertaining watching Monks 'fight'(in a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Buddist</span> way) over the fallen leaves from the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">revered</span> tree:) <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">BodhGaya</span> is a very peaceful place to spend time. Its the most <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">un</span>-Indian town I've been to so far. The population is mainly made up of monks from around the world- mainly Nepal, Tibet, Bhutan, Burma and Thailand. Every <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Buddist</span> country has its own Temple or <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">monastery</span> built in the native style.<br /><br />Off to Darjeeling tomorrow for some serious tea drinking.<br /><br />Best wishes for the New Year everyone:)Stuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07432929013788756540noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050746513596624891.post-20261985892516940002007-12-31T00:21:00.001-08:002007-12-31T00:51:39.816-08:00Ganga News<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJV85YbmPAd5TpWpTCIeq41CjVSIU0wlAQHzLfIuzf7HYALsjLF1IB_H8H8m5OAiuiqRQujNNo9DgHokLNH8Mf6gS0KCI4YJaCamafV7lo063e3nWKVnqSE4sG8ThXP8rVMIPRjF8UNLMa/s1600-h/IMG_0219.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5150055633694981522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJV85YbmPAd5TpWpTCIeq41CjVSIU0wlAQHzLfIuzf7HYALsjLF1IB_H8H8m5OAiuiqRQujNNo9DgHokLNH8Mf6gS0KCI4YJaCamafV7lo063e3nWKVnqSE4sG8ThXP8rVMIPRjF8UNLMa/s320/IMG_0219.jpg" border="0" /></a> Part of the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">derelict</span> 'Beatles' Ashram, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Rishikesh</span>.<br /><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpiKN_jEA5FmBSGWEQsadqsTvFE8YZpphF1NNY6UmUqTy-zWHirEldtm488pZlz_1rN2RBW41q03XfxM-9gkWZGQ50fTqp33RcqL7WL_Os8rN11wFqxBvWTWBfoguDGY86pbsBQUfrbw9G/s1600-h/IMG_0221.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5150055637989948834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpiKN_jEA5FmBSGWEQsadqsTvFE8YZpphF1NNY6UmUqTy-zWHirEldtm488pZlz_1rN2RBW41q03XfxM-9gkWZGQ50fTqp33RcqL7WL_Os8rN11wFqxBvWTWBfoguDGY86pbsBQUfrbw9G/s320/IMG_0221.jpg" border="0" /></a> The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Ganga.</span></p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjviLtxSyCIMOM0Wb8yqKkRNIRgKSENvdMDyzel1v1JuAoVGk8BG_Sye90u-jWPi9rafarRvl4Ls3CHngne88fkYxCbQzx1t_vGKoW_Ybn27qBmAN_k3YqkLrSbeRnj6JsY1Qx9r4whUhTC/s1600-h/IMG_0234.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5150055646579883442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjviLtxSyCIMOM0Wb8yqKkRNIRgKSENvdMDyzel1v1JuAoVGk8BG_Sye90u-jWPi9rafarRvl4Ls3CHngne88fkYxCbQzx1t_vGKoW_Ybn27qBmAN_k3YqkLrSbeRnj6JsY1Qx9r4whUhTC/s320/IMG_0234.jpg" border="0" /></a> Me, in The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Ganga.</span></p><p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCYuTKv4OQQvahN1HpKvUPvDokZtD1Yk9IsF7MTukEqyN0isP7UY__V2vXeQuuonUQSO2jVf7FbwhyphenhyphensD0l8wIrUFdE1aLNsgUsDfgZyy0S7fy-dYH4ertZoi4v-5NXZzqTJJ7wijWwmnQa/s1600-h/IMG_0242.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5150055655169818050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCYuTKv4OQQvahN1HpKvUPvDokZtD1Yk9IsF7MTukEqyN0isP7UY__V2vXeQuuonUQSO2jVf7FbwhyphenhyphensD0l8wIrUFdE1aLNsgUsDfgZyy0S7fy-dYH4ertZoi4v-5NXZzqTJJ7wijWwmnQa/s320/IMG_0242.jpg" border="0" /></a> Other people, in The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Ganga</span>.<br /></p><br /><br />Well, after 2 weeks, I finally left <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Rishikesh</span>. It's a place <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">thats</span> very easy to spend time in. Also got into a routine for the first time. Yoga, Eat, Chill out, Yoga, Eat, Sleep. Anyways, in the end I got the motivation to leave after <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Christmas</span>.