Hello everyone!
We arrived safely in Delhi early on Tuesday morning! A taxi picked us up and took us to our hostel in Delhi, which we got to at around half past our in the morning in the pouring rain! One of my first impressions was quite how terrible the driving on the streets of India is, but I've got used to it after a few days!
Day 1 (Tuesday 20th) - Delhi
We had a lie in after our late arrival, and spent a bit of time just exploring the area where our hostel was located on foot. The roads were very muddy and bustling with people, cyclists, rickshaw drivers, taxis, cows and dogs! I bought a phone and signed on to the Indian phone network (so if anyone wants to text me, I can now be contacted on 00919560645249). We had booked an overnight train to Amritsar at 8.15pm, so later on in the afternoon we walked to Connaught Place in New Delhi and sat in the gardens there for a while, before getting the metro back to our hostel.
Day 2 (Wednesday 21st) - Amritsar
After a terrible night of sleep on an overnight train, we arrived into Amritsar at around 9.30am. We caught a taxi into town and found a hotel to stay in, and then went to the Sikh Golden Temple where we had lunch sitting cross-legged in their great dining hall. The weather was horrendous and we got completely drenched as we walked around the gigantic holy bathing pool and visited the Golden Temple itself, at the heart of the complex, where Sikh priests read from the Sikh holy book and sing prayers 24/7.
By this point the weather had started to clear up, and we took a taxi the hour ride to the India-Pakistani border at Wagah. The border ceremony itself was really cool, with lots of shouting, dancing, flag waving and weird marching. The flags were lowered at the sun set over the stadium, to tumultuous cheering on both sides.
Day 3 (Thursday 22nd) - McLeod Ganj
We spent a substational part of Thursday traveling from Amritsar to McLeod Ganj, a town in the foothills of the Himalayas, first by train then by a (rather cramped!) taxi. Hannah, Cat and Issy left us early that morning to travel to Shimla.
We arrived in McLeod Ganj just as the weather was starting to improve, and enjoyed a short walk up to a waterfall just outside the town, with amazing views. The town is the base of many Tibetan refugees, so there are lots of Buddhist monks wandering the streets in their maroon robes and umbrellas, and the streets and surrounding countryside are decorated with hundreds of little bunting flags.
In the evening, we went to a concert of hypnotic Indian classical music performed on sitar and tabla drums, and had a taste of Tibetan cuisine in a little rooftop restaurant. The weather was a lot cooler than in Delhi but it was still warm enough to sit out.
Day 4 (Friday 23rd) - McLeod Ganj
This morning, we visited the complex where the Dalai Lama runs the Tibetan Government in Exile, and the main temple of the Buddhist monks based here. We also went around a museum exhibiting photos, cuttings, and artefacts telling the story of Tibetan exile and asylum in India.
I'm writing this from a small internet cafe in McLeod Ganj (it's around 3.30pm local time), and we're hoping to take another short hike in the surrounding mountains this afternoon. After that, we're heading on the overnight bus to Manali, where we'll probably be starting our trek from, so my next entry will probably be after that!
Hope all is well back in the UK!
View of Barcelona from Montjuïc Castle
Friday, 23 July 2010
Friday, 16 July 2010
India Preparations
The main reason I set up this blog was to record my travels in northern India over the next month with Elgon, Ralph, Callum, Hannah, Bronwen, Catrin and Isabel.
On Sunday morning I'm travelling up to London to stay overnight at Hannah's before heading off to Heathrow on Monday morning. The flight departs at around midday on Monday 19th July and arrives into Delhi just before 2am local time on Tuesday 20th. The plan is then to head straight to Amritsar for a few nights to take in the Golden Temple and India/Pakistan border ceremony. Elgon, Ralph, Callum, Bronwen and myself then hope to go trekking for 4 or 5 days in the Indian Himalaya in Himachal Pradesh. After that, Callum and I plan to join Hannah, Cat and Issy to tour round Rajasthan, hopefully visiting the desert fort at Jaisalmer and doing a bit of camel trekking, followed by the lakeside city of Udaipur, and then the 'Pink City' of Jaipur. We shall then head to Agra, of Taj Mahal fame, and hopefully the great Hindu pilgrimage city of Varanasi on the banks of the Ganges, before returning to Delhi. We fly back on Tuesday 17th August.
I've now managed to accumulate all the bits and pieces of kit I need for the trip, which are awaiting packing into my backpack - tomorrow's job! I'm starting to feel excited, and a little nervous about the culture shock, particularly the poverty, weather, food, haggling, noise, and general hustle and bustle of life in India which is so different to western Europe.
I plan to keep a record of my trip by regular updates to this blog over the course of the four weeks (hopefully with photos, though these may have to wait until I return!), so check back every so often to track our progress! I'd love to hear from people whilst I'm out there, so if you want to get in touch with me, leave a comment or email me (martin.r.g.taylor@gmail.com)!
