Feb 2007

To all our followers back home!
Last night was certainly a strange one!! We ended up in what must be Udaipur's poshest restaurant, where we had (Riich certainly anyway, Sho possibly as she was erring on the side of caution with her 'Delhi belly') possibly the nicest meal yet, with definitley the best views of any restaurant I've ever eaten in! It was right on the lake, about 3 storeys up and we managed to wangle a window seat (which are usually reserved days in advance). The sun setting over the lake was brilliant and set the mood for an excellent night!! After having finished our meal, (Rich ventured in to meat territory, as a result of growing bored of vegetarian food), we walked back alongh the lake and somehow ended up in a tailors! We were living like kings, not the eternal travellers who wear the same t-shirts for 3 or 4 25 degree plus consecutive days and think nothing of it! We had eaten at the poshest restaurant in town and Rich was then getting measured up for a couple of suits, made from fabrics that would undoubtedly cost near to thousands in England! Kind of surreal! Anyway, the 2nd fitting is at 8:30pm this evening, where the final fit can be determined and what not! Postage back to england then has to be arranged, probably also including various elephant themed souvenirs for sho and our house in Newcastle!! (I secretly think she wishes she was an elephant 'mahmoot' - the term for an elephant trainer she convincingly assures me, employing the knowledge no doubt picked up from the numerous elephant books she appears to be studying!!hehe.) Anyway, I won't be getting a tan sat hunched over an indian computer, so I must escape!! It's very much like being in the library basement at university, with very little natural light and many computer boffin like souls, with long spindly fimngers seeming designed for rapid keyboard crunching movements!!
Love to all,
Rich

Dear all Blog Readers!
We've decided that we NEED to get to Goa, in a search for sun sand and relaxation, so have started travelling there by various means (Trains, ,buses, taxis, flights and rickshaws!), stopping in Udaipur for 3 nights on the way. (udaipur is south of Pushkar)
We got the bus from Pushkar at midday, and eventually arrived in Udaipur 9hours later, both having been shaken to bits by the most rickety bus in the whole of the indian sub continent! As it was, ,we didnt even make it all the way to Udaipur as the clutch broke about 3km from our intended destination. "5 minute wait, 5 minute wait" we were ensured, although we weren't convinced, ,as all he had to fix the problem was a hammer and one huge stick! We jumped off and into the throes of numerous rickshaw drivers, obviously rubbing their hands in glee at our misfortune and their iminent financial gain from tired, hungry and completely lost english travellers!! We paid 40 Rupees for a lift to our hotel, which is porbably vastly over priced, but neithe of us were in a state to argue, predominantly as a result of a lack of food and sleep!
On arriving at our guest house, we were confronted by the tallest, steepest, narrowest set of stairs ever seen!! Apparently the house was an old Haveli?! After climbing the stairs on all fours (literally!!) we walked in to our room, ,which was more akin to an iraqi prison cell!! The bed was like sleeping on slate! And the shower was seperated from the room with bars!!haha. it certainly had a charm about it!! However, too tired to complain, we slung our bags on the "beds" and made our way out for tea - Pasta with curry sauce! It tasted alright at the time, but as Sho would later find out, did not entirely agree with her digestive system!!
Woke up this am, for the 6th time, after being kept awake from 1am onwards by someone using a pneumatic drill!! We couldnt believe it!
Anyway, Sho got up to go to the toilet and complained of being faint. Next thing I know, I was having to pick her up off the toilet floor and dump her in bed!! Not sure why she'd fainted? Made sure she was properly hydrated with a rehydration sachet, and plyed her with paracetamol for her headache - she appears to be getting better as the day goes on, thankfully. Although she insists the air smells of pasta everywhere we go!! hahaha. She has a laugh about it now anyway!!
Shonah perked up a hell of a lot when we were relocating to a better hotel this morning, when she spotted an elephant!! Her eyes lit up! Neither of us could believe how big it was, just strolling through the narrow streets (Think The shambles in York, ,kind of narrow!) with people on its back! On a similar, animal related note, shonah almost got attacked by an angry cow last night!! It had huge horns and an even bigger attitude!! Haha, neither of us could stop laughing!! Hoping to meet up with Jayne and James, a couple we met in Pushkar at some point, as theyre following a similar itinerary as us and get in to Udaipur today at some point. We'd defo reccommend our new hotel - the rooms appear to be a bargain!! powewr cut, t alk later!!
Sorry about that, had to leave it, as just had power cut!! They are becoming the norm now!!
Anyway, going to leave it now, as people will no doubt be getting fed up of us rambling on.

