It is day...4? of our time at Palolem Beach in Goa and the beach is definately working its magic. The days have been spent sunbathing, reading, swimming and eating seafood - what more could you ask for.
We were joined by Chris and Lou and their merry gang (dave, jane, nigel, jean, alex, graham, matt, james, stuart) for a couple of days. Was nice to have some fresh blood on the tour though we did seem to let the team down in terms of our beer skills (at least i have an excuse - colin just out of practice and poor form!)
Not a lot else to report really, heading down south to Kannur in Kerala on Sunday night - another beachside location, apparently amazing beaches, far less touristy and also the place to see some crazy rituals (think masked men with 7m high head dresses, drumming and chanting - could be interesting) and i am hoping the place to sample my favourite indian dish - prawn malabari, wooo hoooo.
Slight glitch in the matrix is that our camera seems to have given up the ghost at the moment - memory card still has all photos thus far (phew!), but what can you do!
Love, hugs and slight sunburn from us
GGTTFNxxx
Saturday, 27 March 2010
Thursday, 25 March 2010
Then there were three
Mumbai also served as a chance for us to have a 12 week scan and check up on the new addition to the ginger gene tour. Big thanks to Sudhir for helping us organise a scan in Mumbai, was nice to go to someone known, made things much easier and less stressful for us!
We are pleased to report that all is well - ten fingers and toes, one head and a healthy wriggling baby albeit very mini.
Thanks to everyone for their congratulations and good wishes. We are very happy and excited.
Also in answer to all the questions about what/where/when/how - well a few will be quite straight forward but the others are yet to be determined.
All of us are fit and well and loving India - pleased to be at the beach now, where it is not just RJ (Redfearn Junior) that gets to go swimming.
GGTTFN xxxx
Tuesday, 23 March 2010
Mumbai Madness
After our wee bit of peace and tranquility we spent an entire day travelling south from Rishikesh to Mumbai, via Delhi, by train, taxi and plane.
Although a much faster train trip back we did have a mad old badger sharing our compartment who started off as slightly amusing and then after several hours of chanting, hoikking, farting and demands we were well and truly glad to hop off the train. Our bargining skills were put to the test by the taxi drivers as we tried to get to the airport and go to love those small victories but there was no way we were backing down!
Our arrival in Mumbai was pretty straightforward and the traffic although heavy was nothing like the chaos of delhi - the heat did hit us though and as budget as we are with a non AC taxi we had our heads out the window for the hour ride to the hotel.
Sunday saw us take a leisurely stroll around Mumbai (don't think we could have managed anymore in the heat - soo much more humid down this way) and was pleased that it was seemingly very quiet. Watched about 40+ games of cricket being played in oval maiden (size of one cricket ground) and even braved cutting across the middle - although had to duck flying balls a couple of times!
Had a look at the Gateway of India, Taj Mahal Hotel and Palace, Crawford Market and then had a drink at Leopolds Cafe (for all you shantaram fans) - we even got asked if we wanted to be in a bollywood shoot the next day. That night we wandered along to Chowpatty Beach - Mumbai's equivalent to san Tropez. Ate some yummy cheap eats on the beach with all the families and watched the loons running the amusement rides (videos to come.... health and safety?).
Day 2 we braved Mumbai Rail System, which was suprisingly easy to negotiate. Did some shopping and other bits and pieces - regular ice cream breaks featuring quite highly on the priority list. We're lucky enough to time our stay with IPL (indian Premier league - cricket) 20/20 match at the stadium that happened to be across the street from our hotel. Was a bit of a mission geting the tickets - indians are extremely passionate about cricket and when it became obvious that the game was to be a sell out the line/crowd got all a bit crazy.
Managed to secure tickets - and great seats at that, so spent Monday night watching a game between the Mumbai Indians and the Colcutta Knight Riders. It was nothing like either of us have ever seen and was absolute madness - so much singing, dancing, tooting horns, with the most animated audience ever. The infactuation and adoration of the indian males for the all white chairleaders was a sight to behold. We ended up watching the men dancing as it was much more entertaining.
At the airport just waiting for our flight to Goa - can't wait for the beaches, has been soooo hot and humid and although we sampled the delights of the ganges Beach in Rishikesh i don't think it will compare. Crazy how we have been here for three weeks and this will actually be our first chance to tan and take some clothes off!
More to come soon - plus pics
Big hugs to all
GGTTFN xxxxx
Although a much faster train trip back we did have a mad old badger sharing our compartment who started off as slightly amusing and then after several hours of chanting, hoikking, farting and demands we were well and truly glad to hop off the train. Our bargining skills were put to the test by the taxi drivers as we tried to get to the airport and go to love those small victories but there was no way we were backing down!
Our arrival in Mumbai was pretty straightforward and the traffic although heavy was nothing like the chaos of delhi - the heat did hit us though and as budget as we are with a non AC taxi we had our heads out the window for the hour ride to the hotel.
