Hi guys
I have now completed my second day of trekking in the Himalayas and am here for 2 nights at Namche Bazaar. Yesterday we flew into Lukla onto a seriously dodgy landing strip (up a hill) then did a gentle trek to Phakding. Today was a much tougher walk and we gained a lot of altitude. The scenery is stunning but unfortunately the weather is not. It is FRIGGING COLD, cloudy and snowing. So unfortunately that obscures all the amazing views and the weather is set to continue. Very sad about that but my trekking group is great and we are all braving the cold, squat toilets, high altitude and uphill struggles together. No internet from here onwards so goodbye until after I (hopefully) reach Base Camp and (hopefully) see some mighty good views. Bye!
Monday 16 March 2009
Thursday 12 March 2009
Taj Mahal
I'm now in Kathmandu after a couple of crazy days in India. Yesterday I took a train to Agra to see the Taj Mahal. New Delhi railway station was mental. I got there at 5.15am and it was absolutely buzzing. There were people sleeping all over the station concourse. Figuring out where to go once in the station is also fun and games. It clearly said Platform 1 on the departures board but once on platform 1 it said an entirely different train the screen. I eventually ended up on the right train, the Shahabti Express and was in 1st Class, where the seats are like aeroplane seats but with far more legroom, and we were provided with a constant supply of food and drink for the whole 1 hr and 45 mins. Going well, I thought.
I arrived into Agra only to see no sign of the guide and driver I had booked for the day. After about 20 different people offering me their services I suddenly heard 'are you Suzanne Rilley?' Result!
First stop was the Taj Mahal itself. It really is stunningly beautiful and it was still early in the morning when I got there so was eerily peaceful compared to the chaos of the cities. The decoration on the palace is so incredible. From a distance it looks like it is painted on but up close you realise it is made of tiny pieces of precious stone of all different colours that have been painstakingly embedded into the marble walls.
Next stop was Agra Fort which is interesting and would have been beautiful in itself but having just seen the Taj Mahal, it didn't really compare.
I spent the rest of the day just going around Agra. This week across India, Hindus are celbrating the festival of Holi, which is a celbration of harmony and love. It basically involved them covering each other in brightly coloured paints from head to toe and generally having a merry time (the traditional drink of Holi has cannabis in it...) It was fascinating to see fully grown men having such a good time and throwing paint around.
My journey back from Agra was as opposite as it could have been from the one going there. I only managed to get a seat in 3rd Class, so was fearing the worst but apart from the fact that it took 4 hours, it was surprisingly ok and I just laid down on one of the sleeper beds for the whole time. I might add however, that using a squat toilet on a moving train is not an experience I wish to repeat.
Anyway...now I am in Kathmandu which already seems very different to Delhi and I can wait to see some sights tomorrow. I'm running out of internet time though, so cheerio for now.
I arrived into Agra only to see no sign of the guide and driver I had booked for the day. After about 20 different people offering me their services I suddenly heard 'are you Suzanne Rilley?' Result!
First stop was the Taj Mahal itself. It really is stunningly beautiful and it was still early in the morning when I got there so was eerily peaceful compared to the chaos of the cities. The decoration on the palace is so incredible. From a distance it looks like it is painted on but up close you realise it is made of tiny pieces of precious stone of all different colours that have been painstakingly embedded into the marble walls.
Next stop was Agra Fort which is interesting and would have been beautiful in itself but having just seen the Taj Mahal, it didn't really compare.
I spent the rest of the day just going around Agra. This week across India, Hindus are celbrating the festival of Holi, which is a celbration of harmony and love. It basically involved them covering each other in brightly coloured paints from head to toe and generally having a merry time (the traditional drink of Holi has cannabis in it...) It was fascinating to see fully grown men having such a good time and throwing paint around.
My journey back from Agra was as opposite as it could have been from the one going there. I only managed to get a seat in 3rd Class, so was fearing the worst but apart from the fact that it took 4 hours, it was surprisingly ok and I just laid down on one of the sleeper beds for the whole time. I might add however, that using a squat toilet on a moving train is not an experience I wish to repeat.
Anyway...now I am in Kathmandu which already seems very different to Delhi and I can wait to see some sights tomorrow. I'm running out of internet time though, so cheerio for now.
Tuesday 10 March 2009
Taxi!