John and Nik - thanks for the comments, nice to know people other than family read it! Bet you're getting excited now hey!?

Mum and Dad Holland - Hope all is well, going to endeavour to make use of a phone at some point, and give nan a call as well! Hope the cat is alright!?

Nan - How was max's haircut? Bet hes a smart dog now yeah? Hope you have a brilliant time at the spa place! Speak soon.

Jim - stop reading this and get back to studying!! lol.

Andrea and Steven - Hope things are coming along nicely, ,with the baby and the house!! Let me know if the builder has started at the house. Cant wait to come up and see you both.

Mum and Dave Tulip - Hope things are good at home. Did Dave get to Kintyre alright? How is his back? Are the chickens producing more eggs now? Looking forward to an aga style egg when I get home!!

Dad, Sue and Rachel - Hope you enjoy reading about our exploits!! Got any good prints for your exhibition yet dad? Will call when we find a phone!

Gran and Granddad - Missing you lots. (No baksheesh Granddad!) Going to use a dobi whaller soon!! haha. The pillow and sleeping bag liner you got me for xmas have been a god send!

Granddad Fee - I see what you mean about the constant begging in India now! I hope you feel a bit better and have got over your cold! Miss you!

We've sent postcards out, but are unsure as to when/if they'll arrive!!

Love Rich and Sho

Well the 26th of Feb was our last night in Pushkar - we were both pretty sad to be leaving as we'd made great friends with the chef and his little understudy called Bhopal, ,who was 12. He loved Mr Bean, and would regularly sneak out the kitchen to sit and watch it on Sky TV with us on the rooftop restaurant! He'd giggle all the way through. Thje chef, called Rajou, taught us card tricks, which he made us practice in front of him just to make sure we had them down to a 'Tee!'
Anyway, ,on our travels through Pushkar, we'd heard and read a lot about a drink called a "Special Lassi" which is effectively a milkshake made from yoghurt, ice and fruit juices. Theyre every bit as nice as they sound! However, the special lassi's have been laced with some form of mind altering substance (cannabis maybe? - although entirely legal may I add!!!) which left us both "extremely happy" and very laid back. We certainly enjoyed that night! Rajou also appeared to have been drinking these drinks, ,and by the end of the night, he was offering us free ones! Not that either of us needed them at this point!! In the end we retired to bed, in a scene reminiscent (SP?) of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas!!
All is well in Rich and Sho's little world!!

Hi ,

We made it to Pushkar on the bus from Jaipur with no problems although the driver was a bit of a mentalist on the roads!. Having a lovely time here. The hotel is lovely. This village is so peacefull compared to the city. On our 1st night here we had numerous power cuts. The village is in the mountains and apparantly this is a regular occurance here!. We manged with candles never the less and made friends with an English couple who are emigrating to New Zeland. We have been foe dinner with them a couple of times. We all went on a 3 hour camel trek into the Rhajastan desert yesterday. We watchd the sunset behind the mountains... was fabulous!. Our camels were great. Each of us were on a camel along with the camel owner. Shonah's was a 12 year old boy called Mohammed who somehow managed to climb onto the camel while it was standiing up up it's leg!.. He was so cute and he tought me indian songs for the majoriytym of the jourmey.. THe kept setting the camel into trot much to his amusement. Poor Rich had a really old Camel that seemed incapable of running! The owner of his camel insisted Rich tought him how to sing 'Nic Nak Paddy Wack!.

Thimk we are heading south to the southern tip of Goa where there are beautiful beaches - away from the main part.
Will update soon.

Love to all
Hope the bump is coming along nicely Andrea!.. Nearly bought the baby a lovlely indiasn suit yesterday! lol!

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Hi people,

Its great to be able to keep in touch so frequently!
Just a quick entry as we are leaving for our bus to Pushkar (west of Jaipur) in a few mins.. The journey takes 3 hours , hopefully the bus will not be too packet and crazy! We managed to book our hotel in pushkar by phone last night. All of the hotels seem to be under two pounds per night and so far have been pretty good mid range hotels (exect the hole in the wall in the Delhi hotel room!)

We went for food last night at a revolving restaurant which is in the top of an ancient tower. The rotation took 45 mins and we got a great 360 degree view of Jaipur. We also visited the pink city yesterday which is a bazarre of bustling stalls selling cloth, spices etc. V interesting but am looking forward to some relaxation time away from the bustle!

Saw a few camels yesterday and the odd pig that trotts past our balcony rooting for food! Am odd sight i must admit!

Take care everyone,
Love 2 all

Sho and Rich (Dobber and Dicky Dutch!)