Oct 26, 2009 - Vodka & Cokegate

Feeling like we needed to give Varnasasi a little sendoff, we ordered a large smirnoff vodka and coke with ice.Feeling like we needed to give Varnasasi a little sendoff, we ordered a large smirnoff vodka and coke with ice....

Oct 25, 2009 - Goodnight Varanasi

Well our quick week of luxury and pampering has come to an end and we are ready to say goodbye to Varanasi. ... Not much to report other than the usual rounds of sun, pool, food, beer and massage in whichever order you like, the hardest decision this week has been whether to have a lime soda or a fanta orange (which of course can be very draining).Well our quick week of luxury and pampering has come to an end and we are ready to say goodbye to Varanasi. ... Not much to report other than the usual rounds of sun, pool, food, beer and massage in whichever order you like, the hardest decision this week has been whether to have a lime soda or a fanta orange (which of course can be very draining)....

Oct 19, 2009 - A week in Varanasi, the Ghats and the Ganges!

Well what a week, the good, the bad and the funny in equal measure. After a major killing frenzy (of bugs of course), we decided to book a nice hotel with a pool (yipee!!!) for our last week in Varanasi. ... So that's the bad out the way now to the funny and the nice things, we have found some cool little places to go and eat, including the Blue Dolpin, and the German Bakery.Well what a week, the good, the bad and the funny in equal measure. After a major killing frenzy (of bugs of course), we decided to book a nice hotel with a pool (yipee!!!) for our last week in Varanasi. ... So that's the bad out the way now to the funny and the nice things, we have found some cool little places to go and eat, including the Blue Dolpin, and the German Bakery....

Oct 13, 2009 - Varanasi

Varanasi, known as India's most spiritual city, was our next stop. ... We did (eventually) arrive in Varanasi. ... We spent five days here walking through the old city and observing life (and death) along the holy Ganges river, where everything is on display in a way unlike we've seen anywhere else.Varanasi, known as India's most spiritual city, was our next stop. ... We did (eventually) arrive in Varanasi. ... We spent five days here walking through the old city and observing life (and death) along the holy Ganges river, where everything is on display in a way unlike we've seen anywhere else....

Oct 13, 2009 - India Tours Agra

com">India Tours Agra is a home to one of the seven wonders of the world; the Taj Mahal. ...

Tours to Agra comprises of visit to the Taj, Agra Fort, Tomb of Itmad-ud-Daulah, Sikandra and Fatehpur Sikri. ... com">India Tours Agra are treat for all history lovers and artistic minds. ... Agra is a home to the marvelous marble wonder, the Taj Mahal. ... Also renowned asthe city of the Taj, Agra is 200 km from the capital city of India, Delhi. ...

Oct 12, 2009 - Varanasi and the train ride from hell

Packed and ready we waited at Agra Cant station for the train. We had not gone 10 minutes before Marie declared that there was no way she was getting the train back from Varanasi to Mumbai (the same class for 27 hrs) she would rather walk !!! To be fair it did get better and Marie became slightly happier, especially as we managed to sleep a fair amount with the assistance of Nytol. ... Tired, dirty and smelly we landed in Varanasi, yet another fine example of Indian town planning. ...

Oct 11, 2009 - Taj Mahal

Early start this morning, up at 5.Early start this morning, up at 5....

Oct 10, 2009 - Amazing Agra !!

The train from Jaipur was the shortest to date (only 6 hrs), assisted by the company of a little baby girl with the cutest and biggest eyes we have ever seen, she was the happiest baby ever and was entranced by us for the whole journey smiling at us all throughout. Stares were down to a minimum, either that or were getting used to it !! Landed at Agra expecting to be collected by the hotel. ... After standing in the baking sun for 20 mins or so, we gave in to the taxi driver who bugged us the most called Ali Baba (I kid you not) and he took us the the Taj Ganj area of Agra. ... Taj Ganj is to the south of the Taj Mahal and is where the builders of it lived during its constuction.The train from Jaipur was the shortest to date (only 6 hrs), assisted by the company of a little baby girl with the cutest and biggest eyes we have ever seen, she was the happiest baby ever and was entranced by us for the whole journey smiling at us all throughout. Stares were down to a minimum, either that or were getting used to it !! Landed at Agra expecting to be collected by the hotel. ... After standing in the baking sun for 20 mins or so, we gave in to the taxi driver who bugged us the most called Ali Baba (I kid you not) and he took us the the Taj Ganj area of Agra. ... Taj Ganj is to the south of the Taj Mahal and is where the builders of it lived during its constuction....

Oct 9, 2009 - Agra

3 million people, Agra felt much smaller, but was more touristy (because of the Taj Mahal), than Jaipur. ... We liked the guesthouse so opted for the relatively cheap option of hiring a car and driver for the duration of our stay in Agra. ... Other stops within Agra included a Sikh temple (our first visit to a Sikh temple), a sunset view of the Taj from the Mehtah Bagh (a Mughal-style garden), and the Agra Fort and Palace (we won't mention the inevitable carpet factory and trinket shop stops that are on every Indian cab drivers itinerary (regardless of what the paying client wants)). ... Other sights were Fatehpur Sikri (a "ghost city" that was Agra's capital between 1571-85) and Deeg (a summer water palace that was inhabited up until the 1950's and has it's interior and original furniture still intact). ... From Agra, we hopped on an overnight train bound for Varanasi. ...

Aug 24, 2009 - The Taj Mahal is far from overrated!

Unfortunately it was a big travel day too (Fly from Leh to Delhi, then drive 5-hours to Agra). ... Luckily, with a lot of help from Jane we made it to Agra, after about 15 hours. ... We also saw the Agra fort (also very beautiful), with lots of marble-work similar to the Taj Mahal (and a beautiful view of Taj). ...

Aug 22, 2009 - Varanasi

Feeling much better, so off to more temples in the morning before getting our flight out to Varanasi. ... Flight to Varanasi was to leave at 1:30pm but was 45 minutes late for a 30 minute flight. ... We are now at the Alka Hotel in Varanasi with a top floor balcony off our room, overlooking the Ganges and the teeming life below. ... ) Vast numbers of people come to die in Varanasi because this is the Hindu spiritual centre of India. ... Varanasi is the spiritual centre of Hinduism and our senses are on overload here. ...

Aug 22, 2009 - The Crown Palace...

I took the 1:30pm train (by sleeper car) to Agra and arrived by 4:00pm. ... I had already booked my hotel and had arranged for a driver to meet me at the station, because I had heard how the Agra train station (and city itself) is full of touts, thieves and beggars. ... In fact, I felt safer and was hassled less in Agra than any other place in India. ... His English was fairly good and he was an excellent ambassador to Agra. ... I returned to my hotel for a quick nap and then called Salim to take me to the other sights within Agra: Akbar's Tomb, the baby Taj Mahal, and the Red Fort (yes Agra has one too). ...