Tonys Wibbles

Just some notes for now, this will be updated when I can. For photos check out the gallery link at the bottom.

So far, in India...

I made my first week and am now safe in An Orphanage & School near the Nepalese border. That is where Brad and Miriam are working and trying to raise them money to keep it all going.

There are about 150 children here who would be dead, abused or on the streets if it wasnt for this place! So I urge you to check out their blog on their oIndian orphanage experience and even better make a donation to the Indian orphanage.

Begging over, So here's what I''ve been up-to so far. I'll just sumarise for now and write a full article later:

I landed in Delhi and helped a cyclist tourist called Steve get his bike from the airport to a train. I think we experienced every hustle and con going. Luckily I had read the book on it so I fended off attacks and dragged Steve back on track as he kept getting directed the wrong way. He made it, with his bike in a box, and three bags!

It's still monsoon here so its hot and either rainy or very sunny. I have spent most of my time walking around in a t-shirt with an umbrella!

I stayed in the backpacker area of Delhi which is a maze of small streets full of shops hotels and Indians trying to get your money, by hook or by crook. With the rain it is also semi flooded.

I did the standard tourist spots and lots of walking.

One day I did a day trip to the Taj Mahal, which IS impressive, and the day was completed nicely by watching the sun set on it from a rooftop cafe with an American and some Irish backpackers.

While I was looking for a Ghandi "thing", I accidentally got ushered into a Mosque. Before I knew it the friendly staff were teaching me how to pray. I washed myself three times and prayed for a while. A very unique experience, and the first time I voluntarily donated money instead of having it harassed out of me! When I left a large Muslim followed me and asked me lots of questions. I believe I should not have been taught unless I was seriously going to convert, but with the language barrier I think things got confused. I was eventually left to go my way!

Next stop was Amaritsar. This place was refreshing. the locals hastled you less and some of them even seemed honest.The hotel manager told us the truth and we could walk around in piece. Locals even said hello just for the sake of it.

I met up with a Dutch lad and as soon as we arrived we went to the border to shout at the Pakistanis! Its a daily tradition here which is done on both sides. Lots of flag waving, gesturing, shouting and very tall soldiers doing mad marching and paddington stares.

Amaritsar also has the Golden temple which is impressive. A square of buildings enclose a man made lake. In the middle of the lake is a Golden temple with a single walkway to it.

In here there are no shoes, your hands and feet have to be washed and you have to cover your head. We walked round the lake with the Indians and watched a few bathe.

At the end we entered the temple to see that the music we were hearing was being played live from the centre of the temple by a few men surrounded by people meditating. The tradition is to then drink the water (we skipped that) and eat some special food in leaves (we couldn't do that). I was very impressed by this place, not only by its beauty, but also that it is still being used as it was intended.

Then I made it to the orphanage.