<br /><br />Now in the capital of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Uttar</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Pradesh</span>- Lucknow, a Muslim city, famous for the Indian Mutiny/Uprising/War of Independence (depending on your political point of view) in 1857. The mutineers/freedom fighters surrounded the British Residency after we got rid of the local prince. 3000 soldiers women and children were then under <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">siege</span> for 8 months. The residency was reduced to rumble and only 1000 odd people survived. And so it goes. Lucknow is the most organised and cosmopolitan city <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">I've</span> visited so far. Lots of posh shops, not many poor people and a Marks&Spencer.<br /><br />Going to spend New Year here, then head off to Varanasi, the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Holiest</span> of Hindu city.<br /><br />Happy New Year everyone!!Stuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07432929013788756540noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050746513596624891.post-13281659964833902352007-12-30T23:37:00.000-08:002007-12-31T00:20:32.272-08:00Ganga Bike NewsHope everyone has had a nice crimbo. First off I,m going to start off with some bike news. After 4000km on Indian roads, I thought the bike was deserving of a major service . In the end it did turn out to be pretty MAJOR. In the end I had a new piston and cylinder block, valves re-ground, new clutch plates, fork seals and a general overhall. Ended up costing me just under 60 quid. Man, I love this country!<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5150042619944074594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVzfy_tSQbIyN9No3NoZHHo7uaQ0yBYVZIQYKwlIzuJurax7D0lNAguyGC_SLCWI-eLmNmzuzk2Y31HXuLCypGFiFrdwRKW4CUOo7tFTDcTUzpYiJJGJHVZYoCLfvkpJLrrESGvozOCtjN/s320/IMG_0163.jpg" border="0" /><br />My first river crossing. Also the first time I've ridden bare foot, with rolled up trousers. The water came above the footpegs!!<br /><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOtFJFv7rI4Q61EqSuR6dQ8Z-iRJ1GK2N_u22UHgUJECVauENagsDKPU3vhvm7K4gykA-aUWRB2-XRVL5XBzHmpbSs2Ag0gvuSlWZGtcTCBHtsmcbbwvc6XsF8-cf42DcYAjAro3r9XcpN/s1600-h/IMG_0240.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5150042628534009202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOtFJFv7rI4Q61EqSuR6dQ8Z-iRJ1GK2N_u22UHgUJECVauENagsDKPU3vhvm7K4gykA-aUWRB2-XRVL5XBzHmpbSs2Ag0gvuSlWZGtcTCBHtsmcbbwvc6XsF8-cf42DcYAjAro3r9XcpN/s320/IMG_0240.jpg" border="0" /></a> Poor old knackered piston. Don't worry, you did your job well:)</p><p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9i9prp2RRU2eHd0BOrbkl6lRq4Q8pZFKK_klROqh6lcIgRdlqLzU1grqT5S9MA8czUChmhSlKoeOunmco1ugX0xQZtKH6MJF5sbN-_7zomlzJwE_jWCLZ0fhex7ec0U_y23WarUuw32Ij/s1600-h/IMG_0250.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5150042637123943810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9i9prp2RRU2eHd0BOrbkl6lRq4Q8pZFKK_klROqh6lcIgRdlqLzU1grqT5S9MA8czUChmhSlKoeOunmco1ugX0xQZtKH6MJF5sbN-_7zomlzJwE_jWCLZ0fhex7ec0U_y23WarUuw32Ij/s320/IMG_0250.jpg" border="0" /></a> Got the paintbrushes out and did a bit of bike customisation. Had to fly the flag for the Empire!<br /></p>Stuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07432929013788756540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050746513596624891.post-69404788453792400352007-12-23T04:19:00.000-08:002007-12-23T04:54:17.662-08:00Merry Christmas and all that crap.Merry <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Chrismas</span> one and all. Thank god I'm in a predominantly Hindu country, because I've not seen one fairy light, inflatable <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">santa</span> or Christmas tree. In the future I'm definitely holidaying in a non-Christian country over the Christmas period! <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Bahhhhhhh</span> humbug.