Sunday saw us take a leisurely stroll around Mumbai (don't think we could have managed anymore in the heat - soo much more humid down this way) and was pleased that it was seemingly very quiet. Watched about 40+ games of cricket being played in oval maiden (size of one cricket ground) and even braved cutting across the middle - although had to duck flying balls a couple of times!
Had a look at the Gateway of India, Taj Mahal Hotel and Palace, Crawford Market and then had a drink at Leopolds Cafe (for all you shantaram fans) - we even got asked if we wanted to be in a bollywood shoot the next day. That night we wandered along to Chowpatty Beach - Mumbai's equivalent to san Tropez. Ate some yummy cheap eats on the beach with all the families and watched the loons running the amusement rides (videos to come.... health and safety?).
Day 2 we braved Mumbai Rail System, which was suprisingly easy to negotiate. Did some shopping and other bits and pieces - regular ice cream breaks featuring quite highly on the priority list. We're lucky enough to time our stay with IPL (indian Premier league - cricket) 20/20 match at the stadium that happened to be across the street from our hotel. Was a bit of a mission geting the tickets - indians are extremely passionate about cricket and when it became obvious that the game was to be a sell out the line/crowd got all a bit crazy.
Managed to secure tickets - and great seats at that, so spent Monday night watching a game between the Mumbai Indians and the Colcutta Knight Riders. It was nothing like either of us have ever seen and was absolute madness - so much singing, dancing, tooting horns, with the most animated audience ever. The infactuation and adoration of the indian males for the all white chairleaders was a sight to behold. We ended up watching the men dancing as it was much more entertaining.
At the airport just waiting for our flight to Goa - can't wait for the beaches, has been soooo hot and humid and although we sampled the delights of the ganges Beach in Rishikesh i don't think it will compare. Crazy how we have been here for three weeks and this will actually be our first chance to tan and take some clothes off!
More to come soon - plus pics
Big hugs to all
GGTTFN xxxxx
Wednesday, 17 March 2010
Why don't Indian cows moo?
Have arrived in Rishikesh after a somewhat arduous journey. The planned 9 hour train journey ended up taking 14 hours and then we had a midnight taxi ride, crossing a swing bridge over the Ganges and then a half hour jeep ride up into the valley. Meaning that after leaving our hotel in Agra at 9 we finally crawled into bed at half two! This is partly due to the fact that we managed to time our trip here with a pilgrims festival that only happens every 12 years and sees about 12million pilgrims coming to the area over six weeks, with up to 4million at a time on particular special days (such as the one we tried to arrive on!) We did meet some lovely people on the train who took us under their wing a little, keeping us up to date on what was happening, buying us food, having a chat. Colin was most impressed with the food on offer and couldn't resist the samosas, biryani, pompaddoms, spicy tomato soup and chai. Think the wee train men knew to definitely stop each time the went past!
We are staying in a lovely little retreat though that is well away from all the madness and quite serene. Has been just what we needed, to be able to sleep in, go for a wander along the river, do washing, read and sit and watch the monkeys playing in the trees. The place we are staying cooks all food from fresh and the lady that runs it is a masseuse so will look to book one of those in for sure.
The last few days of our Rajasthan tour saw us taking in the delights of the Taj Mahal and Fatephur Sikri. The Taj was incredible but there were soooooo many tourists, it was slightly mental. Managed to find a nice spot to sit and watch the sun go down over it and the colours change constantly which was magical.
We also had a disco rickshaw tour of Jaipur with two young lads - the rickshaw was in mint condition and was kitted out with huge speakers and a mean stereo - heard some great hindi hard house - even scored the CD off them at the end of the ride. The were keen to just chat and show us some things that we may not have seen on the regular tourist route which was very cool.
Plan to spend the next few days in our little haven away from any form of transport or hordes of people before we brave the train back to Delhi and our flight down south to Mumbai.
GGTTFN xxxxxx
We are staying in a lovely little retreat though that is well away from all the madness and quite serene. Has been just what we needed, to be able to sleep in, go for a wander along the river, do washing, read and sit and watch the monkeys playing in the trees. The place we are staying cooks all food from fresh and the lady that runs it is a masseuse so will look to book one of those in for sure.
The last few days of our Rajasthan tour saw us taking in the delights of the Taj Mahal and Fatephur Sikri. The Taj was incredible but there were soooooo many tourists, it was slightly mental. Managed to find a nice spot to sit and watch the sun go down over it and the colours change constantly which was magical.
We also had a disco rickshaw tour of Jaipur with two young lads - the rickshaw was in mint condition and was kitted out with huge speakers and a mean stereo - heard some great hindi hard house - even scored the CD off them at the end of the ride. The were keen to just chat and show us some things that we may not have seen on the regular tourist route which was very cool.
Plan to spend the next few days in our little haven away from any form of transport or hordes of people before we brave the train back to Delhi and our flight down south to Mumbai.
