TravelStream™ news feed for member hils on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/hils en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Wed, 16 Jul 2008 17:36:08 -0400 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/hils/world_travels/1078468560/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/hils/world_travels/1078468560/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/hils/world_travels/1078468560/tpod.html Wed, 16 Jul 2008 17:36:08 -0400 If you don't know where you're going you'll probably end up someplace else.

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Oamaru, New Zealand

Oamaru is a little village half way between Christchurch and Dunedin. I stayed in the Red Kettle Youth Hostel which was very comfortable and friendly. Oamaru is the Penguin capital of New Zealand so I booked on the Penguin Express to go and visit them. Bruce and his bus picked me up outside the hostel at 7.00pm and our first stop was Bushy Beach to see the rare yellow eyed penguins. There are only about 1800 left in existence, so they are an endangered species. At the beach we went to there were about 8-10 pairs. Every morning they swim up to 40m out to see and dive at depths of up to 120m to catch fish. Each penguin has it's own feeding ground where he returns every day. Just before dusk they travel back to the beach and climb up the cliff to their nests. We were very lucky to see 5 penguins return from the sea and one penguin in its nest molting. They were just tiny little dots down on the beach as we had to view from up top so as not to disturb them. Luckily Bruce had a pair of binoculars so we could see them quite well. After the most spectacular sunset I've ever seen we were then taken on a tour of all the old buildings around Oamaru before going to see the blue penguins. These are the smallest penguins in the world. At sunset they gather in little groups, called rafts, at sea and then swim back to land together. We didn't see any returning but we did see 3 cute little baby penguins who were even smaller, they were tiny. They were playing on the beach, charging at each other and jumping on top of one another. It was great fun to watch them. The Penguin Express then returned me to the YHA where I had another night before heading onwards to Dunedin!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/hils/4/1201502520/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/hils/4/1201502520/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/hils/4/1201502520/tpod.html Mon, 28 Jan 2008 00:50:23 -0500 India - Again

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Pushkar, India

I'm enjoying my last few days in India chilling out in Pushkar.  It's a tiny little town on the edge of the desert just south of Delhi.  It's a very religous place - the town is built around a lake where many Indians come to bathe.  It's a very chilled out little town and there are none of the hassles you tend to get in a lot of India.  There's lots of tourists.  I've found a little chai shop in the centre of town, they build a little fire every night and everyone just sits around drinking chai and chatting.  There's people from all over the world hanging out there, some tourists, some foreigners who now live in India and some Indians.  I've got one last overnight bus to Delhi tomorrow night and fly back into the UK on Thursday.  I'm now over the culture shock and have got into the travelling way of life again but I'm definitely ready to come home, maybe not quite prepared for the cold tho. 
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/hils/4/1201251300/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/hils/4/1201251300/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/hils/4/1201251300/tpod.html Fri, 25 Jan 2008 04:05:36 -0500 India - Again

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Udaipur, India

I arrived in Udaipur mid afternoon and found a nice place to stay.  I noticed it's a lot colder here and I had to sleep in my thermals last night.  I went for a wander round the town.  Udaipur is famous for the fact that Octopussy was filmed here.  Most restaurants show it every evening.  It's a beautiful city situated on a lake with a palace on the island on the lake.  I walked across the other side of the lake last night to watch the sunset.  I was accosted by an Indian guy who assured me he didn't want money or anything.  I prefer it when they are after money or they want you to buy something.  When they just want to be your friend I find it very difficult.  He wanted to take me back to his house and when I said no he said he was sad as he wouldn't see me again.  He said he would wait at the other side of the lake for me to return to watch the sunset and when I said I probably wouldn't be back he started to get mad.  Thankfully I was able to just walk away.  I find it very difficult travelling alone here but I guess that's all part of the experience.  This morning I went to wander round the palace that overlooks the lake.  It's the largest palace in Rajasthan and incredibly beautiful.  I spent a few hours just wandering around marvelling at the architecture and beauty of it all.I then enjoyed the most amazing date and walnut cake at one of the local bakeries.  Yum.  I'm off now to see if I can get a massage before I watch Octopussy.Heading up to Pushkar tomorrow and then back to Delhi for my flight home....
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/hils/4/1201250220/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/hils/4/1201250220/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/hils/4/1201250220/tpod.html Fri, 25 Jan 2008 03:54:30 -0500 India - Again