<br />First of all, apologies folks, no pictures. Curse of the crap <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">internet</span> connection has struck again. For the past couple of weeks I've been hanging around in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Rishikesh</span>, chilling out. Its one of the more peaceful parts of India I've visited so far. Its a small town in the foothills of the Himalaya, on the River Ganges (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Ganga</span>) Famous for its temples, Yoga Ashrams (Schools) and home to the Beatles in the late 60's. The old Ashram where the Fab Four stayed is now deserted and slowly being consumed by the undergrowth. Kind of a spooky, interesting place to trespass in, as long as you bribe/avoid the guards and hold a big stick to fight of the monkeys with!<br />Pretty much everyday I've been going to Yoga classes, so for 3 hours a day, 6 days a week have been slowly getting more and more bendy. Can now pull off some pretty extreme moves- my best being- The Crow. Hopefully by the time I get back to the UK I'll be able to levitate.<br />Today I went for a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Aruvedic</span> massage. It was a penis out, leave your <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">modesty</span> at the door kind of affair, and not the sort of thing an Englishman abroad should partake in. Never the less, after a hour and a half off having the crap beaten out of me, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">i'm</span> feeling <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">alot</span> better.<br />Did only intend staying here for 3 or 4 days, but its such a chilled out place I'm sticking around till boxing day, then heading East to Lucknow and Varanasi.<br /><br />Happy Christmas EveryoneStuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07432929013788756540noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050746513596624891.post-6030366555788157122007-12-09T03:13:00.000-08:002007-12-10T06:38:54.732-08:00Himalaya!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn4nuMLJrEGaRDVJOfbx_ou6KH3OOO4HnnuDc88g0Bt_KyxozZnjHeg3WlejP98BcSxau_00MVrblQvWPqojnbfylXTkmmztX4blRIkE_gGQufq0QzinEHlD9ygvrPBTDglyyW87YYL7Sh/s1600-h/IMG_0185.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142346160360568242" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn4nuMLJrEGaRDVJOfbx_ou6KH3OOO4HnnuDc88g0Bt_KyxozZnjHeg3WlejP98BcSxau_00MVrblQvWPqojnbfylXTkmmztX4blRIkE_gGQufq0QzinEHlD9ygvrPBTDglyyW87YYL7Sh/s320/IMG_0185.jpg" border="0" /></a> Hello everyone. For the past week or so I've been in the foothills of Himachal Pradesh, a state sandwiched in between Pakistan and Nepal. First up was on old British hill station called McCloud Ganj, that now serves as the base for the Tibetan Government in exile. It definately felt more Tibetan than Indian, lots of red robed monks walking around in Nike trainers. Unfortunately the Dali Lama wasn't at home, off around the world trying to represent his lost country no doubt, very inconsiderate:)<br /><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieVhuW-8LlEOEToRC9dDp-GRNZnC9eTBXeBZDgOMU0UC5vtFtYDFcLOaid5heAhJnlVFwVBpNeAwztGsgpfRhkVB-9ajKN20VqYhMxlJ6nFkhCvdFzJMj74AW022m1B53hZe-ATo96-K-Q/s1600-h/IMG_0180.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142346168950502850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieVhuW-8LlEOEToRC9dDp-GRNZnC9eTBXeBZDgOMU0UC5vtFtYDFcLOaid5heAhJnlVFwVBpNeAwztGsgpfRhkVB-9ajKN20VqYhMxlJ6nFkhCvdFzJMj74AW022m1B53hZe-ATo96-K-Q/s320/IMG_0180.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR2KbNPd1Q69v9pS1dmBhab3oLYqNu81c8Y85VHrXZf45yVC-SP32Mx9yDyBvXXLlILnRCVcBZ_D8tT7dU_YyltpDMpOe53Nyf7So1K3vOETpR7QCBUYhxsVgc9WsvrxPaVRcfLnvn4L0p/s1600-h/IMG_0179.