Most enjoyable journey in India.

I'll never forget my first long distance (relatively long) train journey. I was around 14 at the time. It was Goa to Karnataka, we got off in Hospet to go and see Hampi. It seemed my parents and I experienced so much on it. We saw Buddhist monks travelling to Bangalore for something the Dalai Lama was holding there. Some of them had obviously been travelling for days, and were obviously irritated. If someone mistakenly took their seats they were being very confrontational, almost angry. In one case, he threw someones bags out from the seat. Strange concept, certainly not one you associate with them.

We met a lovely Punjabi man and his family, who we were talking to for what seemed like hours.

There was also a pretty funny moment too. I was on the top bunk eating some rice that people sell at the stops. There were people below me who later had a good laugh at the waterfall of rice falling down to their seats. They were very understanding once they seen my youthful, almost shamed face.

Cannot wait to return and experience some more.

Great journey-post!

Jodphur to Madgoan ,twenty eight hours in 3AC , my first long Indian train journey in twenty years. I do like train travel,but was a touch aprehensive. I had the good fortune to be sharing the carriage with six ,twenty something medical students who had taken their final exams the day before, and were off on a jolly to Kerala. To begin with they were a bit awkward,I am 48, a good six foot three and kinda scary looking. Being called Uncle was a surprise too. The snacks came out,introductions made, jokes shared. Anjan,we were on first name terms now asked if I played cards ,only poker, oh can you teach us ? Using a blanket as a table and a huge bag of savory nibbles as chips, we started.The time flew by,suddenly we were in goa. To me ,my freinds you will always be known as the six mad Doctors from Bikanner and I hope the future health care in India is in the hands of people such as yourselves. With a sad twist of irony less than 4 hours in Goa I was having 9 stitches in my foot. But thats another story.

Glad you loved it. Don't worry about being called uncle. Here is my life story:

• First I I was addressed as beta (son).
• Before I knew I came Bhaiyaa or Bhaisahab for the young and continued to be a beta for the rest.
• Before I knew I became an uncle.
• Now, with beautiful white hair and a beard to go with it, I was addressed by some as Baba or Babaji (grand father).

Ouch ouch! for your nine stitches.

I dont worry about being an Uncle, I have three nieces and nephewers,it was a bit odd.The mad Doctors soon realised this and mercilessly took the piss. The stiches hurt at the time,but did not kill me. I met four people whom in different ways really helped me.They are still,and I hope freinds for life. I look forward to being a Baba,just not yet . Travelling in India is easy, its leaving I find difficult. Cheers Simon.

Ridding on top of the buses in the Himalayas. Almost every bus I took up there I was on the roof. The views were stunning and definitely the safest place to be if the bus went off the road crashing down the hill into the ravine Had to watch out for low hanging branches though. And they would always tell me to come down but I insisted as I did it before and they finally gave up and allowed me to ride up there.

One ride from Almora to Nainital a bunch of kids got on the bus after going to Almora to enlist in the army. They were on their way home and when I went on top, they all followed. We joked a lot as they all got off along the way. One invited me to his village which he pointed to way across the other side of the valley which he had to walk to. I declined.

Worst journey was from Almora again but different year. Took the overnight bus to Delhi when this idiot who shat his pants sat on my bag in the aisle. I yelled at him to get the F off my bag! Idiot!!

Past this summer, I got this incredible opportunity to travel alone. My solo trip took me to the mountains of Kasauli – neither very far from Delhi nor very popular solo tripping choice. But that was just the beginning; I knew I had to start from somewhere to come out from my comfort zone and let my dreams fly.

I remember how freaked out I was the first time I traveled alone, all by myself. And to be honest, sometimes I still am. It can be scary at times not to have anyone to back you up but dealing with uncertainties brings the best out of you. To become a confident individual, I encourage you to travel solo at least once in your life.

The excellence of street trip from Manali to Leh can't be caught in words. Wouldn't it be amusing to voyage along that street in all its frigid eminence on an open jeep or a Bullet? Ok! So Pretty! It traverses a length of 479 km with a mean height in the middle of 3 to 4 km above ocean level. The street is open for around 5 months every year generally amid summers and mid-October. The trip brings around 2 days with one stopover for rest and acclimatization.