NORTHERN INDIA:

This is an account of a 2 week trip around the major highlights of Northern India using buses, trains, taxis, rickshaws etc. We arrived in Delhi from Nepal on 17th Nov and flew out from Bombay on 4th Dec. As this was our first trip to India we took an organised group trip through Intrepid Travel, an Australian company, booked through the Imaginative Traveller company in the UK. This was a good arrangement as it showed us the 'ropes' for travelling in India and took all the hassle out of organising transport, accommodation and visits to sites. We were a group of 12 from 22yrs to over 70yrs of age with a leader. Lots of very useful information gained for any future visits on our own. Weather was always very pleasant with temperatures in the low to mid 20's and with no rain.

India:...it's busy, noisy, crowded, frustrating, dirty a lot of the time, polluted in the cities, lots of hassle from touts, all walks of life, it can wear you down, it's in your face all the time...and yet it is totally absorbing and always interesting...you can never get bored here. It's not a holiday but one heck of an experience. We became vegetarians for the fortnight, such is the choice over there. To visit India you need to have lots of patience, the ability to keep your cool, not be over sensitive to the sad and depressing side of humanity that you will see and preferably be deaf as your eardrums take a battering. Also don't bring any new clothes with you, they won't last. Everybody is very friendly though, even when they are trying to sell you something, and most of them are trying to make a fast buck at your expense. You will get ripped off a few times but even when you have been it will still be less than half of the cost in the UK. It took us over a week to get accustomed to the place and now we could go back quite easily on our own and handle everything that it throws at you...and thats a lot. Some of the regular phases you will hear...Hello sir/madam...what country are you from...do you want a rickshaw/taxi/guide...come and look in my shop...you will make me very happy...I give you very good price and all variations on this theme. Even the ladies in the ladies toilets asking for 1 rupee try to rip you off when giving change. It seems to be part of their culture.We were glad to have a rest when we left but then started to think about returning - it's an absolutely fascinating place.