Day 3 - Agra

it was a nice early start today, 5am leaving the hotel to the train station! i had a very different image of this in my head too...crowded platforms, ppl pushing and shouting and ppl hanging off over crowded trains...yhere was none of this! the station was very modern (reminded of wimbledon st)  and we had a comfy 2hr journey to Agra (we even gpt a hot omlette for breakfast!!)  First impression of Agra was that it was smelly and seemed poorer than Delhi - lots of ppl begging! we headed starigjt to the hotel to freshen up and then to the Taj Mahal! it is the most beautiful building i think i have ever seen - not only does it look impressive from a far the attention to detail in the stone work is incredible. allthe flowrr patterns, calligraphy has been hand cut out and then laid into the marble...beautiful! we got lots of piccys and then headed to lunch...probably about 40degrees and very sweaty!  back to the hotel to freshen up  (and a hunt for chocolate and tea was suddenly very important!!!!) and then to Agra Fort - very much like the Red Fort but nicer grounds and mpre beautiful buildings - it is where Shan Jahan (the emperor who built the Taj) was held in prision by his son so he could see his masterpiece of the Taj frpm his prison cell :(                then off to see the sunset behind the Taj...breathtakingly beautiful x                                                                   So...i wrote the blog before we actually went to see the Taj at sunset...on our way from the fort to the sunset we had our most exciting tuk tuk ride! after wizzing through th e narrow streets, almost going down a ditch at the side of the road we hit a massive traffic jam!  people kept edging closrr and closer  together until after about 45mins there was a break and er squishrd pas a very important looking car! in that time there was LOADS of honking, ppl staring at us, heat rising, monkeys watching the caos from the wall and the sun srting quickly! we made it just in time only to realise the sun wasnt seting directly behind the Taj as we fist thought! haha typically India..anyway it was beautiful to watch as the sky and building changed colour. then it was back on the tuk tuks, past loads of local villages... i just want to explain how the people are...they have so little provided to them but are always workong so hard, getting on with daily life and generally look happy in their little volages...they are free to do whatever they want to do. the children run around the streets happily and thr women always look so stunning...it is just inspirational! if i lived in a shiity, dirty, dusty village with little water etc i can imagine i would look exactly like i lived in a dirty dusty village - but the women are always dressed in their beautiful, colourful, embellished saris looking absolutely stunning. they have so much repect for themselves and i admire that about them...especially against all the odds.

The Group (G Family India 2013!!!)

Issy & Alex (18 from Uk), Mark & Jackie (English & American couple, been livinh kn aus for a year to try to sort visas for him moving to the states),  Barney & Eema (sisters from Ireland), Georgia & Dave (teachers from uk...very intrresting, he has worked and lived in Malawi for 2yrs...africa is a next trip destination!!) ,Becks & Courtney (friends from Norfolk...first time out of Europe and straight tk Delhi!), Alex & collette (cpiple from UK , havent  spoken to them much yet) and finally a lady from Austria whos name i cant remember! so on the outside everyone seems to come from the same places but everyone has different stories, different adventures and lots of travel knowledge! they are all so lovely amd similar ages so its going to be fun getting to know everyone! 

Day 2 in Delhi

it was a day of mixed emotions....met two other girls from the trip at breakfast - Barney & Eema, sisters from ireland! we and izzy and alex went to Jama Majisd - the largest mosque in Delhi. it is is old Delhi amd is so peaceful with a tower that has views all over the city - incredible! they went off sightseeing and i went to wander around Chawri Bazaar (paper market). here i met Paupa who took me through the windy streets of the bazaars on a bicycle tuk tuk!  it was absolutely amazing and felt like real india! i saw everything being sold from books to jewellery, to shoes and saris and then he walked me through the spice market...literally cannot describe - all your senses are tickled, the smells make you sneeze, all the different colours of the different spices - it is amazomg! i was loving lofe! we saw the local 'post office' - literally a post box on the side of the street that gets collected every 3days, men setting up barbar shops on the side of the road - a guy with his tobacco 'stall' (literally a shop in a box!!) and the list goes on...cows wondering down the street - its just amazing, everyone is so busy and there is something going on everywjerr! tjey are so resourceful, a real inspiratiom, they have so little yet make a living by working very hard. then we went to a wee local restaurant for lunch - chicken and muttan curry with roti & naan. i learnt a little about Paupa - he spoke incredivle english although said he had never been to school, he had 4 brothers and 5 sisters and he was working in Delhi to make money for his arranged marriage!!  so at this point i was so happy...and then the con! ha Issy had asked me to buy a saroung if i saw one so i asked him to take me somewhere...we went to his 'friends' fabric shop - i should have trusted my gut and not gone in but felt obliged...(as most ppl do) and after they made me tea etc i ended up coming out with a scarf, 2pillow cases and a sarong feelimg very ripped off, pressurised and annoyed! in a split second i went frpm loving life to leavinv Paupa with a very sour taste on my mouth! i then headrd back to the hotel where i met my roommate fpr the trip - a lovely Norweigen girl called Matilda - shes 20 and has been travelling all over for 4months! we had a good old chinwag before meeting the rest of the group in the evening!       