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142346177540437458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR2KbNPd1Q69v9pS1dmBhab3oLYqNu81c8Y85VHrXZf45yVC-SP32Mx9yDyBvXXLlILnRCVcBZ_D8tT7dU_YyltpDMpOe53Nyf7So1K3vOETpR7QCBUYhxsVgc9WsvrxPaVRcfLnvn4L0p/s320/IMG_0179.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p>On the road to Manali.</p><p>Next up was a ride out to Manali, the Indian equivilent of Chamonix, but with open sewerers. In the summer it has whitewater rafting, paragliding etc. In the winter, snowboarding. The ride up there was fantastic, though I realise now, riding in the Himalaya in winter, I probablly should of packed some warm clothes:) The road continues out of Manali and up to Leh in Kashmir, bit off a motorbike classic, but with passes at 5000m, a bit snowed up at the minute. If anyone fancies doing it one summer, give me a shout.<br /> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142346181835404770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUHw0AyVwWVQHdWMpQwZnRyNlhOaWKPYIM8bcZZmdbOT5JOa4kkMVLduOt_dGXCTIjMSowwIEeak0U-F0unH5nhJTznAndtO-z9sZskIDTu_DSAVEae1GsGuydrEwBwpDbegP7m2fKlcW6/s320/IMG_0194.jpg" border="0" /></p>Monkey contemplates life, above Shimla.<br /><br />For the last couple of nights I stayed in Shimla, another British hill station. This one served as the summer capital of the British Raj in the summer months when it got too hot on the plains in Delhi and Calcutta. It did feel a bit like a little part of England. Grey sky, lots of police, lots of signs prohibiting smoking, littering, spitting etc. Luckily the rest of India has shaken off all that crap. Stayed in a REALLY posh hotel (it had its own libary, although how you could read a book during a two night stay is beyond me) It was very nice being waitered on hand and foot, although they did give me a funny look when I walked in, in biker gear, covered in dust and engine oil.<br /><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfc_U46pTjdLPQaSNnVIl_0tBRUqHUmOA3MYANI02AGssl1SMBZ-9k4itWQzFMSdkr_L3LYN8p6Xd4vlXoSX98ZT-LZCIfzD8cr0adnZG2Jg2oqOa0ANDLe7A4PZHQ6QcYjM-MqKBHQAgY/s1600-h/IMG_0202.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142346190425339378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfc_U46pTjdLPQaSNnVIl_0tBRUqHUmOA3MYANI02AGssl1SMBZ-9k4itWQzFMSdkr_L3LYN8p6Xd4vlXoSX98ZT-LZCIfzD8cr0adnZG2Jg2oqOa0ANDLe7A4PZHQ6QcYjM-MqKBHQAgY/s320/IMG_0202.jpg" border="0" /></a> Sector22, Chandigarh. The whole city looks like this. </p><p><br />Came out of the mountains today and arrived in Chandigarh, new Capital of the Punjab. The old one was Lahore, but that happens to be in Pakistan now. After partition in in 1947, the Indians took the insane decision to commission the modernist achitect Le Cobusier (inspiration behind the lovely Parkhill Flats in Sheffield) to design a new capital. As a consequnce an entire city off 1 million, looks like.............Parkhill Flats. There arn't any neigbourhoods either. My hotel is in Sector 22! Anyway, had to come and have a look, and it is just as horrible as I thought it would be.<br /><br />Off to Rishekesh tomorrow (where the Beatles hung out in the 60's) to do lots of Yoga, Meditation and all that other hippy shit:)</p><div> </div><div> </div>Stuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07432929013788756540noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050746513596624891.post-84955069810010964132007-11-29T21:05:00.000-08:002007-11-29T21:45:31.640-08:00Rajastan to the Punjab<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmzzaIBZzN8GihaEoWbkWcP-kE_D9npoEodQBrjvUCXy6ThMXClIGub_Iz30X8KAZSf2GrgdHpkHUKVFUQb7Uvd7NxtF0OYVvXKapsfREx-yDQeM_L_0pFu8tRVeJs3en4i0brb70MySUN/s1600-r/IMG_0122.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5138496770279118274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5EkbGpKwVTikOOKxjybvVqldRdcBG0C976tpsHqv1_MQa3f7AbASeoiRNUPFibBjOncvLcV9K1bXZvmUnUNzL00eprzyBner1Sg4Ybz0nymjt6hgvqWE3frahZr-VQMNIOL21hhB5qPUG/s320/IMG_0122.