1st time around the world! by Laura_Foster

Well I'm very glad to report that the Taj Mahal didn't meet my very high expectations, it exceeded them. Seeing the Taj Mahal at dawn was a really amazing experience. We got up at a very eager beaver 4.30am, so as not to miss sunrise and beat the queue! Walking from the gates to the entrance was an eye opener in itself. There were a few fitness fanatics doing streches in the dusk, one energetic guy was doing leg kicks above his head. There was a temple near by calling people to prayer, so all in all it was a pretty eerie walk!

Before the sun had risen, the Taj was surrounded by mist from the river behind it and took on a purple-ish hue. From a distance in that light the Taj looked small and delicate. Once the sun had risen the huge scale of the Taj struck me and the marble took on a whole different colour. The fountains, I was a bit peeved to find out, are only turned on for special occasions so no excellent photos of reflections I'm afraid!

It was well worth the early rise, as we managed to beat most of the countless tour groups. It started to feel more than a little touristy as we were leaving, like we were the paparazzi and the Taj was an A list celeb we were taking photos of from every angle and in every light.

After seeing the Taj we made our way back to Delhi to catch the Goa Express - a mammoth 35 hour train journey: two nights on a train, sharing a compartment with 7 men (who had very different ideas about personal space). I found it difficult to adjust to the way the local men stared at us constantly in India. We made an effort to dress conservatively but it made no difference. One of the guys on the train stared at me for a good deal of the journey which I just had to put up with. I got the impression it was more that he was bored than anything else. I felt like a TV, alhough I don't know how interesting it was for him watching someone read and play cards.

The train stations in India absolutely wreak of wee for some reason, not pleasant. Was so glad to get off that train, although felt a little proud of myself for doing something out of my comfort zone! I enjoyed the changing views from the window and once we entered Goa the vegetation became lush and  tropical. It was a pleasant change to be surrounded by palm trees after getting used to desert-like scenes in Rajasthan.

After the train I think we more than deserved a little r&r on a beach. We headed to Palolem in south Goa. Had a really good time releaxing on the beach and treating ourrselves to some seafood - first 'meat' I've eaten in India! The tiger prawns were massive!  Unfortunately the beach hut we had booked wasn't ready as it was being rebuilt. I heard the monsoon had been particularly bad this year and all along the beach front huts and restaurants were being rebuilt. I would love to go back and see Palolem in full swing in its beach hut glory!

After Palolem we caught a more sensible sounding 12 hour train to Mumbai to catch our flight to Bangkok. The train journey looked like it was going to be disastrous as I had a seat instead of a sleeper bed for some reason. But after a few stops I got my bed, alas it was adjacent to a compartment full of grizzly kids, not a good nights sleep.

We spent a day wondering around Mumbai, somewhat half heartedly in the traffic and chaos. It reminded me of a hot London, lots of British architecture and hybrid double decker red buses.  

Two flights and not a lot of sleep later I'm in Bangkok! South East Asia has been the leg of the trip I'm most excited about, and can't wait to refresh myself with Bangkok tomorrow!

Until next time xx