Bangkok, Thailand

Well I feel like I just arrived back in civilisation (sorry India) but Bangkok is definately not third world and is a welcome change. Hot showers, clean city, non masala food all good. I tried a Thai massage yesterday for only $7 AUS dollars for an hour a massive $53 saving on prices at home and better too - you don't even have to get naked.

Haven't done much sightseeing as need a break but in saying that went to Ayyutaya yesterday the old capitol of Siam which was interesting and good to see where one of my favourite Thai films was created Suriyothai.

Had fun trying to find a swimsuit after mine dissapeared somewhere in India as I am not much for the skimpy string bikini I had only one option to try the massive department store called Tokyu in MBK which to get a size to fit my melons I had to get 3XL which I have to say still wasn't big enough but the biggest they had. I feel sorry for anyone bigger than me they would have to go for the t-shirt and short option.

Any off now to sit by the pool and try and start working on my tan.

Jaipur, Bharatpur, Agra and Delhi

Wahoooo finally seen the Taj Mahal and it was everything I hoped so perfect and beautiful and when I die someone please make one for me - oh just kidding but along with the red fort Agra is a really great place to visit. Must say am glad that my india section is over though as am feeling a little tired. below is my list of loves and hates:
Loves:
Taj Mahal
Havelis
Islamic Architecture
Smiles and Hellos and Waves
Feeling like a celebrity
Miniature Paintings
Timelessness
Ladies unbelievable balancing acts with heavy loads on their heads
Hindi god pics
Limca soft drink
Naan bread
Lime Sodas
Bright coloured Saris
Indian dancers
View from top of Mount Abu
Constant Contrasts
Embroidered cloths and silks
Painted elephants and camels
Humourous monkeys
Happy village people
Sunsets and sunrises
mirror mosaics

Hates:
dust dust and more dust
stray dogs and cows
red beetle gum teeth
spitting
pissing everywhere
sewage smell
cold showers
public bus rides
too many men everywhere
rubbish
flys and mossies
sales touts
bartering
bare feet on dirty temple floors
horns

Bhenswara, Mt Abu and Udaipur

Well I am at day 15 in India and still alive. Got dehli belly but only lasted 24 hours (better than the boys who both took over 5 days to recover). Its a very interesting place when you leave the desert and see the contrasts of lakes and mountains. I have even done a bit of rock climbing and hiked to the top of one of the mountains in the Mount Abu range. This is also a great place to have fun with art as I have had my face plastered with all kinds of bindis, my neck graced with all assortment of flower and fabric necklaces, my nails with miniature paintings and my arms with henna. I also did a miniature painting art class which was great fun but you really realise how amazingly skilled they are.

Missing female interaction as you can't converse with ladies over the age of 7 here. so all you see everywhere are men men and more men.

tomorrow I am going to a cooking class which should be fun and along with the one in Thailand should add to my growing repertoire of cooking skills.

Anyway hope you are all well.

Jaisalmer, and Jodphur

Well more fun has been had in crazy India. Have seen enough bulls and dogs to last e a lifetime. and as for feeling dirty well I now know what that means. Had myself on top of a camel for two days (express track yoga I call it for Hip flexing) or otherwise known as the most horrid butt pain. The camel and I couldn't decide who looked best with all the flys on them so kept swapping. No more will I ever complain about road works or overcrowded public transport.

Oh and I even did a spot of work whilst away for a fellow kiwi who was running the haveli we were staying in. Made her a 6pp dl roll fold brochure in 4 hours a little under my best time but was using touch pad not mouse.

Anyway no photos until 2020 from India when they reach our current technology state.

Dehli, Mandawa, Shekhawati, Bikaner

Well India is very different to home. The airport took 1 hour to get the bags to us then a man tried to steal mine only to have me chase him (and I had half the army behind me as I had been chatting to them while we waited as they had all been in hong kong vacationing on a golf trip) so needless to say with an armys help I got my bag back. then the hotel tried to scam me out of money by saying I had given them a 100 ruppee note not a 500 but screamed and got out of that one too.

So am on tour now and it is really starting to get good as was a little slow at first. Dehli is an experience as it attacks every sense. One hour feels like 2 so by 4pm it feels like bedtime. So many stray dogs and homeless its a bit sad but don't have enough money for all of them.

We then had our first public bus experience which was 9 hours of 200 people crammed onto a 72 seater bus. Kids sitting on you. numb bums. pushing. Screaming. Smoke and dust in your eyes, heat stroke and so on. Very hard to describe unless you have been through it. but we had the cutest room once we arrived in a haveli or painted house that used to be owned by the rich merchants on the silk road.

Am totally in love with islamic architecture now it really is very pretty and romantic. Starting to get my shivas clear from my ganeshs and krishnas. Loving the food and even though I am eating heaps seem to be losing weight.

the dust is a pain though it gets all over everything so will need to bath everything once I get to thailand.

what have I missed out well so much as this place has so much to see and talk about its impossible to write in a summary but am having a great time with 11 great fellow travellors of which along with another guy I am the youngest.

Even thought this is called the second silicon valley internet is scarce and no wireless so hope you can see some pics soon as I have some good ones.