The Journey from Delhi to Agra (28th March)

 An early start but having had a wonderful sleep we’re all raring to go, especially as this journey will bring us closer to our dream of visiting The Taj Mahal.  It’s impossible to write on my lappy as I drive along…

a)       because the sun is shining on my screen and all I can see is blackness,   

b)      I’m not watching what’s going on around me, and

c)      I feel ‘coach sick’ if I keep my head down for too long - boring :(

So I’m writing this later - copying what I scribbled down in my note pad as I went along.  It’s a list and if I can make out what it says (the writing’s rubbish due to swerving, breaking, bumpy roads and me trying to write without looking down!).  Some of the things I saw…..

• Lots of villages and little settlements.
• Women in fields gathering wheat - singing, chatting & all dressed in bright coloured saris.
• Women and children carrying huge bales of wheat on their heads.
• Women making dung patties (using dung from the cattle).
• A dreadful car accident.
• Lots of children waving - happy faces.
• Men & boys trying to sell us jewellery, peacock feather fans and entertain us with monkeys :(
• Many men, especially older men sitting in ‘Malasana’.
• Schools - first one all girls, dressed in pale pink saris, the next mixed - boys in jade shirts, girls in jade saris - all looking very smart & so proud to be at school, carrying their files, laughing, chatting.
• Boys, men playing cricket - lots of this....anywhere, any space and not always a cricket bat and ball - a baton of wood seems to suffice.
• Piles of dung patties, or them stacked and laid out to dry.
• Cows, bulls and calves, many, some tied, some loose.
• Women washing their cows - treasured and revered animals.
• Rows of shops - dressmaking, men’s garment making, ironing, repairs (bikes, cars, tuk-tuks, lorries), hairdressing, barber, fruiterers, veg stall, Masala Chai stall, patis & samosa stalls.
• Women riding side saddle on backs of scooter, motorbikes, bicycles - eek, brave ladies!
• Men gathered round stalls chatting, smoking, some on day beds under the trees.
• 4 teenagers on a motorbike (they fell off shortly after they passed us (laughing and only egos bruised I think.
• 12 people in a tuk-tuk.
• The ‘School Bus’ - a tractor and trailer full to the brim with pupils.
• Taxi Rank - at least 12 tuk-tuks touting for business.
• An Elephant!! Jai Ganesha!!
• Cow sitting in the middle of the road somehow being avoided by the craziness that is the rush hour traffic…….and more....

Wow what a journey!!

Somehow I’ve arrived unscathed in Agra - it was a wonderful way to see a bit of real India. I loved every bit of it.

A lot of them are heading off for an optional tour somewhere or other, but quite frankly I’d rather take the optional ‘Lie by the Poolside and read a book’

Early start tomorrow 5.45 but, hey, I’m going to the Taj Mahal so that’s not a problem at all (did I mention I was going to the Taj Mahal tomorrow?) 

Day One - The Journey Begins....(Saturday 26th March 20.50 from Heathrow)

An eventful start at the airport….Hen was going through security but asked ‘Is this your bag’? And so the search began. Let’s face it, she’s a young woman with MANY things in said bag. Each item meticulously examined, re-scanned, wiped, re-scanned.  More staff summoned to help examine.  Paperwork to fill in. ‘I need to ask you some personal question’ said Man in Uniform (feeling very important & looking like the cat that got the cream).  ‘Do you use any substances, like contact lens solution?  You see, your bag is showing substances that could be used to make explosive devices’.  More staff arriving.  More paperwork to complete. Phone calls to be made.  ‘I’m afraid you’ll have to go through the Body Scanner’.  ‘Yeah, whooped Hen – I haven’t done that before’!!! (not quite the response he expected and realising at the same time he was being won over by the ‘Bond Charm’.  Hen emerged with a clean bill of health.  The bag was returned and on we went.  You’ll be glad to know that the bag has not exploded yet!

Delhi

Sipping a cup of Masala Chai  in the lounge at the Ashok Country Resort Hotel as we speak….smooth flight was had with wonderfully polite staff on board and yummy food.  The guide and his team are all lovely people and I look forward to getting to know them better.  The drive here was fairly uneventful being only 15mins from the airport and mostly modern motorway.  I did spot the huge statue of Shiva enroute and may have to go back to take a closer look if I have time.  

We arrived at 12ish and were informed that there was a tour of Delhi this afternoon but we girls decided that we’d had enough travelling for one day.  Besides the warm air, sun and the swimming pool looked far too tempting to miss.  So a lazy snoozy afternoon has been had with the first swim of the holiday.  Starving now so off to have a quick shower before supper.  Off to Agra tomorrow :)…..early :(

And We're Off!!

I've just dropped the dogs off at Andrea's after taking them for a long hike on Chippenham Fen. It was so cold!!  Good to get out though bearing in mind the long flight ahead.....the house is really quiet and strange without the dogs - they're usually underneath my desk when I'm using my computer.

I'm ridiculously organised - to the point that I've even put the clocks forward ready for British Summer Time which is this Sunday!! Haa-haa!

Off  to move some bits out of the 'hand luggage' - it's a tad overweight. I'll probably be overweight too when I get back but it won't be as easy to get rid of.  :D

Perhaps an update at the airport - if not then see you in Delhi!!

Almost There! :)

I'm unbelievably excited (just in case you hadn't noticed)!!

It's quite warm today and sunny (16°C) - nice to have a glimpse at how warm we will be on Sunday in Delhi(32°C)!

Almost ready to go apart from those last minute chores - even the dogs's bags are packed.  They're going to stay with friend, Andrea.  She has two King Charles Spaniels and a Cocker Spaniel....about to have two more King Charles to add to her collection. Is she mad? I hear you say. Most definitely!!  I would do the same for her though.


Saying (a temporary) 'Goodbye' to my lovely students is incredibly moving - such genuine hugs and good wishes from each one.  I'm so lucky to have such a wonderful rapport with them all.....


My dear friend Penny is going into hospital on Friday for an operation - I won't be around to visit her or be here for her....that hurts but I shall be holding her close to my heart and sending healing karma across the ocean.
                                                                 Patsy and Puppy

OK...back to the 'To Do' list......