Last last photos from Goa

Mediation's what you need!

Dinner on the beach

Lazy sod!!

Watching the sunset

Last photos from Goa

Gekko hunting bugs on the wall and in our toilet!!

Tania getting withdrawal symptoms!

Occupational hazard-cows everywhere

And more photos!!!!

more photos from Goa

More memories of Goa!! Worked out photo resizer but it only seems to do few at a time!!

More photos

Early morning in Kerala from houseboat +Pedro!!

End of Kerala and Goa!

Our houseboat in Keraka where we spent best day and evening so far travelling the backwaters. Have moved on from Arambol in the north of Goa and we are now in Patnem which is a small beach next to Palolem in the south. Unfortunately I could not get photo of "ear man" who must have been busy cleaning other ears but did manage photo of 'walking round in circles man!' Going to Delhi the day after tomorrow and then to Agra to see Taj Mahal and start our tour of Rajasthan. Not much to report as we haven't done much apart from swim, bask in the sun and eat and drink although Steve not done a lot of that as delhi belly struck with a vengeance a few days ago- dry toast and water for two days feeling better now and should be back on the curries soon!

Will add some more photos when I have mastered photo resizing!!

Periyar -Goa

Arrived in Goa yesterday.

Since last post we have had tour of Periyar national park which was great. Wildlife spotting not quite like Africa-(Julie and Mike), but we spotted some wild elephants, bison and much bird life-feathered variety- including parrots, kingfishers etc.- yes we have both become keen twitchers!! Well what else is there to do all day-it's a hard life. After this we had the best day so far on a hoseboat on the Keralan backwaters-absolutely beautiful watching the sunrise-first time that I have been up for that for some time!

Goa is totally chilled out with many long termers dreadlocked and summed up by the bloke I saw on the beach today with two straws in the shape of a cross in one hand and a crushed coke can in the other walking round in circles muttering to himself- I will definitely keep away from the magic mushrooms!!

I met another strange Indian today who, after I had been swimming after a long walk along the beach away from our hut, approached me and started looking at my ears saying that I had something in there! He then proceeded to start poking around with a cocktail stick extracting ear wax and telling me that I had stones in my ears!! After this he produced a piece of paper that declared that he was an officially certified 'ear cleaner and ear stone remover'!! It would, he said, cost me 250 rupees to have the stones removed from my ears. Fortunately I did not have any money with me and although he was quite happy to walk the mile or so back to my hut with me to get the money I declined his kind offer!! Goa is a strange place!! We are moving on day after tomorrow to a different beach (Palolem) and will try and add some pictures on next blog- I am going to try and get photo of the ear man and the one who walks round in circles!

Love to all following our progress

First week in India!

Arrived finally in Bangalore about 10 hours later than planned. Unfortunately our tickets were not issued on arrival at Heathrow for some reason so we ended up on Kingfisher airlines flight instead of BA! Apart from the lack of a/con it was fine and we had a nice curry on board + free Kingfisher beer!

Spent first and second nights at Royal Orchid Brindavan Gardens hotel in Mysore which was very nice -see posh hotel picture and Tania in bed! Got picked up by our driver in Mysore (hardly roughing it so far- beginning to feel like royalty or some Raj style posh person!)

Our next stop was Ooty (hill station) which we reached after very pleasant dive through the tea plantations but unfortunately hotel not quite the same standard as in Mysore, was freezing cold at 8000 feet -see crap hotel picture!

We are now in Kumily which is cool after visiting more tea and spice plantations and after being roasted again in Cochin. Looking forward to exploring the Kerala backwaters over the next few days. -Periyar national park tomorrow and Keralan house boat the day after. No tummy trouble yet!!! although a few strange rumbles and a lot of wind! Thought you would like the elephant photos! By the way the bloke in drag is not me but a Kathakali dancer!

Sorry about the crap editing of blog -I'm sure we will get the hang of it. I think the text is supposed to be beside each photo-never mind. Will blog again soon!!

Last day before departure!

5/1/09 Dropped off at Hotel Ibis near Heathrow by Mum amd Dad. Looking forward to flight to Bangalore tomorrow. Mad day packing up flat and rucksacks which weigh about three tons each. Freezing cold here-wont be saying that this time tomorrow!