In Dilli (4,500 miles from Nottingham)

On the balcony
sat on cane chair in sunshine
whilst people make plans

Rash
We are such intrepid travellers that we have left everything useful in Serampore, thinking we were being reet clever taking little bags. Delhi is colder than we expected, all we came with was flip flops and thin tops. Jumpers are definitely needed. Everyone (meaning my assorted aunts and uncles) is shocked and horrified at our madness and tells us we can’t go to Agra (Taj Mahal city, gonna do a daytrip tomorrow) dressed like that. My dad gave me some rupees and told me to go get proper shoes and not come back without. So we went to Janpath… shoppers’ paradise. And I don’t even like shopping.
Ah well, you have to learn from these things.

Ana
Our first day in Delhi, we already visited another member of Rasheeqa’s family, this is making me feel like one ambassador with all this social life!!!!!!!!
The second day was the first time that the ‘three sisters’ (including myself, as now I’m one member more of this huge and lovely Indian family) have gone out by ourselves, we did a bit of seesights, visiting the Lotus Temple, a bit of shopping in Janpath, and ended up meeting Saira’s friend and going to a place where we could drink a few beers!!!! Yeah!!! I think we needed that, the last time we had alcohol was on the plane going to Bombay!!!!!!!
Tomorrow we are going to Moradabad, Rasheeqa’s dad’s village, apparently it’s about more than 20 people living in this house where we will be staying - see what happens…….

Saira
Complete & utter madness if u ask me. Lots of crazy Indians, FOOD, endless discussions about the different possible ways of doing things… the Spaniard has completely blended in with the paki parade, eating curry with her hands & hanging out with Sikhs, Muslims & Hindus alike! Fantastic. Bring on the over-sweet tea, billions of people & toilets in the ground… Salaam a’leikum!

in the indian way

We're in Serampore! An hour from Calcutta in the state of West Bengal. The village/town (can't tell which cos it seems like a village but spreads far and wide) where my grandma Nani was living till December. The vast river Hooghly (comes off the Ganga) passes slowly through it, just behind Nani's flat.
Ana is blending is nearly like a native, eating rice and dal and fish with her fingers like everyone else. We've already gatecrashed a random wedding that my cousin led us into, and been filled up with wedding feast. Spent the day in Calcutta city yesterday, and are flying to Delhi on Monday. Check us out!!!

We had 12 hours in Bombay on Wednesday between flights. Have not been to Topiwallah Lane yet Frank but I think we will go back there again so will visit the Comet Media people.
Had a great walk around a little villagey part near the sea where goats were frolicking oh yes, and babies running around and shiny vegetable markets and ladies washing their hair in the sunshine. Also went on a long mission round the docks trying to find out about catching a boat from Bombay to the east coast of Africa. Lots of people were looking bemused about it but we were taken in hand by the chivalrous Bhim (taxi driver) and his uncle who took us to various posh marble-topped offices. They told us there aren't really any ships going that way apart from cargo ones, but that the QE2 would be passing through in March. Hummm.

And apparently there is a 4-eared, 8-legged goat in the Indian Museum in Calcutta!!!!!! Hai caramba. Must go there.

We do have loadsa pictures also but on the laptop, and the Cyber Cafe ladies here will not let us plug that in to their network. We will try get those on next week when we can use the laptop in Delhi.
But I have just spotted two lads in here playing Halo online, Jamie. Hehe.

And heeeeere's Ana!

Rash has explained everything very clearly so there's not much left to say but that this is really amazing, her family lovely and I'm happy!!!!!!! will write again soon as now we must go to have tea with a lovely lady and her husband, she is the one who runs a little school in the village so we'll try to convince her that we are nice girls so we maybe be able to stay here and help her out for a while. we'll keep U posted though!!

Laters dudes, hope all are well, much love

xxx

the beginning

Boo!

Mmm sweet gluey yam. i made weird food for our last night in Sneinton, Nottingham. White sweet potato from Vic Centre Market and foul medammas beany stuff and red stuffed peppers full of soya mince and 'spanische fleige' which seems to mean spanish fly but looks like bulgur wheat. Topped with halloumi. AGGGHHHH MMMMM. Spanish fly is the name for some sexual ailment ain't it.

Ana is packing and me n Noel are watching her from the sofa. She keeps saying 'super bollix' and looking shocked when I'm saying I'm only taking 2 pairs of trousers.
I've got to pack too.
And move that shelf into the bathroom. HA! And I will do it. Don't try and stop me.

Tomorrow!