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Ahmedabad, India

We arrived in Ahmedabad early morning and I decided to spend a little bit more money and stay in a nice hotel.  I was still feeling pretty crap and wanted some comfort for a bit.  We had a hot shower and TV so we just chilled out and watched some movies.  Ahmedabad is an incredibly busy, incredibly crowded and incredibly polluted city.  Still not feeling great I found it all a bit too much and was very grateful for the comfort of a nice room.  I managed to eat a little bit of Aloo Gobi and felt a bit better.  After a good night sleep we had to check out of our nice hotel.  Leaving our bags we went to try and find a bookshop.  After walking for miles and miles we decided to jump in a rickshaw.  We were miles in the wrong direction but it was worth it when we got there.  Lots of books and DVDs so we spent a while just wandering round.  We ended up chilling out in a little park, or as chilled as we could be with lots of Indian guys sitting around us staring.  We got some dinner and headed for the bus station where it was sadly time to say goodbye.  Hamish was whisked away in a rickshaw - how they got him and his mahoosive rucksack in the rickshaw while there was already about 10 people in it, I'll never know.  Haimz was headed north back to Delhi and I was headed south to Diu.  I wasn't sorry to be leaving Ahmedabad.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/hils/4/1201077960/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/hils/4/1201077960/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/hils/4/1201077960/tpod.html Fri, 25 Jan 2008 03:52:36 -0500 India - Again

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Diu, India

After a freezing cold overnight bus journey I arrived on the lovely little island of Diu.  It was occupied by the Portugeuse until around 1960 so had a very mediteranean feel to it.  I found a lovely little room and slept for most of the day.  I was by now feeling almost 100% better which was good and I was planning to spend a few days just relaxing and soaking up the sun.I hired a bike and cycled out to a nearby town and out to Sunset point to watch the sunset.  I enjoyed eating again after over a week of eating very little.  On my last day I met an Indian guy called Surag from Ahmedabad who had been living in Auckland for the last 6 years.  He was on holiday in Diu with 4 friends so they decided to befriend me and show me some of the sites.  We enjoyed some lunch and headed out to Nagoa beach.  Diu is in the state of Gujurat which is a dry state.  Diu has different laws and allows alcohol so many Indians come to Diu on holiday, mainly to drink!  Nagoa beach was full of Indian men and couples.  It was fun though.  We had a game of volley ball and I watched while the guys went swimming.  I said farewell to my new friends and enjoyed a yummy mango and coconut milkshake and the fantastic ice cream parlour.  After 4 days I was ready to go again.  Another freezing overnight bus journey and I arrived back in Ahmedabad.  Thankfully I only had to wait an hour before catching another bus to Udaipur.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/hils/4/1200723780/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/hils/4/1200723780/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/hils/4/1200723780/tpod.html Tue, 22 Jan 2008 01:41:52 -0500 India - Again

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Mumbai (Bombay), India

As we sat on the bus, happy with our reclining seats, waiting to depart from Panjim it didn't occur to us that it was strange that there was no one else on the bus and it was in complete darkness.  We were eventually told our bus was cancelled and we had to get on another bus.  We were put at the back of the bus with no reclining seats.  The seats in front reclined and left us with no leg room at all.  Thankfully we ended up having the whole back seat to ourselves and were able to get a half decent sleep.  Woke up as we were coming into Mumbai.  I was desperate for the toilet and still not feeling 100%.  The bus reached it's last stop - at the side of the motorway - we were to find out 35km from the centre of Mumbai.  We decided our best option was to jump on a train.  Thing is, in India trains aren't quite as easy to 'jump on' as they are back home.  We reached the railway station.  There were about 10 platforms and hundreds of people.  Every train that came in was overflowing.  Indian men hanging out of the doorways of every carriage.  They jumped off as the train came to a halt and about 20 more jumped on!  Hamish and I just looked at each other in horror and decided to take a taxi instead!  We got outside the station and were immediately surrounded by about a dozen taxi drivers all wanting to take us to the city.  Then Arun came to our rescue.  He explained that it would take about 3 hours and 300 rupees to go by taxi.  By train it would take 40 minutes and cost 4 rupees.  The thought of jumping on the train didn't fill me with confidence but as we only had a few hours in Mumbai and Arun was willing to help us we thought why not.  Arun kindly bought our tickets and got us to the platform.  I had the choice of going in the ladies carriage - much more ladylike - but meant I had no idea how to find Hamish at the other end.  I decided I would just go with Hamiz and Arun into the mens carriage.  The train pulled in, overflowing from the doors.  Men were jumping off before the train had even stopped and some were jumping on.  We were caught up in the crowd and surged forward.  I was being pushed about and was eventually shoved right out the way of the door.  By this time Arun was right inside the carriage and I decided if I didn't do something quickly the train would be away without me.  Giving up any remnants of being a lady I began to think as an Indian man would think.  Elbows out and fists up I pushed my way onto that train along with about 30 others.  Once in the carriage it didn't feel quite as scary as it had looked although I'm not sure it's an experience I'd like to repeat.We eventually made it into the city, thanked Arun, got rid of our bags, booked our bus north and went to explore the city.  Firstly we headed to Colaba to see Leopold's.  I've been reading Shantaram, about an Aussie guy who escaped from prison and set up a clinic in the slums of Mumbai.  It's been very interesting reading and explains a lot about the Indian way of life.  It's probably the best book I've ever read.  So we reached Leopold's which was Shantaram's local while he was in Mumbai.  It was busy so we didn't go in.  Outside we were asked if we'd like to appear in a Bollywood movie.  Sadly we were leaving and I was still ill so we had to turn the offer down :-(.After Colaba we headed out to Chowpatty beach where we just lay on the sand and read for a few hours before heading back to the station to get our bags.  While I was on one of my many toilet stops Hamish got talking to an Indian guy who recommended some tablets for my stomach.  Having gone 5 days without food I was willing to try anything.  We got on our bus and I had a huge big bed all to myself for the next leg of our journey to Ahmedebad. 
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/hils/4/1200291120/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/hils/4/1200291120/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/hils/4/1200291120/tpod.html Tue, 22 Jan 2008 01:20:07 -0500 India - Again