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Jaisalmer</span> Fort<br /><br />Hello everyone. Left <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Jaisalmer</span> 5 days ago, heading north <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">up to</span> the Punjab. It took 3 days riding to get to Amritsar, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">centre</span> of Sikhism, and the old capital of the Punjab. Riding in India takes time. National Highway 15, the road out of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">rajastan</span> is more like a British B road, but at least it was straight and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">tarmaced</span>.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj76ISI6BLTokTKOWJnuzl_p2Gq68akzZ6QEOBGZS0HFHOXkqQYBmMmM26gnQAE3obWJuJ5x7P-WAI15YBCUchTZjB96sRQggg8ZmftRpsnWicJinPAxzoaU9kwvaxor2E9pJdCMRp7a_OV/s1600-r/IMG_0129.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5138496804638856658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Y8PbD6n1dcFB411-x0CNGc5yCtmNC1UUMTX3hE7p8uM7sYrAi8otwfSteOO7GpcI1gsO9GEC2X9cPiHvQpEIbXm9bG4CovIwkGt-m667L2zqEskKE19iYYxhlTm0RV6TuUoGh68n3O_E/s320/IMG_0129.jpg" border="0" /></a> On The Road, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Rajastan</span><br /><br /><br />Amritsar is a fantastic city, its a typical Indian city, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">noisy</span>, dirty and hectic, but right in the middle of the chaos is the Golden Temple, the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">holiest</span> site of the Sikh religion. Its an <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">incredible</span> beautiful Temple in the middle of a man made lake. Very peaceful and relaxing place. Everyone was very friendly, practicing there English on me. I seemed to be the only honky in the entire complex!<br /><br /><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV0AWUFamBRNVgsBztU31ov-_wYmS77gq4cr6UJg2VvCimLpYdsnQ2Yp3OStVCPH0zGFAK_n7Y_knH5Gy_ltaHeNsy9lumr2sIWw60n_ZtDQCzq3up3r29uRWahYAT9ZrDpm7xqNaqMZ6r/s1600-r/IMG_0135.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5138496813228791266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOJBJd5hpaW2rKwI2ZeFaoSvOh40-0EV_nF862ZuSSiCS8FeSQE5IFc4iL43Ih3DiDsDWHdaA31naAYtZkbtx-Alkg7N7lfx3ddmh2-0lRiLHtLJnIrPbdr49X1I68CF5cDzAQscQD0AWC/s320/IMG_0135.jpg" border="0" /></a> Me, headscarf and The Golden Temple, should really have grown a beard.</p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZssIr79W-EskvjJ3hiXNEjJSOPRn0BaF7-Lv8PcCsgmgsg2kx80wMiCBDre0RGT0QPTCRE0p4nsWxQx6c3m62qyXiW4AnNdcACHutQwhjw1NJSVN_dqSH8PgdXcWxROpHYjVtqzw3xq9-/s1600-r/IMG_0138.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5138496821818725874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoUMc4iN1MK0L5xyCiBNrNtqNiEGH2S6xz56tVHCiXHOhVVcC_cJm72qqov-qLWuExjNrKmem0vtPCF5uIhRcMU3eTMntWQF4lf788JStC-BE5t8lmFvZKQdDzMWVP-ABDemE5fE7ilm3M/s320/IMG_0138.jpg" border="0" /></a> No such thing as a free meal? There is at The Golden Temple:)</p><p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMx3dXkSKfcwO11YKlVwaYlALCsQ8ydCCOq0iFpDl9ogHtL_d_dzqDMLrls9mXcA99d4SLZ8kSJ6lONh7ZgFn43fMLkQQt-X2fr8geDqN2kFb1bW_H4edS3T0kQaa_sffk0xFFG8XYo8jK/s1600-r/IMG_0141.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5138496830408660482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy7WR7cDckLR-_L9y2xLuFaY0VfMLSdxMVnpia9klEfVG5TIS4WkBU19-xm-szdXK-IcVOCfwsnMQruAfAcgi8xEDBqOFTZfMoOSe7BcB4QAidwG3p9eDtIFXODhYTUlZUzUp_rPjhu_Aq/s320/IMG_0141.jpg" border="0" /></a> Took this at a mad Hindu Temple. It was more like a ride at Disneyland. You had to follow a one way path around the complex, crawling through man made tunnels, streams etc.. The whole place was done out in a 70's disco theme.