Trepidation is high...
Meet Khan, my driver who will be the only person I can trust throughout the trip! He's a great, quietly spoken man but looks v reliable. Trepidation increases when our car breaks down 10 miles outside Dehli. We're going on 6-7hr trips in the f-ing desert and this piece of sh*t can't make it outside Delhi!?
Apparently this wasn't Khan's car. His car is driven up for us and he's happy and I'm happier. Best to get bad luck out of the way!
Driving around is a great way of seeing all the shanty towns and rugged outback that people live in. The poverty is truly humbling but these people get by somehow...
Arrive after 7hrs(!) in Mandawa and stay at the Mandawa Haveli. A very nice hotel and get the feeling all will be downhill after this.... The hotel is an old palace converted into a hotel. I have my own suite. Cool! Go out for a walk in the evening after dinner at the hotel. Walk about 100yds then realise no lighting v v v dodgy to go much futher. Straight back to hotel where I get on the roof and take a good look round....
Posted by cmelikian at October 5, 2003 01:27 PMHi Chris god just read the scary bit oh be careful.Its cold and miserable here. However
things are improving on the uno front :)
lots of hugs
A x
(do people still play uno?)
Stop being a cissy and get out there and walkabout.
Go on, go on, go on .....
Posted by: Andrew P at October 9, 2003 03:50 AMCome on Chris... I need the next installment. I cant get throught the morning without a fix from your travels. Planning to go out to India next March so I am revelling in the inside information! So far so good, right?? Be safe,
Debs
x
Hi chris,tell us about food you can get over there I hear meat is a kind of luxiury,and how about breakfast,and above all what is a real no no thing to eat. loads of love GMandDMM*****
Posted by: GM at October 9, 2003 11:11 AMwhat is this 'the streetlights were off so i went home to bed' ... deary me mr mekon i have been impressed with your honesty regarding your travels and how you've been scammed etc. Glad you haven't got any Delhi belly yet which is your main enema, sorry enemy.
BUT get some balls dude - you're having an adventure, it's no good going home when the lights go off , where would have Flashman or Alan Quartemain got with that attitude eh?!
anyway glad you're having a cool time - i'm bored out of my tiny mind with the UK and think I will come and meet you for new year - where you going to be?
ciao
\dude
Hi!
Thanks for the support Rick! I have been going to some dodgy places, trust me. But in Mandawa, there was nothing there to see....
The spirit of Flashman will live on...!
Food is good. Ben eating at some roadside places and v good. Many curries and dosas etc. Starting to smell a bit fresh in my hotel room though! ;-)
Cheers, Chris.
Posted by: Chris at October 11, 2003 12:53 PM