India

The highlights and lowlights of the first week in India has been the great contrast between the countryside and hills and the filth and pollution of the cities. We have also faced a lot of illness with another two of us being admitted to hospital in Delhi with the dreaded Delhi belly!!

The Golden Temple in Amritsar (22nd) was another breathtaking stop where we saw the kitchens and food production machine in full swing. The Temple produces 15,000 free meals every day!! People also go there to pray of course!

During all this time my stomach was letting me down and I needed to ensure toilets were nearby!!! Indeed for the whole week.

Then to the black hole of Delhi (23rd). I can’t believe how many people go to the toilet in the streets in India (number ones and two's).

I was relieved to get to the Tiger Reserve at Corbett in the north on the 24th. I booked two safaris and saw loads of monkeys, water buffalo and elephants, but NO tigers (saw footprints though). We think the guides must have put them in before we drove off.
The camp was great with some really big rats being spotted, one in a bedroom. I also cornered a massive spider and fought with it. I eventually won the fight and a friend caught it and put it outside to fight another day. Breakfast at camp was also good, baked beans!!

Coming back to Delhi (26th) was not something I looked forward to. I prefer the tranquil side of India but people are still friendly everywhere. Last night I shared an 8 hour taxi tour which was a nightmare. We managed to get fined for parking - we had to pay the fine. And everywhere we wanted to go we were told "It is closed" or "There is no parking there'. We decided to come home early and complain about our hotels instead. Hotels have been a real mixed bunch of experiences. We expected better in India but have not got a good deal. Dirty rooms, bed linen, towels, and squashed insects and geckos on the floors - does this build character?

Another highlight this week that I only just remembered was when a colleague decided he would empathise with the locals and also have a pee in the street. He also thought he could have his own back by then shaking hands with the locals without washing his hands. Good man!!

Today we travel to Agra and visit the Taj Mahal tomorrow morning. I hope the hotel is good!

I finish now by saying "Thank God for rehydration salts and Imodium".

Best wishes to all.