Evergreen Guest House Bharatpur

... converted from an old palace and sat down to a very simple lunch (dhal, rice, chapatis). We had a short break to settle into our rooms before we left again, taking camel-driven carts into town, to end up at the Majarajah's Palace in Karauli, someplace not often visited on the tourist track. Another big fort; it was pretty impressive. Also of note were the children that followed the carts through the town ...

... our leftover chapatis from lunch to a calf that came to the door! Walking through the market was definitely an experience; we got to see all the different things being sold and the activities and the people. We walked along the side of the road too for a while to get to where our bus was parked. I felt like it gave the people of the land their opportunity to stare at us in return! It is very dry and of course dirty; I got my first ...

... The female doesn't actually choose the male as such; instead she chooses the 'best' nest and gets the male that built it by default. The nests are really intricate and you can see (i hope) there is a long hollow tube at the base of the nestas it hangs. This is the entrance. Inside the nest itself there is 2 seperate chambers, one for the male and one for the female. Very civilised! To top it all off this luxurious nest also comes with ...

Today we left our beautiful hotel to travel back to Delhi to catch an 8pm flight. Before we sent to Delhi, we stopped at a walled city/fort named Fatehpur Sikri which was built by the Mogals also. It took about 1 hour to reach the fort and along he way we saw people pilgrimage for a Hindu Festival next week. We were told that they can walk up to 200 Km's to get to the temple. Now that is some dedication. Along the side of the road you see people resting, drinking water and ...

... on hearing a British bloke say to his mate, "it's a really kind of peaceful chamber isn't it?" suddenly the crowds and chatter melted away and we could see the space as it was intended. In an attempt to keep the area clean, the authorities ban all food on the site, not ideal for a three year old who had been woken early and hasn't had a sugar hit yet. Fortunately a very nice Indian guide took pity on us, and specifically Cameron - who was crying face down on the marble - by offering him ...

... in that evening. The hotel is gorgeous, the rooms surround a small court yard with a fountain (not on to conserve water) and Chandra tells us this was a old Royal Fort. We go for a walk around the village about 5pm and i am supprised about how clean and unsmelly the village is. Delhi was very dirty and smelly so it is nice to be in the countryside. We have dinner at the hotel ...

... great spiritual traditions share common goals and values, he encourages everyone to follow their chosen religious or spiritual path while honouring the path of others. Reflexiones: Cada quien para su propio santo? Hace años que la idea de que las reglas/mandamientos/leyes inicialmente inculcados por las grandes religiones son realmente valores universales me ha dado vueltas en la cabeza. Veamos: cuidar de los otros como se cuida de uno mismo, no matar, no robar ...

... deutsch sprechenden Araber am Flughafen begrueszt, der mich mit allen Informationen und einem Taxi versorgt, ich muss nichts machen auszer brav folgen. Die Informationsbroschuere des Hotels warnt mich eindringlich mich , dass die Badflieszen rutschig sein koennten, wenn sie nass sind. Und das eine Woche nachdem ich mich auf einem Busdach in Nepal an den Stangen festklammern musste. Das Hotel ist nobel, das Essen hervorragend und Vielfaeltig, alles wird ...

... mi grida giustamente: "Massimo, ma dài! Ormai siamo arrivati, non gli dare retta, vieni, andiamo!" Pieno di ammirazione per la mia amata, e con un sentimento di vergogna verso me stesso, ho fatto cenno al carretto, che è partito con una certa riluttanza senza di noi. Ma come, mi dicevo, presa una decisione, intrapresa una strada, dopo aver sudato, cedo alla fine quando davvero non serve più prendere un mezzo di trasporto a pagamento? Proprio a pochi metri dall'arrivo ...

We took the train to Bird Sanctuary. We got a moto to take us to a guesthouse near the Bird Sanctuary which had been recommended to us by some other travellers. We arranged with the owner for him to take us on a tour of the bird park next morning. We walked a couple of kilometres back into town where there was an internet café which had a very fast connection. We got up at 5am ...