Day 1 in Delhi

woke up earlybird at 5am which was lucky as it took me 1 1/2 hours to get ready...what to wear (i was quite aware i would be on my own all day so wanted to feel comfortable) and how do you distribute money/passports/cards etc...?! anyway when i was set to go i hired a driver from the hotel to show me round and geeze did we do a lot!!...                                   started with a photo at the Indian Gate and the Indian Leaders house then went to look round Humayans Tomb - gorgeous temple with red sandstone and linestone structure...loads of details in the architecture and beautiful grounds! next stop was a walk around the Lodi Gardens - again very pretty and peaceful with various crumbling temples - it is still easy to imagine hpw luxurious they would have been bck in the day!                               Then onto the Ghandi Smrit - this is where Ghandi was shot...I learnt rather a lot here about his work and about Britain ruling India...(rather embarrassed to admit that i didnt have much previous knowledge of this...definitely some research that needs doing!)                quickly stopped at the Lotus Temple for a photo (similar architecture to the Sydney Opera House!!)and then to Chandni Chowk for lunch! A busy bazaar in Old Delhi...absolutely loved it here...felt like a taste of real india - street markets, food stalls, smells, and the hustle and bustle of people EVERYWHERE!! i convinced the driver to join me for local lunch consisting of 3different samosas from a food stall and we both headed to The Red Fort!     The was very impressive...really doesnt look like much frlm the outside (just a big Red Fort - 2km long walls which vary from a height of 18m to 33m) but inside there were various buildings/temples and gardens that would have been beautiful!  Shah Jahan constructed the fort in 1638-1648 until he was sent to imprisonment by his son Aurangzeb- he was the first and last Mughal emperor to rule from here!  after that it was back to the hotel where i met 2 ppl from the trip: Issy & Alex, 18 from Guildford!!  we went to dinner in Connaught Place - nice gardens with shopping malls (very commercialised) but it was SO nice to actually have a conversation with someone...think it had been at least 3days!! x                     So after my first day i was not as cultured shocked as i first thought i would be...reminded me of a mix of Egypt and Bangkok! 

About to board the plane to India..!!

oh em geeeee...about to board the plane from KL to India!! have already noticed the amount of men in the room and i am the only blonde!!! eeekkk!!! bought myslef and india travel guide though so am starting to get very excited to explore new and old delhi tomorrow and monday - may see if i can get a guide though!!! ;)

Saying 'Ciao for Now' to one chapter and hello to another :)

So my new years resolution when I arrived into Sydney didn't really materialise as my last post was 2 years ago!! But anyway I will pick up from where I left off...
The last 2 years in Sydney have been amazing...total rollercoaster but awesome fun...

I said hi and bye to lots of faces, had the pleasure of sharing the adventure with Rat, Taz, Palmby, Claire & Banners, lived in Edgecliff (with Mim)/Zetland (with Giggs & Greg) and Bondi (with Cait & Claire)
Did the Kiwi experience around the south island of NZ with Beej for two weeks last January...

Stayed working at MaCher where I moved from Marketing Assistant to Production Manager, did various wee trips away; Byron with Mum, Jackie & Luce, Christmas in July in the Blue Mountains, Bundeena, Palm beach, Terregal & Melbourne...flew home to surprise mum for her 50th (which started as a 41hr journey around the world with James & Frank!!!)

General day to day life consisted of beach days, boat trips round the harbour, driving the ferry to Taronga Zoo (thanks Bill), brunches at any of Sydney's amazing cafes, tonnes of nights out in the Cross, Darling Harbour, The Rock, and of course Surry Hills & Bondi, movie nights at the boys, City2Surf (81mins!!) and generally 'living the dream' with the best friends I could have ever wished for.

I also spent loads of time playing with the gorgeous Bells, Ian and Lou - seeing her grow up into a little person was one of the best things about having time in Sydney :)

Anyway on January 6th I finally made the decision to spread my wings, go travelling and move back to the UK...EEEKKKK!!!
So here I am...Singapore airport waiting to board the plane to KL and then Delhi where my adventure will begin! I am doing a tour from Delhi and travelling through India to Mumbai and then flying to Goa. From Goa I will fly to BKK where I am not sure what my plan will be...!

It all feels so surreal - was very sad to say bye to everyone in Sydney but I know I will be back at some point :) Ciao for now and I will update you all on how I get on!! Loveage xx