On Sunday morning I'm travelling up to London to stay overnight at Hannah's before heading off to Heathrow on Monday morning. The flight departs at around midday on Monday 19th July and arrives into Delhi just before 2am local time on Tuesday 20th. The plan is then to head straight to Amritsar for a few nights to take in the Golden Temple and India/Pakistan border ceremony. Elgon, Ralph, Callum, Bronwen and myself then hope to go trekking for 4 or 5 days in the Indian Himalaya in Himachal Pradesh. After that, Callum and I plan to join Hannah, Cat and Issy to tour round Rajasthan, hopefully visiting the desert fort at Jaisalmer and doing a bit of camel trekking, followed by the lakeside city of Udaipur, and then the 'Pink City' of Jaipur. We shall then head to Agra, of Taj Mahal fame, and hopefully the great Hindu pilgrimage city of Varanasi on the banks of the Ganges, before returning to Delhi. We fly back on Tuesday 17th August.
I've now managed to accumulate all the bits and pieces of kit I need for the trip, which are awaiting packing into my backpack - tomorrow's job! I'm starting to feel excited, and a little nervous about the culture shock, particularly the poverty, weather, food, haggling, noise, and general hustle and bustle of life in India which is so different to western Europe.
I plan to keep a record of my trip by regular updates to this blog over the course of the four weeks (hopefully with photos, though these may have to wait until I return!), so check back every so often to track our progress! I'd love to hear from people whilst I'm out there, so if you want to get in touch with me, leave a comment or email me (martin.r.g.taylor@gmail.com)!
Barcelona (1st to 3rd June 2010)
As a post-finals treat, seven of us (Meer, Michael, Rhianna, Scott, Hannah, Luke and myself) enjoyed a short but fun-filled break in Barcelona.
Day 1
We caught a train at quarter to five in the morning(!) on Tuesday 1st June and flew into Girona airport, where we took a coach into Barcelona. We checked into our hostel in the Plaça Reial, just off La Rambla around midday, and enjoyed a delicious lunch of paella outside in the square.
Wasting no time, we ascended Montjuïc by the funicular railway and then on foot, taking in the stunning views of the city (see panorama at the top of this blog).
We took the cross harbour cable car down from Montjuïc and meandered our way back to the Barri Gòtic, where we paid a short visit to the Gothic cathedral. In the evening, we had cocktails in a small bar and ate in a restaurant near our hostel.
Day 2
We took the metro to the other side of the city on Wednesday morning, and climbed up to Gaudi's beautiful Parc Güell.
We then headed back into the city centre, via Casa Milà, to the great, unfinished, Sagrada Família church where we climbed one of the towers.
After a quick ice cream stop, our next port of call was Casa Batlló. We then wandered back into the Barri Gòtic and had drinks in a cafe on the Avinguda de la Catedral whilst writing our postcards.
That evening, we donned our gladrags and had drinks at a number of Barcelona's trendy bars, nestled in the alleyways of the old city.
Day 3
On Thursday morning, we first visited the Mercado de San José, a short walk from our hostel along La Rambla. We then spent the rest of the day at the beach.
We had a late tapas lunch in a restaurant near the beach, and had time for a flying visit to the Arc de Triomf, before catching the bus back to Girona airport for our flight home. We arrived back in Cambridge at 2am, tired but having had a fantastic three days!
Day 1
We caught a train at quarter to five in the morning(!) on Tuesday 1st June and flew into Girona airport, where we took a coach into Barcelona. We checked into our hostel in the Plaça Reial, just off La Rambla around midday, and enjoyed a delicious lunch of paella outside in the square.
Wasting no time, we ascended Montjuïc by the funicular railway and then on foot, taking in the stunning views of the city (see panorama at the top of this blog).
We took the cross harbour cable car down from Montjuïc and meandered our way back to the Barri Gòtic, where we paid a short visit to the Gothic cathedral. In the evening, we had cocktails in a small bar and ate in a restaurant near our hostel.
Day 2
We took the metro to the other side of the city on Wednesday morning, and climbed up to Gaudi's beautiful Parc Güell.
We then headed back into the city centre, via Casa Milà, to the great, unfinished, Sagrada Família church where we climbed one of the towers.
After a quick ice cream stop, our next port of call was Casa Batlló. We then wandered back into the Barri Gòtic and had drinks in a cafe on the Avinguda de la Catedral whilst writing our postcards.
That evening, we donned our gladrags and had drinks at a number of Barcelona's trendy bars, nestled in the alleyways of the old city.
Day 3
On Thursday morning, we first visited the Mercado de San José, a short walk from our hostel along La Rambla. We then spent the rest of the day at the beach.
We had a late tapas lunch in a restaurant near the beach, and had time for a flying visit to the Arc de Triomf, before catching the bus back to Girona airport for our flight home. We arrived back in Cambridge at 2am, tired but having had a fantastic three days!
Monday, 12 July 2010
Andalucía (21st to 29th September 2009)
Ralph, Michael, Callum and myself decided to visit southern Spain in September 2009. We flew from Stansted to Málaga on Monday 21st September, where we spent 2 nights, followed by 2 nights in Jerez de la Frontera, 2 nights in Cádiz, and 2 nights in Seville.