</p><p>Sticking around Amritsar for a couple more days, get bike serviced, visit Pakistan border etc Then <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">headin</span> up to the Himalaya!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</p><p> </p>Stuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07432929013788756540noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050746513596624891.post-13807399846153110622007-11-25T05:01:00.000-08:002007-11-25T05:27:47.436-08:00Police,Drugs & CamelsWhats happenned since the last post! Well, last week was spent in a really nice hotel in Jodhpur, chilling out. After spending a couple of weeks in mad,busy Indian cities, it was nice just to read and chill by a pool. I also benifitted from meeting an old French hippy at the hotel ( who did the whole hippy trail thing in the 70's ) He'd had been givin a load of nepali grass off an icelandic gentleman. Suffice to say some of its now on its third owner. The last weeks been very relaxing:)<br /><br />Last few days have been spent in Jaisemier, a small fort town about 100km from the Pakistan border. Its right in the middle of the Thar Desert, so yesterday went on a camel safari. My camel was called Raja, he seemed to be the best behaved of the bunch, going vaugely in the direction I wanted him to go. Luckly there is not much to bump into in the desert. Spent the night sleeping under the stars, then came back to town this morning. Turns out the guildes didn't pay the tourist tax and didn't feel like bribeing the cops. We had to take a detour of the main road and through a load of gypsy villages, with a cop car following us. We had 4WD, the fuzz had 2WD. We won.<br /><br />I would post pictures, but 1) I accidently deleted them all off my camera. 2) Slow computer, the connection for this post is through a mobile phone:(<br /><br />Anyway, I'll post the safari pictures when my fellow desert buddies email me some copies.Stuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07432929013788756540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050746513596624891.post-84678008257729616822007-11-22T02:01:00.001-08:002007-11-22T02:42:50.240-08:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_lcvNNvN0gAh7z6qicYp8UXbtKA4_UsQ_ujlMwWQZ2h06YhGLwwutrPEAlAEX0fuOmUcGRs07KeKaxEAido428WWWusDiq_spaW3ECAz3u5S6bELG4q0Xd8-dtaZz-q0wkN0Jqg7n9VYj/s1600-h/IMG_0049.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_lcvNNvN0gAh7z6qicYp8UXbtKA4_UsQ_ujlMwWQZ2h06YhGLwwutrPEAlAEX0fuOmUcGRs07KeKaxEAido428WWWusDiq_spaW3ECAz3u5S6bELG4q0Xd8-dtaZz-q0wkN0Jqg7n9VYj/s320/IMG_0049.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5135609465629480306" border="0" /></a> Curry of the Week- Veg Jal Frazi. mmmmmmmmmm<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgexnVXcCs6c5NPvxrNn7aacls7t6_g34jjnl2TdmaZbZcj_vViK_bjcOBQpN5Xokd9xbGxKhdX_P2t_dSlZI_rzn8JrZ-g6GeembZzZgDD2bIfr4JdDUf8XCTlvMaGAnY72UFnT1coTMvU/s1600-h/IMG_0061.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgexnVXcCs6c5NPvxrNn7aacls7t6_g34jjnl2TdmaZbZcj_vViK_bjcOBQpN5Xokd9xbGxKhdX_P2t_dSlZI_rzn8JrZ-g6GeembZzZgDD2bIfr4JdDUf8XCTlvMaGAnY72UFnT1coTMvU/s320/IMG_0061.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5135609474219414914" border="0" /></a> <br /> My bike- a 350cc Royal Enfield<br /><br /> <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK5gHWljizeCFdgdPdNiEnaNcPH3q5GFb6fvB09AC-9rnYRRZVvbkigPvGLl9Ae0hf2zc5ppySekZVTSgvg7wNKSID_eTZdaWWgOo3TOvi9g-B5OE4tGe_HtBhyYed5PKNJ2kvsbwzfSyn/s1600-h/IMG_0063.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 318px; height: 238px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK5gHWljizeCFdgdPdNiEnaNcPH3q5GFb6fvB09AC-9rnYRRZVvbkigPvGLl9Ae0hf2zc5ppySekZVTSgvg7wNKSID_eTZdaWWgOo3TOvi9g-B5OE4tGe_HtBhyYed5PKNJ2kvsbwzfSyn/s320/IMG_0063.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5135609478514382226" border="0" /></a><br /> Hazards of the road. Not sure how you flip the photo, sorry.