Little Nicky goes to India

What more can I say? Bangalore is crap, I definately wasn't sad to leave this place, and never go back again.

We arrived on the overnight train from Varkala on the 27th and headed to our expensive (but cheap for Bangalore standards) but shitty hotel - Hotel Ajantha. We decided not to do much sightseeing here as the majority of sights are from the British Raj and therefore very un-Indian. So instead we decided to go shopping, and at least this is good in Bangalore, having markets and desinger shops on the same streets. I bought some crazy cheap Wranglers ($40) from a posh department store and a Lee jacket ($7.50!!!) from a seconds shop - Stoked. Somehow we got invited into an outdoor bar for a drink, and sat with this crazy drunk old guy - he was funny as and we were enjoying ourselfs until these 2 youngs guys who spoke little english came to sit with us. Before we knew it there was an argument going on, and the owner asked us to leave (I was annoyed at the time, but later realised it was for our own good). One of the stupid youngs guys followed us down the stairs and when he had an opportunity just outright grabbed my boob! I was shocked and totally laid into him - swearing and yelling, pushing him and hitting him with my bag. Crazy.

After that we decided to do something nice, so we went to the opening night of an Indian dance performance at the town hall, which cheered me up alot. Then after a late dinner caught a rickshaw back to our hotel. Here's where the fun begins. As it's wedding season in India we drove past a few celebrations and when we got to a really elabortately decorated hall our driver asked if we'd like to get out to take photos. Next thing you know we have been invited in to meet the bride and groom, and then to sit and have dinner with the guests. This wedding was soo amazing, and I was totally buzzing to be there. One of the coolest things I've done in India!! And of course thats when it turns to shit. All the time our rickshaw driver was hanging around, taking photos and chatting to us (he told us he knew some guest at the wedding), then all of a sudden he is gone - with my stuff. Looking back it was obviously a scam and I seriously feel like an idiot falling for it, seeing as I have been so cautious up till then, but this night my head was in a fantasy world - Gutted! Such a perfect evening ruined - and the second person to reduce my faith in Indians, which is so sad as the majority (the ones who dont want your money or to hit on you) are so genuinely nice. Either way I have resolved to put it behind me and move on.

The next day was spent at the police station making a stolen item report, a quick look around the markets and chilling in Cubbon park in the afternoon before catching the train the hell outta there

Thank God

P.S: No good photos from Bangalore untill I can get copies of Danielles

xoxoxo

Varkala in Kerala is a beautiful quiet clifftop town pretty much catering just to tourists. Shops, restaurants and hotels titter on the edge of the cliff which leads down to the beach. While I've absolutely loved India, this is the first time I've felt in proper holiday mode. It's a perfect little tropical beach getaway. Needless to say, I have very little to write about our going=on's from the last 3 days. It pretty much consisted of getting up, shopping, lunch, beach, sunbath, swim, sunbath, shower, dinner, drinks, sleep. repeat that times 3 and that's pretty much it. Throw a massage in there too!

We did go one night to a traditional Keralan dance drama called Kathakali. It was in a small room practically like someones car shed and was performed by a total of 2 actors, 2 musicians and a story teller. The costumes and make up was amazing and the show was hilarious. I also managed (as lazy as i have been) to get myself to a yoga class.

That's all Folks
xoxox

So far Kerala has been amazing. It is so lush and green (but very very humid) with beautiful palm trees and backwater canals everywhere. We arrived into Kochi and found a place to stay in Fort Cochin - Old Adam's Inn which nice spacious clean rooms in a great location). It was late by this time so we just had dinner then crashed out.

The next day we took a full day backwater tour. It started early with a bit of a drive to a small village where we boarded a canoe and spent a couple hours slowly paddling through the canals. We made a few stops at villages to see the local trades such as making coconut oil, making ropes, growing spices etc. When it was time for lunch we boarded a cool wooden houseboat and went over to a little island where we were served a wonderful lunch on a banana leaf, very cool!. After this we got back on the boat and did a trip up the main backwaters. It was lovely but after 3 hours of this it was getting a little tedious and I even fell asleep (i seem to be getting good at falling asleep all over the place these days). Overall it was really enjoyable, just a bit long, and as its tropical down here it pretty much rained the whole time.

Fortunately, the next day was beautiful blue skies so we just spent the day looking around Fort Cochin. WE walked along the coast where there are these amazing old Chinese fishing nets that are still used today and are all worked by hand. We then had a rickshaw take us around to a few sites, all of which happened to be closed, but it was cool anyway as he let Danielle have a go driving his rickshaw down the quiet streets!! There's a massive Christian population down here, and its so weird to see churches, Jesus' and Virgin Mary's all over the place. And they eat beef here even!