Well, I have made it to my hotel in Delhi in one piece, however I could already write a book about my experience so far. All went smoothly until I came out of Delhi airport only to find that the hotel had run out of cars so didn't send anyone to pick me up. Ok, I thought, find a taxi. Before I even decided which way to turn, a smartly dressed, very presentable guy told me he could organise transport for me. It all seemed a bit dodgy so I asked him who he worked for and if he had any ID. His response was that he worked for 'lots of hotels in the area' and started pulling out hotel business cards as his 'proof'. Ok I might look like some gullible young white girl but I'm not stupid. A few seconds later when his 'colleague' (aka friend, aka partner in crime) drives up in this unmarked car whose boot didn't even shut properly. Then said it would cost 25 US dollars to go to the hotel. That was the final straw (cos that's LOADS in Indian terms) so I walked away. I was never actually considering going with him but it was intruiging to see what he would try. Anyway, so I walk back into the airport and there's this security guard with some kind of rifle type thing, you know, not the sort of guy you'd mess with, so I asked him the best place to book a taxi. He told me, I got a ticket for about 3 or 4 dollars and off I went...
The taxi ride to the hotel was like nothing I've ever experienced. The 'taxi' looked about 50 years old with no seatbelts. To try and get an idea of what that's like, imagine yourself on Thunder Mountain with no kind of restraint and that's still a smooth ride compared to a roadtrip in Delhi. Now, in the UK we have such a thing as a highway code. I'm pretty sure one was never written in India. And I'm also pretty sure a driving licence, or even any kind of driving tuition, is entirely optional. From my experience so far I'd say the 'road rules' of Delhi go something like this...
1) Unless your vehicle has dents on all four sides, it is probably not suitable for use on the road.
2) Doors are not necessary. Without doors, then if the vehicle is full, passengers can hang out the side of the vehicle, thus increasing capacity utilization.
3) Mirror, Signal, Manouver is an unnecessary concept. Instead, simply do whatever it is you want to whilst simultaneously honking your horn.
4) It is acceptable for pedestrians to walk the wrong was down a 3 lane highway. No-one takes any notice of lanes anyway, so if you are in the way, vehicles will just swerve round you.
5) The space you want to fit through does not have to be big enough for your vehicle. If you keep going and keep honking, you will fit through. Somehow.
6) The only thing that has a higher priority than your own vehicle is a cow.
So it's all fun and games here really. I'm off to have a wander round now, will probably update again on Thursday in Kathmandu.
The taxi ride to the hotel was like nothing I've ever experienced. The 'taxi' looked about 50 years old with no seatbelts. To try and get an idea of what that's like, imagine yourself on Thunder Mountain with no kind of restraint and that's still a smooth ride compared to a roadtrip in Delhi. Now, in the UK we have such a thing as a highway code. I'm pretty sure one was never written in India. And I'm also pretty sure a driving licence, or even any kind of driving tuition, is entirely optional. From my experience so far I'd say the 'road rules' of Delhi go something like this...
1) Unless your vehicle has dents on all four sides, it is probably not suitable for use on the road.
2) Doors are not necessary. Without doors, then if the vehicle is full, passengers can hang out the side of the vehicle, thus increasing capacity utilization.
3) Mirror, Signal, Manouver is an unnecessary concept. Instead, simply do whatever it is you want to whilst simultaneously honking your horn.
4) It is acceptable for pedestrians to walk the wrong was down a 3 lane highway. No-one takes any notice of lanes anyway, so if you are in the way, vehicles will just swerve round you.
5) The space you want to fit through does not have to be big enough for your vehicle. If you keep going and keep honking, you will fit through. Somehow.
6) The only thing that has a higher priority than your own vehicle is a cow.
So it's all fun and games here really. I'm off to have a wander round now, will probably update again on Thursday in Kathmandu.
Monday 9 March 2009
Bye Bye!
Today is departure day! Everything is pretty much packed and I am about to enjoy my last warm power shower for quite some time...I have really appreciated all the good luck messages, and sponsorship now stands at £630.00. The next update will be from New Delhi, so watch this space.
Monday 2 March 2009
Fundraising update- 1 week to go
So, my latest adventure begins in 1 week today. I am first off to India for a fleeting visit, then on to Nepal for the mighty Everest Base Camp trek. Over the past few months I have been raising money for Children's Hospices UK through sponsorship for my trek. So far I have raised £547.00, all of which has gone directly to the charity. I want to say a massive thank you to everyone who has sponsored me so far, and I have the following message from my contact at Children's Hospices UK:
"I hope you have an amazing time and I look forward to hearing all about it when you get back. Your fundraising is doing brilliantly - I notice that you have smashed through your target on your justgiving page - fantastic. Please pass on our thanks to all those lovely people who have supported you."
They really do appreciate the support so please feel free to visit my page at www.justgiving.com/suzyrilley and keep sponsoring. The page will remain active until 14th June 2009.
"I hope you have an amazing time and I look forward to hearing all about it when you get back. Your fundraising is doing brilliantly - I notice that you have smashed through your target on your justgiving page - fantastic. Please pass on our thanks to all those lovely people who have supported you."
They really do appreciate the support so please feel free to visit my page at www.justgiving.com/suzyrilley and keep sponsoring. The page will remain active until 14th June 2009.
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