GGTTFN xxxxxx
Saturday, 13 March 2010
Time flies
Having a break from the heat this afternoon in Jaipur, the mercury is rising and looks like no sign of respite. However, only two days left of our tour of Rajasthan and we are hoping that Rishikesh (further north, at the start of the Ganges in the mountains) will be a bit cooler, calmer and hopefully we can swim.
I do have to add here that we did only just find out that the place we are training into on our way to Rishikesh is the site of a MAJOR festival - as in it only happens every 12 years and the area has an influx of some 12 million extra pilgrims over the month of March - stay tuned on how we cope with that one!
After leaving the lake city of Udaipur we spent a quiet night in a little town called Bundi, a little more off the tourist trail which made for a nice change. The tour of the fort/palace was made more interesting by the challenge of having to dodge the hundreds of monkeys that i think see the tourists as sport.
Arrived Jaipur yesterday and have been pleasantly surprised for a big Indian city how much cleaner, organised and liveable it is. One constant for all Indian cities is the traffic - we like to confuse the rickshaw drivers/taxis by walking, one man followed us for ten minutes on our way home from dinner, constantly repeating the word 'come'. Not too sure he brought Colin's excuse about rickshaw motion sickness for our reason for walking.
Tour of Amber fort, observatory, water palace and wind palace - nothing understated about this lot! (see pics)
Time for ice cream
GGTTFN xxxxx
Tuesday, 9 March 2010
your face is too young for your hair
Arrived in Udaipur this afternoon - lake city, think Octopussy and you know what our view is for dinner.
Things ticking along well - all still solid so that is a plus!
Spent last night in a quintessential colonial villa built by a polo playing maharaja. Very lush, was a nice oasis of calm after our hectic afternoon in Jodphur. Decided that we wanted to chill in the shade in the park - not such a good idea, we were surrounded by an audience, they were even eating snacks. Legged it out of there pretty quickly and stumbled across a football game in the local stadium. Suprisingly we were left alone so managed some down time before getting hideously lost making our way back the centre of town - cue screaming kids, narrow streets, no sign of any exit and slightly flustered redfearns.
Have had our fill of guides and forts, temples and palaces so are planning a sleep in tomorrow, maybe some washing and not a lot else.
Hope all is well with everyone
GGTTFN xx
Saturday, 6 March 2010
Lookings for free
Arrived this afternoon to Jaisalmer, Rajasthan after a somewhat hairy last 40kms through the Thar Desert, where we were pretty sure our driver was deciding it was nap time. Cue lots of coughing, loud talking and questions directed at him .
We are staying inside the fort in a pretty lush room in the Desert View Haveli, unfortunately the view does not cover the waft of ever present cow shit coming from the streets but you take the good with the bad (hides Colin's indiscretions at least).
We have covered plenty of distance since starting our tour in Delhi, with stops in Mandawa and Bikaner. We are in Jisalmer at least for a couple of days so will be nice not to be in the car tomorrow. Slowly unwinding and settling into life on the road and it already feels like we have been away for ages. It was amusing that after one day in Delhi our perspective had changed so much as to what was nice/clean and safe. We didn't find it as scary to begin with as we thought it would be but it was definitely a sensory overload and very chaotic; the chorus of tooting horns, children with spinning heads doing cartwheels(not quite exorcist - but close) and being the centre/focus of everyone's attention wherever you go.
GGTTFN xxxxx
We are staying inside the fort in a pretty lush room in the Desert View Haveli, unfortunately the view does not cover the waft of ever present cow shit coming from the streets but you take the good with the bad (hides Colin's indiscretions at least).
We have covered plenty of distance since starting our tour in Delhi, with stops in Mandawa and Bikaner. We are in Jisalmer at least for a couple of days so will be nice not to be in the car tomorrow. Slowly unwinding and settling into life on the road and it already feels like we have been away for ages. It was amusing that after one day in Delhi our perspective had changed so much as to what was nice/clean and safe. We didn't find it as scary to begin with as we thought it would be but it was definitely a sensory overload and very chaotic; the chorus of tooting horns, children with spinning heads doing cartwheels(not quite exorcist - but close) and being the centre/focus of everyone's attention wherever you go.
GGTTFN xxxxx
Monday, 1 March 2010
D Day!!
Well the day has finally arrived, boarding passes are printed, bags are packed and nerves are gradually building! Hasn't really sunk in that we are actually leaving - think that it will as soon as we come out of the arrivals hall in Delhi and then there will be no looking back.
A few people have asked for an itinerary summary so they know where bouts we will be. As yet all the itinerary is not quite set in stone however we will be in India from tomorrow until the 13th of April. We're starting with a two week tour of Rajasthan, before heading north to Rishikesh for a week of spiritual enlightenment, then south to Mumbai to undo all that enlightenment before heading further south to Goa and Kerala for some surf and sunshine.
We wanted to say thanks to everyone for the kind wishes of support and good luck.
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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