Trip Map and Itinerary

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They say not to plan to much in India because the best laid plans of mice and men, or in this case, Null and Void, are likely to go astray. But for what it's worth, here is our itinerary for the first 2 weeks.

4th Sept Sydney - Kuala Lumpur
5th Sept Kuala Lumpur - Chennai (Madras)
6th Sept Chennai - Kolkata (Calcutta)
7th Sept Kolkata - Darjeeling
14th Sept Darjeeling - Kolkata
16th Sept Kolkata - Bangalore
18th Sept Bangalore - Puttaparthi

After that it's follow our noses to where our fancy takes us. Ian is doing a 10 day meditation course in Mumbai (Bombay) from 1st October and Dave is flying out of Chennai for home on 28th Sept. We may get over to Goa and hopefully catch up with Jamie Ashley whose blog HornOkPlease (link below) is a great collection of stories and pictures from his Indian travels.

Jamie Ashley, whose HornOkPlease blog is an amazing collection of stories and photos from his Indian travels, is not only a good story-teller... he's a first class travel photographer and his blog is well worth a visit.

 

The Pre-Trip Curry Party

I think Liz is as excited about this trip as I am. Could it be the prospect of a month without me snoring, or having to wash and iron my clothes, or maybe she just wants a little quiet time seeing we've been together for almost 40 years with hardly a break of any significance.

Anyway, she decided we had to have a pre-trip Curry Party the week before we left so Ian and Linda and a tribe of other close friends braved a chilly night outside to indulge in some warming curries on the insides.

See my Tabblo>

I know there are still people who shake their heads and say "Why the hell do you want to go to India of all places!" I think Mallory said it best... "Because it's there."

Do you need a reason at 55 to leave a perfectly comfortable life with a perfectly good wife and two good kids to take off to what is arguabbly one of the most confronting countries in the world? Most people would need an iron-clad reason but for most who have been to India, no sensible reason is needed and indeed, no explanation is necessary. So it is with Ian and I. Maybe we'll feel differently in a months time but watch this space for developments.

My very talented ex sister-in-law Annie came along with this wonderful bit of prose which says it all ...

Off to India

So here we are on your curry night
Anticipating the big day
To roast as well as toast you
And farewell you on your way

I nearly died when I heard you were going
Because of the hurdles you'll be facin
And was relieved you weren't traveling alone
But with your best mate Ian Finlaysen

I do think you are ready for India
But is India is ready for you?
With all the phases you've gone through lately
Does this mean you'll come back a Hindu?

So I've supplied a little bag of goodies
To help you on your way
A survival kit to take along
And get you through your day

You've heard the advice and read the books
That will help you though this mission
But here's a gift that you'll be need in
'Cos it's the one thing you'll be missing

I hear the locals don't use paper
They just give a little rinse
So in case they're on water restrictions
I'd stay away from the mince

So if water is scarce, and the need for it arises
Here is something for your hands
It not only cleans
It completely sanitizes

To squat or not to squat Will be a problem
I'll give you the tip
Any idea how this will happen
Considering the condition of your hip?

What a sight that would be
The thought is something to behold
Visions of you in thongs and kaftan
Hovering over a hole

To aim and fire accurately
A task only few can handle
But pointing a hundred kilos backwards on a dickey knee
Is only asking for a smelly sandal

So here is something for that smelly sandal
From Kleenex a brand you can trust
Flushable wipes that are biodegradable
Pity you'll have nothing to flush

So if all else fails and your tummy erupts
And you cannot run any faster
Here's something that'll keep you safe
And away from impending disaster

To some India is a place of beauty
But to many it's on the nose
And others would say if the world needed an enema
That's where they'd insert the hose

So watch what you're eating and pack a repellant
In case you're bitten and get ill
'Cos if the salmonella and giardia don't get you
The Malaria surely will

Come home safe, full of adventures
As we'll all be waiting to hear
Those drawn out stories you paint so well
That grow longer year after year

With all jokes aside I'm as jealous as hell
I wish you everything you're seeking to find
To follow your heart and fulfill your dream
Doesn't come often in one's lifetime

Thanks Annie... you are a gem and I luv ya.

10 Days to Lift-Off!

It's hard to believe that what was planned 5 months ago is now just 10 days away. Are we excited? Well I guess excited and a little apprehensive at the same time. I am not sure how Ian is coping but he goes with the flow and I suppose he is excited too.

I've spent the last week packing my bag and wondering if it waill all fit. As I said to Charlie the other day... when I go to Brisbane I carry everything in the QEIII. On this trip, everything I need has to fit in one bag and I have to carry it. I know I will forget something!

We're having a Curry Night tonight which Liz planned... I think she is excited for me about the trip as I am. Ian and Linda and a few other close friends will get stuck into some tasty curries and I am sure Ian will steal the show with some antic! As for me, I'm gonna wear my Indian gear and play Pankas Udas CDs all night.

10 days and counting....................

3 weeks to go!

The past 5 months have really flown and now it is just 3 weeks until Ian and I head off for India.

It seems that dark forces are trying to stuff us up at every step of the adventure and now because of the London terrorist alert we have to reconsider our onboard baggage and what we can take along.

It’s all part of the Indian experience I guess and when Ian and I met yesterday to buy some last minute essentials we agreed that a bunch of deadshit morons were not going to spoil our holiday of a lifetime. So it’s full steam ahead and we’ll just carry on as planned.

Last Friday we met with Ian’s friend Zsa who has just returned from 9 months in India and she was a great source of practical info. All the little things like what washing facilities are in restaurants and how to deal with cab drivers were discussed and Zsa was a great help. So, no doubt we are gonna be overwhelmed by India but hopefully we’ll get by.

We had dinner at a sensational place in Newtown called Faheem Fast Food ... tandooris and curry... and the place was packed and it was easy to see why. The food was out of this world but Zsa said this was typical of eateries in India so, stomach bugs nothwithstanding, we'll be in for a treat. Ian and I are pretty good in the eating department.

Jamie Ashley, the guy who runs the Horn-ok-Please blog is back in India and loving it. Hopefully we'll be able to catch up with him somewhere and have a beer or two. His descriptions and photos of India are outstanding and well worth reading.