Bit behind brief summary!!!!

Ok so from Shimla we went to Delhi and stayed for 5 days with the friends we met in Manali.

It was very good, various outings, lots of food and rehabilitation incl a trip to the doctors and some rather strong medicine but we are well now!!!

New years eve they treated us to an evening in a posh hotel and a hummer type car to it. Dawn and Emily had issues handling the alcohol but took refuge (after a lot of crazy dancing to Indian music) at the dessert buffet where massive amounts of chocolate mousse and truffles were devoured!

Happy new year to you all!!!!!!!!

When we left Delhi on a 24hr train journey to Jamanagar a sleepy but quaint town stuck in the 1940's with the american dinner feel to it in each restaurant. Emily loved it here though as its not touristy and is to her real India. Here we went to a Marine park after more confusion with the army! It was good to walk in the warm sea looking at wildlife such as a puffa fish, baby shark and octopus but a little disapointing at the level of responsible tourism as we felt species were being unfairly handled. We also visited Khijadiya Bird Sanctuary which was fab. We saw the sun rise over wetlands, flamingos bathed, kingfishers fished, cormarants dried out and flocks of pelicans flew overhead. We also got adopted by an Indian community and married off but will tell you when we see you!

From Jamnagar we took a 22hr train to Pune but getting lost in Mumbai at 5:30am whilst trying to change trains and stations-we now know Mumbai's stations pretty well. We got to Pune and stayed with Emily's friend from when she worked in Edinburgh. It was 5 lovely days sightseeing and eating way too much again, shopping, Dawn now has a Sari! Oh and a hilarious trip to the beauty salon where both of us felt like fishes out of the water, clueless we signed up for a facial but ending having a deluxe one when we only asked for a basic one-a biotic one we will add (whatever that means!) More embarrassing confusion over the price.

From Pune we headed to Goa. The first day was spent walking around the capital Panaji admiring the Portuguese architecture and churches. After a very crowded local bus journey we watched sunset at Mirimar beach then finished the day with a Domino's pizza (we do eat a lot of Indian food most of the time, honest, its just curbing those cravings!)

Next day we headed to the beaches after dawn fell down the stairs at the bus station and looked like a beetle on the floor legs and arms in the air with her backpack holding her down! hehe!
We headed to Benalim beach, was paradise, by fluke we ended up at the quieter area and stayed in beach huts metres from the sea. Emily was in swimming heaven. we ate at the small tavernas along the beach whilst watching the sunset. One day was spent on hired bicycles in which we cycled miles down the 37km stretch of sand and then picked our way through the back roads and lush green scenery, viewing fishing communities.

From here we went to Palolem, meant to be Goa's most idealistic beach. Picture in the book was nothing like the real thing. It was nice but too busy for us and the beach is just lined with beach huts and restaurants. Our beach hut was more like a shed in Dawns eyes! Still we had a day chilling in which we moved about 100 metres in total!

Then Onto Kerala................................