• Ups and Downs at the Mount Abu Hill Station

    December 1, 2008

    Experiences are so varied and often unique to anything I’ve experienced before. For example, being on a holy mountain, meeting an ascetic smoking opium with his colleagues then giving a packet of pineapple biscuits to Jain pilgrims speed-walking up the 22km climb to Mount Abu (they actually overtook me cycling at one point). I was in awe of the exotic palm trees and tropical plants, watching the monkeys frolicking by the road side.

    Tags: India

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  • Gujarati Thali is a Metaphor for Indian Culture

    November 30, 2008

    I am in the Gujarat capital, Amdavad, spending a few days relaxing before continuing on to Mumbai. It’s a nice city to spend some time. I’ve been using Couchsurfing here and my hosts have really made the experience special. Of course, so has eating plenty of delicious Gujarati Thalis. Photo credit I’ve visited a friend at the architectural university. I strolled around the campus, attended his lecture and saw an exhibition of Krishna paintings.

    Tags: ArchitectureAmdavadIndia

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  • Dealing with Air Pollution and Cultural Habits Whilst Travelling in Pakistan and India

    November 9, 2008

    I have noticed since entering Pakistan and India the significant drop in air quality in general. In Pakistan if I blew my nose I would get similar coloured nasal mucus to if I had spent a day in Central London. The air pollution is quite visible in even small urbanised strips. This is unsurprising as there are plethora of old diesel engines, fires and rubbish burning and smoking chimneys (from brick furnaces for example).

    Tags: StoryPakistanTravel

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  • You Should Go To India Just for the Golden Temple

    November 7, 2008

    I’m in India and I feel tired to be honest. It’s a good job that I have the opportunity to rest for a few days. Yesterday, riding to the Pakistan-India border I got delayed by load of super-rich looking Dutch classic car enthusiasts. After finally crossing I sat at a small kiosk and had a beer whilst waiting for the famous border ceremony to start. Hindi is buzzing around the humid atmosphere of this internet cafe.

    Tags: AmritsarGolden templeStoryIndiaTravel

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  • Is Pakistan a Step Too Far for A European Tourist?

    November 5, 2008

    I'm in Lahore after gradually making my way up here from Quetta. The mountains down from Quetta to Sibi were beautiful but in Sibi I ran into my police escort. They proceeded to ruin the process for the next few days. This meant that I couldn't do what I wanted, I had to stay in cockroach infested cheap hotels, I wasn't allowed to stay with locals or follow the usual routine of camping.

    Tags: LahoreVagabondPakistanTravelCycling

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