We have now reached Delhi the last part of our Indian adventure. Long drive from Jairpur and I was  asked to tell a story on the coach (perhaps to send people to sleep!) It was certainly a new experience for me with my back to the driver and coping with a microphone (not that successfully!) Clare says I have a loud voice anyway! As we are in India I told the Indian Folk Tale The Wishes of Savitri where Savitri cheats the god of death.
A few random pictures taken on my phone from the coach today. Don’t forget more pictures to come when I get home! Also spotted some new birds taking my total species count to close to three figures.

A few random pictures from everyday India.

Our last active day in India (Jaipur) before the long drive to Delhi tomorrow. Forts and palaces visited today. Managed to get myself an impressive turban style hat with a long streamer/ribbon for storytelling!

Great ride in rickshaws all driven by women – they are called the Pink Ladies of Jaipur. Traffic in India is interesting! There is also a picture of the milk market where milk is tested and poured into churns.

Sadly saw some animal exploitation- elephants to take people up to the  Amber Fort and a snake charmer.

We had one last drive in the park this morning to a different part of the park. Some stunning scenery but the nearest we got to a tiger was a paw print out guide said it was recent but how recent………? It was fairly quiet all round. A picture below. We are now in Jaipur and visited the impressive and imposing Amber Fort. (a couple of pictures below)

We are getting near the end now back on Saturday- who knows maybe Luton might celebrate my return with a win (did I just see a flying pig!) Be prepared for loads more pictures over the next week or so!!!

Success! Tigers spotted. What majestic animals! Also looked larger than I expected. Picture attached plus owls!

Great day yesterday to Fatehpur Sikri a deserted royal palace of the Moguls. Not so many visitors as the Taj! Beautiful red sandstone buildings some pictures below. On pictures I have taken many on my good camera but won’t be able to download till we get – lots of birds on that one!

We also visited a step well an amazing feat of building- the depth of at at least a three storey building to enable people to access water. ( picture below).
I am writing this between visits to Ramthambore National Park. We were up at 5.10 this morning hopefully to see tigers. No tigers but a mass of birds (right up my street)and other animals. We have an afternoon visit later and an early one again tomorrow. Again plenty of pictures on my camera including three different owls but a few with my phone below.

Visited one of the acknowledged wonders of the world today as well as the red fort. Stunning!

Short blog but a few pictures below..All these pictures at the moment are from my phone. Have plenty of pictures on my camera that will be downloaded when I get home.

A busy day in the Indian capital. Visit to the mosque, a bicycle rickshaw ride, an impressive Mogul tomb and the place where Gandhi was assassinated.
The rickshaw ride was exhilarating plenty of bumps and near misses.
The mosque and tomb were impressive and the visitor to where Gandhi was shot was very moving. Some highlights below including Gandhi’s last walk.

Today has been mainly travelling but at our stop we had good views of the “toy train” see pictures below. Also got a bit of bird watching (always have my bins with me). We exploring Delhi tomorrow. A couple of pictures from yesterday below and the high speed train we caught today plus the toy train.

Well believe it or not there was snow overnight just beyond Shimla. Picture above is of some daft so and so wearing his shorts!

Went to what was once Lord Kitchener’s residence. The journey there we were surrounded by deep valleys. Visibility was poor but when the clouds parted it was magical. Some more pictures below including the breaks. Later I went into a bar in Shimla to watch some cricket and had a mango beer which was different and enjoyable. On the way back I joined in a protest about electricity with a group of workers waving communist flags!!!