Most enjoyable journey in India.

Hi Rebecca, The first picture,s was taken in mumbia , the beach picture,s was just outside kovlam, the chicken was cooked on a boat on the back waters ,we took a taxi to the boat and booked it there and then ,no middle men so we got it a bit cheeper, not that it costs the earth,The driver of the taxi showed us some lovely beachs away from the crowds, we took his number and we called him we when we needed him ,a very friendly person whom help us see so much more ,i have his number somewhere ,if you would like me to see if i can find it for you ,just let me know ,

without a doubt for us it was our huge 47 hour train journey from Kochi to Delhi - it was a £100 flight or a £6 train ticket in sleeper class, we were dreading it but it turned out to be an amazing although very HOT adventure - we met so many lovely people and didn't get round to watching even one of the movies we had planned - we did a small video diary for anyone wondering about sleeper class and indian trains...have a look :-)

http://blog.travelpod.com/travel-blo...9718/tpod.html

The government boat ride from Kumarakom to some little village I'll never remember the name... From there, I caught a bus to Alleppey though =D Incredible ride, I had no idea where I was and this gigantic lake opened before my eyes after leaving the canal where women in colorful sarees washed clothes in the river...
A canoe tour in the backwater of Alleppey also left me mouth open before the gorgeous scenes: kids in their uniforms running laughing out of school and jumping into canoes and boats, women washing clothes on the shores, colorful houses and beautiful birds, kids jumping in the water before my camera and asking for my name laughing, coffee place in the middle of nowhere out of the canoe with domesticated eagles hanging around and put on my shoulder...
Scooter ride in Alleppey in search for secret beaches was one of a kind too and always a population ready to respond to your questions despite much language barriers... India, one incredible memory always bringing another... =D

Freenote, hi!

Where did you change trains to get from Bikaner to Amritsar?

I think you need to take a train from Bikaner to Makhu and then by road to Amritsar. Distance between Makhu and Amritsar is around 70 kms.

Good Read

A 15 hour overnight train from Haridwar-Gorakhpur in a packed sleeper class. I was initially skeptical of the guys trying to talk to me, but finally I opened up a bit and we had such a good night that we all forgot to sleep! I got them into the Grateful Dead, they showed me a little of their favorite music, we ate, drank, etc etc. The whole time they were begging me to continue 6 hours after my stop to stay in their village. I was running out of time in India so I had to refuse, but I sort of regret saying no.