After a late lunch we jumped on the train heading down to Varkala, and we are very excited about spending 3 days on the beach just chilling!

xoxoox

And no, I didn't get sick, just liked Delhi Belly as a title!! Surprisingly I've been sweet. gotta love having a strong stomach!

Now I can see why everyone hates Delhi - its big, sprawling, dirty, many urinals on the side and if there is no urinal, the men go anyway, anywhere - it's gross! but fortunatley We i never got tho this point as I was only there for 2 days. After a long overnight train from Varanasi, we rocked up to our hotel = Hotel Namaskar (pretty average rooms, good location, unfriendly staff) to freshen up then went for a very late breaky. By then it was mid arvo so we decided to just spend the rest of the day shopping and people watching at the Main bazaar in Pahargani and then Chandni Chowk in old Delhi. I've been trying so hard not to buy too much stuff, as then I have to carry it all around in my backpack for the rest of the trip - believe me when I say it's been hard, there is so much cool stuff here.

That night we decided to go see a bollywood flim, so we went to a local theatre to see Goomal 3 - the newest big movie. It was hilarious, and its surprising how much we could actually understand considering it was all in Hindi. They are long movies, and after starting an hour late, we finally got out of there at 1am! The crowd was awesome though, the theatre was only 1/3 full, but the people were all clapping and cheering etc, it was cool.

Thew Next day we took a rickshaw with a driver called 'stranger' he was cool, and told us some awesome stories about how he got his nick name and how he proposed to his fiance - so sweet. First we went to the Bahai house of worship - better known as the Lotus Temple) - a peaceful lotus flower shaped temple which is devoted to all and any religion in the world. It looks a bit like the Sydney opera house in design and is one of 7 of its kind around the world. After that was a stop at Humayun's Tomb, which is a great Taj Mahalesque mausoleum made from white marble and red sandstone. We stopped at the India Gate on the way back for a few snaps.

We found a great little restaurant for dinner where we were the only white people - the only females for that matter and the menu was only in Hindi so we just guessed, it was sweet as! Time to pack our bags. and in the morning we headed out to the Airport to fly south on Spice jet flight SG103 to Kochi - Kerala. Yay, beach time!!!!

xoxox

Varanasi!! WOW this place is so awesome. If you could sum up India in one place, this is definately it. lonely planet describes it as: "Brace yourself. you're about to enter one of the most blindingly colorful, unrelenting chaotic and unapologetically indiscreet places on Earth" So true!!

After arriving at our hotel (after getting lost in the maze that is Varanasi) - Hotel Alka, with small spotless rooms with a deck area with the most amazing view over the Ganges - we went for a long interesting walk through the ghats along the river Ganges. We took a boat ride past the ghats at sunset seeing all parts of Indian life and made an offering by placing a small basket of flowers with a candle into the river. After this we sat and watched the elaborate 'Ganga aarti' ceremony with fire and dance - very cool to see. Before a late dinner at a cool cheap local restaurant we had a look through the intricate bazaar.

Mark and I woke at dawn to go for a walk along the ghats. it was so wonderful and serene with people going about their daily bathing and prayer. Along the Ganges there are several burning ghats - people aspire to die in Varanasi so they can be dunked in the Ganges before being cremated in open air fires. It is really insane to see, somehow doesn't feel real at all. After this it was time to say goodbye to mark as he sets off on the next leg of his trip...

Danielle and I then spent the whole day basically walking around the ghats ans getting lost in the bazaars, Varanasi it totally like a maze, it took me 3 days to finally be able to navigate my way back to the hotel without help. in the evening we went to a restaurant that advertised live classical Indian music - which never turned up until we asked,and then a poor old drummer man came in by himself. sad. Apparently Varanasi has a pretty violent dodgy side at night, and there are s many security guys with massive guns all over making walking home through the bazaars very uneasy 9even though they are there to protect)

on our last day in Varanasi we had a leisurely start to the day with yoga and after we walked along the ghats again. At the main burning ghat we were invited for chai, so sat talking with a group of elderly men, drinking chai, and watching 5 or 6 cremation ceremonies - another only in India moment! we then caught another boat ride. immediately I could tell our driver was out of it - high on who knows what - with beady red eyes rolling back in his head and he could barley speak. so this crazy old man sets off and over the course of an hour falls asleep at the oars at least 10 times, it was seriously hilarious!! but we eventually made it back safely.

The Ganges is a place of extremes. it is considered the most holy place to wash away your sins etc but at the same time it is so dirty, the scum on the surface is totally repulsive.Then it was time to leave, and I am genuinely sad about this, it has definately been my favourite place so far!

xoxox