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Panjim, India

It was about 5 hours on the bus from Gokarna to Panjim to cover about 120 miles.  We found what at first appeared to be quite a nice room.  I was feeling a bit better so we wandered round Panjim for a bit.  Panjim is the capital of Goa and has a very strong Portugese influence as do a number of places in India.  It was refreshing to be in Goa.  The locals paid no attention whatsoever to westerners.  Each state in India is like going to a different country and Goa is very easy to travel in.  After an ice lolly I was feeling ready for a nap so headed back to our room while Hamish went for a wander.  I didn't really feel up for any food so stayed in for the rest of the night.  The bed was the most uncomfortable bed I've ever slept on and I got bitten all over my arm and shoulder by bed bugs.  Thankfully the following morning I was feeling lots better, enough in fact to enjoy a bagel and poached egg.  Wandered around the town, climbed up over a hill in the middle of town, wandered round a market and had a nap before heading out for dinner.  We were going to have a pizza but ended up in an indian restaurant where I had an indian pizza.  This was a mistake as the following morning I was back to square one feeling rotten.  We took a local bus out to Old Goa which was a fascinating place full of churches.  I alternated between the churches and the suprisingly clean toilet.  That evening we jumped on an overnight bus to Mumbai (Bombay).
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/hils/4/1200146160/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/hils/4/1200146160/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/hils/4/1200146160/tpod.html Sat, 19 Jan 2008 09:05:50 -0500 India - Again

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Hampi, India

The bus journey from Hampi to Gokarna was quite an experience.  We arrived in Hospet from Hampi to get the long distance bus to Gokarna.  I ate some really dodgy samosas at the bus stand, which I was to regret later. 9.00am we were told the bus would leave.  9.00am came and went, 10.00am came and went, every half hour we were told it was just coming.  At 11.00am we decided to just jump on a bus to Hubli and get a connecting bus there.  Thankfully we didn't have to climb through the windows head first like some of the buses we saw filling up.  We passed fields of sunflowers and fields full of piles of dried chillis - mounds of them as far as you could see.  After a few hours we arrived in Hubli where we had about an hour to wait for our bus to Gorkarna.  Hamish and I decided to have a game of cards while we were waiting.  I glanced up and noticed that we were surrounded on all sides by about 50 indian men all just staring at us.  As we were sitting down it was quite a scary experience.  I decided to just ignore them and went back to playing cards.  A guy eventually came over and told us to stop playing.  Apparently you're not allowed to play cards in Karnataka (the state we were in).  After we put the cards away the crowd continued to stand around us staring.  You get quite used to the staring in India, but when it's a crowd of about 50 staring down at you as you sit, it's not so good.  Standing up we felt much better and thankfully our bus arrived soon after.  It was nearly 9pm when we arrived in Gokarna.  We found a hotel and enjoyed a fanatastic thali.  The following morning I got up to go for breakfast and felt a bit strange.  I ended up back in my room and didn't move off the bed for the remainder of the day except to throw up.  The following day didn't fare much better, we put it down to the dodgy samosa.  Hamish went to the beach and had a swim and explored Gokarna.  I spent the whole 2 days in bed and saw absolutely nothing of Gokarna.  On the third morning we decided to head north to Goa.  I was feeling slightly better and Hamish had to head north.
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Mysore, India

