Snap Unhappy

I know, I know, I haven't updated this since India but I think my photos do enough justice.

Unfortunately on the last day of our trip to Fraser Island my camera broke and now I have an unrepairable, very expensive camera kicking around in the bottom of my bag with countless things to take photos of. I've updated all of my photos onto Facebook but unfortunately there'll be no more pictorial gems from me. We're in Townsville at the moment looking around whilst John dives down to 30 meters to see the SS Yongala, a wreck off the coast of Ayr Beach. The 3 day Whitsundays trip we've just got back from was awesome. Did another dive down to 12m around the waters of Luncheon bay and snorkeled the coral of 4 islands around the Whitsundays. We saw 4 hump back whales, 4 hump back whales!

In 2 days we're Skydiving from 14,000 feet on Mission Beach, cannot wait! Should get a skydiver to take photos of all of us on that, looking forward to some funny faces. After that we're doing a grade 4 whitewater rafting trip and a short cruise around the Great Barrier Reef from Cairns. Then heading up to Cape Tribulation for the wildlife, Port Douglas and back down to Cairns to fly out on 31st July. Not long left of the trip now, Australia has flown by.

Bhang!

Admitedly this blog has been subject to neglect, like a dog at Christmas it's been left in a river but hopefully not for dead. We left Varanassi on the longest train journey yet, 13 hours to Agra, the home of the Taj Mahal. The only fool on the first of April was myself. After putting it off for a while I visited the hospital about problems I was having with my ear, to find out I've perforated my other (left) eardrum, the same problem I had with my right ear years ago. For the time being I was prescribed some tables and informed I'll have to have another operation when I get home, no Biggy Smalls for the time being. The precious stone workshops in Agra are like nothing I've ever seen before. Using the same workmanship and materials as the Taj itself you can spend limitless money on something as small as a chess board. Got a Reading ticket, hope everyone else did. Saw the Taj Mahal at sunrise, apsolutely increadible! Also saw the Agra fort which is vast. Sat through a whole thunder storm from start to soaked through that evening on the top of our hotel, power cuts and everything.

Indulged in a lavish tourist bus to Jaipur which frankly, isn't that interesting a place. The full course of my ear medcinie consists of 3 tablets after breakfast (4 inc. Doxcycline) and 5 after dinner, quite the meal in itself. Visited various standard monuments in our stay including the "Pink City" of Old Jaipur and the astrological Janta Manta. The Amber Fort was the first time we've hired a guide which paid off considering the grounds are so expansive, some of the best views yet. Had a run in with a monkey. We left Jaipur via another Tourist bus en route to Jodhpur, finished my first book of many on the journey. The "Cosy" hotel was exactly what we were looking for, your standard bean bag, million flavoured Lassi chill out. Still getting the hang of washing clothes with soap in a sink! Visited the Maharangha fort and took the audio tour, looking like a bunch of planks walking round with matching headphone sets. Learnt the difference between real and fake Saffron which is interesting, never apreciated Crocuses as much before I'd tried the tea. The transition between 7 hour train journey that night and luxury hotel was a smooth one. (up to 09/04/08) To be continued...

Happy Holi

The last few days have been interesting ones. We left Bhopal via our first sleeper train, 3 tiered crammed up sleeping in a toasty cabin, slept holding onto my bag in fear. We arrived in Jalbapur the next morning and went straight to the outskirts. We did our first spot of swimming in a gorge nearby in which the rocks were named after Bollywood films. The Easter festival is called 'Holi' in India. All I managed to obtain was that it's about a girl being burnt and hence paint must be thrown over everyone and everything. We then travelled to Kanha national park via public bus. Midway through the journey we stopped off and got out for a drink. We returned to the bus covered from head to toe in paint by the locals and having recieved many warm embraces! In Kanha I went on my first ever safari and, success, saw a tiger. The illness started that day, John and Rog fell victim to travellers diarrhea. We had to go back to Jalbapur to then travel onto Khajuraho, easily the most touristy place we've been yet. The temples in Khajuraho are both very expensive and very pornographic. Furthermore, everyone in the whole city is trying to sell you something or sell you something of someone elses. The next day proved to be one of my most horrible experiences. I had very bad double-ended travellers sickness for a full day! I've recovered now but I'm not keen on getting ill again. We're now in Varanassi which is a maze of a city, very vast in comparrison to everywhere we've been so far. We took a tour up the Gangees yesterday and saw several floating bodies, bones and burning. It's been quite the deathly experience saw far, I've seen everything from car accidents to amputees. Hope you enjoyed the snow!

Hola!

I'm sitting in a dingy internet cafe in Bhopal, this internet is costing me 24p an hour. The journey here was nice enough, Virgin treated us well despite being patronised for ordering a beersie. We arrived in the bustling city of Mumbai, massive culture shock! The smell is overwhelming and there are no road rules, the fastest and biggest car is king. We stayed in Mumbai for for 2 nights. We got the offer at the hostel to "star" in a Bollywood film as extras which we took up, resulting in a long day of walking with attitude for a fashion advert. We then travelled for 24 hours straight via public bus and sleeper coach to Mandu via Indor. Mandu was the complete opposite of Mumbai, very tranquil and full of ancient ruins. After 2 more nights we moved onto Bhopal where I'm writing this from. As it's the off season everyone is desperate for business. The Indian people are very kind and helpful, it's commonplace over here for 2 men to hold hands as a sign of friendship. I've had several curries which have left me feeling limp, however I fear the worst is still to come. I've forgotten my cable so no photos for you cheeky Sikhy!

Tying ribbons with shovels

So i just had a car crash! The old micra will never be the racing machine that it once was. Wasn't my fault, wonder if that'll hold up in court, the fellow stopped abruptly to let people cross the road in the DARK and the WET, good plan batman. Thanks to everyone who came yesterday, was a spot on send off. Good luck to RUN playing tonight in Luton, most definitely would have liked to be there.

A new page in the book of life, tomorrow.

Woof

Mc's don't know me, I'm the drum n bass obe one kenobi. Oh god! Saw the newest Romero film Diary of the Dead today. Was suitably gorey but no Saw 4. Not having to be biten to come back as a zombie was a strange angle, never going to beat a full autopsy. Also, went to London, got the Bleeker shorts to complete the outfit for Reading and some dick head glasses. Doing a lot to take my mind off the fact it's this Saturday, going to South End tomorrow for some chips, arcade and and sand. I wonder if anyone reads this, yet? Wishful thinking!

Video of the day:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=sGob8hKF6f8

Chopper!

Particularly proud of my waresworld banner, at least one hour of boredom today. Not working's not all it's cracked up to be, weather's too grim to go and skate so looks like I'm making like a vegetable infront of the PC. Obviously I haven't left yet, anticipating this Saturday, leaving from Heathrow I think in the PM. Last night was a messy one, the Mexicans made tequila to be slammed with sugar, surely?

Skated bay66 yesterday, I think I prefered the old lay out to tell you the truth. Unfortunately my progress toward miniramp wizardry will be severely stunted not being able to skate for 5 months, really not looking forward to that.

Working solid for 6 months has taught me a few things, most of all to make something of your life rather than being a tool of a company, maybe making people tools of your company! Definitely important to do something you actually care about. With regards to my university troubles, I feel like Manchester is a girl that I've met that I want to play it cool with but deep down am desperate to stick one in and she's given me the chilly shoulder, if you get my drift. Travel is scary.

Tune of the day: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWC5xZVOWFI