Blossom Hotel Shimla

... of the region.

The drainage systems of Himachal Pradesh are Sutlej, Ravi, Chenab, Beas and Yamuna. This Hill Station experience three seasons hot weather season, cold weather season and rainy season. It is considered as a fruit bowl of the country. Himachal Pradesh is a well known habitat to a variety of animals. There are around 1200 bird and 359 animal species in the state. Himachal Pradesh is divided into 12 districts ...

... papers were signed to end British rule, and split India and Pakistan. As we left we saw something even more jarring on a building that looked like it should be in Scotland - a monkey walking across the ramparts of the lodge.

On the subject of monkeys., Shimla has a lot of monkeys, a lot of very confident monkeys. Its main temple is dedicated to the monkey god, so they have the run of the place. We hired sticks to ward off monkeys - they can ...

Headed out of Delhi on the fast train to Kalka - in class AC Seater 2nd (Indian railways have numerous, complicated classes). Neatly uniformed staff bringing a seemingly endless number of things a newspaper, bottles of water, tea (naturally), food. All very comfortable and efficient, whizzing across the plains of Northern India. You do however see some horrible shanty towns clustered by ...

... clearly visible peaks, green forest all around, fantastic walks, nice long pedestrian only roads.

First Shimla was used as a sanatorium by the British who could not cope with the hot weather of Calcutta. Gradually houses were built and then the capital was shift to Shimla in summers as most officers were already there on holiday or ‘sick leave’. The town was hugged by thick oak forest and pine ...

I pulled out of the house as the throbbing sound of the bike echoed against the buildings, accentuating the noise, I could feel going through my whole body, call my a child but I found it irresistible not to give it some throttle making it even louder, I cruised off down the road heading North. I made an early start to try and avoid the heat and traffic, I avoided the heat but the ...

... Just about to find a mobile for Ed; in the mean time Rick can be texted on 0091 9717 201 301. Our numbers will change in 2-3 weeks when we leave Himachal for Kashmir. No idea when we'll next have internet, but we plan to head off tomorrow or the day after. From there three weeks through Spiti and Kinnaur should take us to the Manali-Leh highway.

... tea is delicious and me because I can't get enough of the food. It all tasted much lighter and tastier than in the restaurants at home. So much for fearing losing weight. I'm in ghee heaven. The disparity between poor and rich is as expected and not easy to come to terms with. I thought I'd seen a lot but the poverty here is up a level again. Delhi was pretty atrocious. Driving at night, there are thousands and thousands asleep on the road, at the side of roads and from ...

... form to go in with a camera. I was sent to the second floor and into the Office of Protocol where I watched 6 blokes drink tea amidst a load of files tied together with string. No one seemed to be doing a great deal until eventually someone started on my form. This involved putting details from my passport into a computer, printing out a piece of paper, screwing it up, throwing it in the bin and starting again. This is what I'd been looking for in India ...

... of the teachers; they seem to be under the impression I have some artistic talent - they will soon be proved horribly wrong!! I have an official farewell ceremony or something tomorrow with all the important head people - am a bit scared! Some of them I havent even met yet, bit of a joke! But anyway I better dash, its nearly dinner time haha! Ooh I guess this is my last blog from India eek! Love to you all, wish me luck for Saturday! Til next time, Han/Moses xxxx :oP

... inadequate flip-flops, still there was no end in sight to the interminable valley roads, and every vehicle that rattled past ignored my outstretched thumb. At last a lorry being driven by two young boys stopped and picked me up for a lift, although a landslide about a kilometre down the road meant that they were unable to go any further, and again I was forced to walk back home. If it wasn't for a taxi that eventually picked me up, I might still be there now.