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghEU0CZaAC0eCasEQJMSomFzLJ1uR-Kz0f6Rg77AgQRVSnwZaFQsmTFvaD-x4-kyuyLqav_yCx5DvqWfjeS-V7hxN-yKUo9y8qW7mAFp6ebrQFCu6BtNoQzqF0pK0F77y5P19K5ZknWwUY/s1600-h/IMG_0065.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghEU0CZaAC0eCasEQJMSomFzLJ1uR-Kz0f6Rg77AgQRVSnwZaFQsmTFvaD-x4-kyuyLqav_yCx5DvqWfjeS-V7hxN-yKUo9y8qW7mAFp6ebrQFCu6BtNoQzqF0pK0F77y5P19K5ZknWwUY/s320/IMG_0065.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5135609487104316834" border="0" /></a><br /> Amber Fort, just outside Jaipor<br /> <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9_jgf8j0lE3VxBjEenvLUxLhPbsmEffreVbHeXYDmZplXVpj-huNhSh7tsTRlOLfU9vMQi-YEv57dfrxHCOa4z2C08s6CsZiCjp3oRp6i43wi77RqCMXUrLPLpkkz3PLVkTKm0q4YW87-/s1600-h/IMG_0090.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9_jgf8j0lE3VxBjEenvLUxLhPbsmEffreVbHeXYDmZplXVpj-huNhSh7tsTRlOLfU9vMQi-YEv57dfrxHCOa4z2C08s6CsZiCjp3oRp6i43wi77RqCMXUrLPLpkkz3PLVkTKm0q4YW87-/s320/IMG_0090.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5135609491399284146" border="0" /></a><br /> Jodhpur, for some reason its called The Blue City<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy2iNFaYYWHQR4IoRwOd5Uutno_QQrTzADWy41gpJPAay4x5S2W79temCH5hspllDNyChfPjGgda1iolThxR9OfUuNX2_AyIxYL5l5tq0bZxAfE3kkPKJWDYwLtiU4y40T-9dW4fKcoI2M/s1600-h/IMG_0010.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy2iNFaYYWHQR4IoRwOd5Uutno_QQrTzADWy41gpJPAay4x5S2W79temCH5hspllDNyChfPjGgda1iolThxR9OfUuNX2_AyIxYL5l5tq0bZxAfE3kkPKJWDYwLtiU4y40T-9dW4fKcoI2M/s320/IMG_0010.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5135605655993488674" border="0" /></a><br /> Delhi Market, breath in that fresh smog<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwWNvB9SIZfimETxDa3hoNjMKhZmd76AJIerWfr_CGMMIqByEsTXAoW57GnEmyJrqNA42Cxe82UEcObDv-Xe6fC9rPW_KSV958WDt1DJIMIUbyrxYmAfGOvY_Hl449Yvt5vJVej6so12l_/s1600-h/IMG_0011.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwWNvB9SIZfimETxDa3hoNjMKhZmd76AJIerWfr_CGMMIqByEsTXAoW57GnEmyJrqNA42Cxe82UEcObDv-Xe6fC9rPW_KSV958WDt1DJIMIUbyrxYmAfGOvY_Hl449Yvt5vJVej6so12l_/s320/IMG_0011.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5135605664583423282" border="0" /></a><br /> Holy Cow<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKXupBW6u9VzLRWKDwRKhLRvfoLs6QcHUGZ4A5COuFWzyTewg1t2zVjWDJF6RfJDWLtjktBqGvMuSBxn9U4WvApiHk3eiML43FmF-vltnzRPapF0nFsoLY1IRXhB03SLWTBHT1uICdwZ0i/s1600-h/IMG_0016.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKXupBW6u9VzLRWKDwRKhLRvfoLs6QcHUGZ4A5COuFWzyTewg1t2zVjWDJF6RfJDWLtjktBqGvMuSBxn9U4WvApiHk3eiML43FmF-vltnzRPapF0nFsoLY1IRXhB03SLWTBHT1uICdwZ0i/s320/IMG_0016.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5135605668878390594" border="0" /></a><br /> Main Mosque, Delhi<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfWGTcdbDSZrtRA1Uvo32qZPOzVX7dO3FnPMTqqORGhR2NQ99e5_bvwbO6Fu3yVnYZyx6kbAc-F9g5F1p1sneMNY6Nvsip2Jlh8D8CGkrqe1JW_UbkeMHls-GGEfA98H_9EE-pzYNunScu/s1600-h/IMG_0019.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfWGTcdbDSZrtRA1Uvo32qZPOzVX7dO3FnPMTqqORGhR2NQ99e5_bvwbO6Fu3yVnYZyx6kbAc-F9g5F1p1sneMNY6Nvsip2Jlh8D8CGkrqe1JW_UbkeMHls-GGEfA98H_9EE-pzYNunScu/s320/IMG_0019.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5135605677468325202" border="0" /></a><br /> Would you buy anything from these guys?<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0LAwUyPgkfExhf51LvnKvHm25oSixx-GQRkSzrOzUVoFSyTU1HRJKlqooRNRM6NPPSpNGUb1Htnex6vEiaqxj8xbjHyVOTWe0fk2b3g1HgVnKHz3Ovdxlho3pu5B9mCgR7uDiym4LlTyr/s1600-h/IMG_0039.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0LAwUyPgkfExhf51LvnKvHm25oSixx-GQRkSzrOzUVoFSyTU1HRJKlqooRNRM6NPPSpNGUb1Htnex6vEiaqxj8xbjHyVOTWe0fk2b3g1HgVnKHz3Ovdxlho3pu5B9mCgR7uDiym4LlTyr/s320/IMG_0039.