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...