Málaga
We arrived quite late in the evening of Monday 21st September and, after a bit of a hike from the train station, checked into our hostel, nestled in a side street off the Plaza de la Merced. We spent Tuesday in Málaga, visiting the Roman amphitheatre, Moorish Alcazaba and Gibralfaro, the Museo Picasso, and the harbour, before having dinner in a restaurant overlooked by the huge Renaissance cathedral.
Jerez de la Frontera
The next morning we took a train to Jerez de la Frontera (of sherry fame). We went on a tour of the Tío Pepe sherry bodega (including road train ride!), where we observed the sherry cellars, containing barrels signed by celebrities past and present, and sampled various sweet and fino sherries (plus some grape brandy for good measure!).
We spent the first part of Thursday exploring Jerez's fine Alcazar, which included a fascinating olive press, mosque, and traditional Moorish gardens.
In the afternoon, we caught a bus to the hill town of Arcos de la Frontera, where we wandered around the winding streets of the old town, whose white buildings perched precipitously on the cliff overlooking the Andalucían plains below.
Cádiz
A short train ride on Thursday morning brought us into the harbour town of Cádiz, best known as the place where the Armada sailed from to battle Drake's fleet in the late 16th century. We found a small pension to stay at in the old town, and then caught a bus to Conil de la Frontera on the Costa de la Luz, where we spent the afternoon on the beach. We returned to Cádiz for dinner in a square in the old town.
Thunderstorms throughout Saturday scuppered our plan to take a boat trip across the harbour to El Puerto de Santa Maria. Instead, we wandered round Cádiz, spending the morning in a museum, and then walking along the great sea battlements.
Seville
On Sunday morning we caught a train to Seville. We spent the afternoon visiting the great Alcázar, enjoying the stunning, intricate Moorish architecture and peaceful, sprawling gardens, including an amazing musical fountain which burst into life every hour (see video)!
In the evening, we enjoyed a traditional Andalucían supper of tapas, before going on to a packed flamenco bar (see video) tucked away in a side street of the old city.
On Monday we first took a stroll through the old city down to the bank of the river Guadalquivir. We went on a tour of the city bullring, before walking back into the city centre past the Torre del Oro.
In the afternoon, we visited the gigantic Gothic cathedral, and climbed the Giralda, a Moorish minaret turned bell-tower following the Reconquista, where we were rewarded with fantastic views over Seville.
We then wandered out of the city centre, through the university, to the grand Plaza de España. We had tapas and sherry for our final dinner in Spain, and flew back to Stansted early on Tuesday morning.
Málaga
We arrived quite late in the evening of Monday 21st September and, after a bit of a hike from the train station, checked into our hostel, nestled in a side street off the Plaza de la Merced. We spent Tuesday in Málaga, visiting the Roman amphitheatre, Moorish Alcazaba and Gibralfaro, the Museo Picasso, and the harbour, before having dinner in a restaurant overlooked by the huge Renaissance cathedral.
Jerez de la Frontera
The next morning we took a train to Jerez de la Frontera (of sherry fame). We went on a tour of the Tío Pepe sherry bodega (including road train ride!), where we observed the sherry cellars, containing barrels signed by celebrities past and present, and sampled various sweet and fino sherries (plus some grape brandy for good measure!).
We spent the first part of Thursday exploring Jerez's fine Alcazar, which included a fascinating olive press, mosque, and traditional Moorish gardens.
In the afternoon, we caught a bus to the hill town of Arcos de la Frontera, where we wandered around the winding streets of the old town, whose white buildings perched precipitously on the cliff overlooking the Andalucían plains below.
Cádiz
A short train ride on Thursday morning brought us into the harbour town of Cádiz, best known as the place where the Armada sailed from to battle Drake's fleet in the late 16th century. We found a small pension to stay at in the old town, and then caught a bus to Conil de la Frontera on the Costa de la Luz, where we spent the afternoon on the beach. We returned to Cádiz for dinner in a square in the old town.
Thunderstorms throughout Saturday scuppered our plan to take a boat trip across the harbour to El Puerto de Santa Maria. Instead, we wandered round Cádiz, spending the morning in a museum, and then walking along the great sea battlements.
Seville
On Sunday morning we caught a train to Seville. We spent the afternoon visiting the great Alcázar, enjoying the stunning, intricate Moorish architecture and peaceful, sprawling gardens, including an amazing musical fountain which burst into life every hour (see video)!
In the evening, we enjoyed a traditional Andalucían supper of tapas, before going on to a packed flamenco bar (see video) tucked away in a side street of the old city.
On Monday we first took a stroll through the old city down to the bank of the river Guadalquivir. We went on a tour of the city bullring, before walking back into the city centre past the Torre del Oro.
In the afternoon, we visited the gigantic Gothic cathedral, and climbed the Giralda, a Moorish minaret turned bell-tower following the Reconquista, where we were rewarded with fantastic views over Seville.
We then wandered out of the city centre, through the university, to the grand Plaza de España. We had tapas and sherry for our final dinner in Spain, and flew back to Stansted early on Tuesday morning.
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