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5135605681763292514" border="0" /></a><br /> Me in front of a big white building, Agra<br /><br /><br />Well as promised, heres a best of selection of photos. Finally found a computer that runs XP. till crashes when I try to charge my ipod, but beggers can'nt be choosers.Stuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07432929013788756540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050746513596624891.post-11861111003866265292007-11-19T06:29:00.000-08:002007-11-19T07:07:54.742-08:00Motorbikes,Cricket and The TajWell, first of all, apologies again, ive failed to find a internet cafe running anything later than windows 95, so yet again i carn't download any pictures. The letters have worn of the keyboard, and an Indian gentleman sitting next to me is browsing porn sites, so again apologies for even more spelling mistakes than usual. Lonely Planet guide tells me theres a good cafe in next town i visit, so i promise photos in next day or so.<br /><br />News so far is- I bought a 2004 350cc Royal Enfield in Delhi last week for 39000rupees (about 500 quid) Its black and silver, and sounds awsome when its running (it deveoped an electrical/ignition problem just outside Agra, but a trip to the mechanics, a new coil and 15 quid later its was back on the road:) The designs 50 years old, so i'm guessing it wont be the last time i visit the bike wallah.<br /><br />After getting bike fixed, spent a few days in Agra, visiting Taj Mahal, which off course was very beautiful, and very busy. Day after I went to the Red Fort ( yes there seems to be a red fort in every town round here, but this one was much nicer than the one in Delhi. Mainly because the British didn't flatten the compound to create a barracks and arsenal in this one)<br /><br />The last 5 days ive been in Rajastan, in a medium sized market town called Jaipor. The main reason for visiting this place is because it hosted the final one day international cricket match between India vrs Pakistan. A real local derby. Unfortunately you were not allowed to take cameras, bags or weapons into the ground, so i'm just going to have to try and describe it. Its not like Lords. Ive never seen so many riot police, mounted police, riot vans, watercannons at a cricket ground in my life. It,s also the first one with 80's style football fenceing and barb wire around the boundry as well. Anyway, India got hammered, but fortunately they had already won the series 3-2. So the army wasn't required in the end:)Stuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07432929013788756540noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9050746513596624891.post-40660777578606421152007-11-10T05:14:00.000-08:002007-11-10T05:41:34.983-08:00Arrived in DelhiHello everyone:) Finally arrived in India. First impressions are- it hot (even though its winter), dusty, dirty, smelly and noisey, basically everything i'd hoped for. I feel right at home. Oh yeah, the currys not bad either- best one so far was a butter paneer masala, hhhhhmmmmmmmmmm....... and its all coming out the other end in a controled manner so far.<br />Well been here 4 days now. First day was spent finding hotel, getting over jet lag, and tentivly exploring the the local market- it was definatley a case of spot the jet lagged white guy just of a plane, but managed to get out alive without buying anything.<br />Second day was spent looking at bikes in the bike market about a mile from hotel. Had a test ride on a 350cc Royal Enfield, which was interesting. You have to believe in caos theory to ride in delhi. As long as you go with the flow it all seems to work out fine. Gonna shop around a bit more and buy one tomorrow.<br />The last couple of days i've been doing the whole tourist thing- Red Fort, which was big, red and fort like. Jama Masjid- the biggest mosque in India and the National Museum- which had stuff from 4000bc up to the Mughals (19thC)<br />I would post some pictures, but this computer doesn't have a USB port, so it will have to wait.<br /><br />StuartStuarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07432929013788756540noreply@blogger.com13