Mysore is a lovely city in the South of India.  I spent my first day wandering around, smelling the essentials oils that are a speciality here, buying handmade incense, trying thali (indian dish with rice, chapati and lots of different veggie type curry dishes.  They keep refilling your plate til you can't eat any more).  I went for a nap late afternoon and was wakened by a knock at my door.  It was Hamish.  It was good to see a friendly face even thought I'd only been in India a couple of days.  Hamish had been here for 2 months.  After a chai and a quick catch up it was time to call it a night.The following morning I got up early.  There was hardly anyone about and it was quiet and cool.  I went for a wander round the centre of town and ended up in the market.  They were just setting up for the day and truckloads of vegetables and fruits and flowers were being delivered.  It was nice just being among it all before the day got going.After some breakfast Hamish showed up and we decided to go and visit Mysore Palace.  We had to walk the whole way round the grounds to get to the entrance where we were met with every tout and piece of tat imaginable.  After making our way through all that managing to hold on to our rupees we got to the palace entrance.  We were supposed to deposit our camera as they weren't allowed in the palace but we decided to just chance it.  I managed to get through but the guards found Hamish's camera.  After a ten minute conversation about cricket they let him take his camera in on the promise he wouldn't use it!The palace was a magnificent place.  Very ornate inside.  It had originally been built of wood for a Mahararaja of Mysore but had burnt down in 1897.  It was rebuilt in 1912, designed by British Architect Henry Irwin.  Every room was more spectacular than the last.  In one hall there was a beautiful stained glass ceiling.  Each panel on the ceiling had come from Glasgow.  We wandered round the palace grounds and headed back up to the market.  We enjoyed fresh papaya which is so much nicer than any I've tried back home.  The market had come alive at this point and was full of colours and smells.  Every flower imaginable and every fruit and vegetable in their hundreds if not thousands.  Although it seemed very hectic with so many people around when you stopped to just take it all in there was a very laid back, relaxed feeling to the whole market.  They say when you come to India you should just let go and immerse yourself into it's very unique ways.  I've learnt that this is definitely the way to go.After a fresh juice, a wander round an art gallery and museum, chilling out in a garden and another thali it was time to catch the night bus to Hampi.
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Hampi, India

Hampi is a very strange and wonderful place.  It was once a Hindu empire, home to half a million people.  Today it is a World Heritage Site.  Having read about the boulder strewn landscape in the Lonely Planet it sounded quite remarkable.  Seeing it with your own eyes was amazing.  No matter which direction you looked in it was just huge big roundish rocks everywhere, some the size of houses, some bigger.  Dotted among the boulders, as far as you could see, were the remains of temples.  We arrived early in the morning after a non eventful bus journey.  After finding a place to stay we went for a wander round town.  The main part of the town is a huge long dusty strip, which in it's day must have made quite an impression.  Now, at one end was a jumble of little indian restaurants, western restaurants and souvenir stands selling just about anything you could want in the tat department.  At the opposite end of the strip, it was a deserted, ruined remainder of what was.  In one ruined building was a school, another was the police station and a few of the other buildings were being used as homes.  Behind the strip was a kind of little tourist village - a maze of little paths wound their way round lots of guesthouses down to the riverside.  I had a long nap in the afternoon while Hamiz went for a wander.  In the evening we headed up to one of the small hills and watched as the sun set over the ruins.I got up early the following morning and went for a walk along the river.  I ended up in a lovely cafe overlooking the river.  I was the only customer as it was so early, so I enjoyed a nice fresh fruit juice and watched the river flow by.  There were kingfishers darting about - you could see the brilliant colors flashing in the sunlight.  We went for a walk up to one of the temples and then decided to take a boat over to the other side of the river.  It was very chilled out and we sat for a couple of hours just reading and playing cards.  Back across the river we climbed up the highest point to watch sunset.  After following the path up we reached what we thought was the top and then realised that you could get higher.  The only way we could see to get up was to clamber over the enormous boulders which was great fun, especially when we realised that there was a path the whole way up.   We watched again as the sun went down and headed back down to Hampi to enjoy to fried Gobi - yum!The following day was an eventful journey to Gokarna on the coast encountering evil samosas and the scariest game of cards I've ever played, but more about that soon...
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