Traveling in India on a Royal Enfield...!!

Thirvanammali

2010-02-12T22:01:00.000+05:30

Shivartri in Thirvanammili

These guys had the lemons sewn onto their bodies, I guess to prove that they are strong and brave like Lord Shiva

This is a Female Sadu who was at the temple reading palms.

Not sure why girls dress up as Shiva....???

Prem Joshua Concert

2010-02-09T22:34:00.001+05:30

Carmen Posing on beach before the concert

Me, Noor & Carmen during the concert

Me & Carmen a bit sweaty after dancing

Prem Joshua Band

Prem Himself

Travelling to Puttapatti

2009-07-26T22:43:00.004+05:30

Bernadette and I under the wishing tree at Puttapatti

On the bike leaving Hampi

Bernadette in Pondercherry in Tamil Nardu

Bernadette and Donya

Hampi

Getting old gracefully

June in Goa, waiting for the monsoon....

2009-06-02T22:16:00.001+05:30

The salt fields between Goa and Maharastra...

Two friends looking very sexy on an Enfield...

The locals posing for the family Album....

Relaxing in the Bath....

2009-05-26T22:08:00.000+05:30

This family like to pose for a photo, even in the bath...

Again in Goa 2009

2009-03-04T20:07:00.005+05:30

I would like to claim these three photos above as my own, but they were taken by a friend of mine with my camera..... Herma

My neighbour and friend Gem.

Aranbul carnival and the girls on my massage course

My yoga teacher and friend Helen who is on the left

Goa fashion week on the beach of Anjuna

People on the Chavutti Thirumal massage course

2009-01-16T16:14:00.001+05:30

Me, Herma, Alley, Roxanne and the teacher Helen.

Herma.

Graduation day for the Chavs

Just received our qualifications.

Chavutti Thirumal Massage Course

2009-01-15T15:56:00.004+05:30

I was a model for one of the courses and was so impressed that I done the course myself.

People were at first shocked at my size and the size of my feet. But as you can see it doesn't seem to be a problem. I haven't had any complaints so far.

My foot nearly covers the hole of this young ladies back.

As you can see the massage is better for the client if they are naked

Thailand (Ko Phang nang)

2008-10-01T12:13:00.002+05:30

Our private beach...

Sunset from our beach huts.

Action shot taken from my bike, a bit risky but there you go.

My mate Toby getting ready for our dive. Do you think that he looks a little nervous?

Our beach side accommodation, not bad.

Chanatal Lake at 4500 Metres.

2008-08-24T15:42:00.003+05:30

Bumped into this Russian guy camping along the route to Chanatal lake and stopped for coffee with him. For some reason he wasn't to keen to have his photo taken. Not sure why, he didn't speak English and I don't speak Russian.

Chandatal Lake, a beautiful setting but just getting my bag from the bike to the camp site was such an effort. The altitude was above 4500 metres and I had Altitude sickness.

These roads were so rough not only for the bike, but on my arse.

Landslides and more landslides. Just another day.

The road to Spiti Valley.

2008-08-23T15:28:00.000+05:30

This is the Spiti Valley. It was so beautiful and at the same time a Barron desert. The thing that I will remember most is the clear night sky's and the stars. Stars like this I have only seen in books and on TV.

Just another obstacle to pass, this are common place and you get used to them. I gave up wearing my boots and wore crocs, getting wet boots in the cold mountains wasn't much fun.

This was my hotel for my first night and I was so grateful to find it. After driving all day in the rain and getting extremely cold it was like finding an oasis in the desert.

Me arriving and at the hotel above and very cold wet and hungery.

Some Nature to Boot

2008-08-16T12:01:00.000+05:30

Obstacles and more obstacles...!!

2008-08-15T18:06:00.007+05:30

One of the many landslides on my travels through the Himalayas. You just get used to them..

I had to cross this river as there was no bridge, not sure what happened to it. But their were 4 enterprising young men helped me across for 60 pence between them, it didn't stop the bike and I from going over in the water though, but it did get me to my destination. Others went so lucky and had to take a two or three day detour.

Waiting for the road to be cleared, so I could continue my journey..

Another landslide to contend with..

Over the edge...

2008-07-28T18:04:00.001+05:30

This is the aftermath of going to fast on these mountain roads. Miraculously the driver survived by the grace of god.

You can see from this picture that it was a huge drop, and at the top of the picture is the bus which is crashed into the mountain. While at the bottom is the vehicle that tried to avoid the bus.

Mussoorie..

2008-07-27T18:12:00.002+05:30

On the road just outside Mussoorie, it is mostly in the clouds but when the clouds disappear the rewards are great.

This has to be the windiest road that I have traveled on so far in my tour of India.

Charlotte posing for her photo.

More beautiful scenery around Mussoorie.

And me posing for my photo.

Rishikesh.

2008-07-23T12:44:00.004+05:30

Taken at the Swarg Ashram the other side of the river.

This was the que to go across the bridge and at times the crowd got pretty rowdy and raced to get onto the bridge.

This bridge was swaying back & forth due to the number of people on it.

Two girls I met from Korea.

Mad Max..

2008-07-21T12:30:00.002+05:30

These machines look like they have come from the film set of Mad Max.

They are also capable of carry an entire village..!!

Village life.

2008-07-20T12:37:00.001+05:30

Not sure what they were harvesting, but it was very dusty.

I think they are planting rice we couldn't communicate properly.

Village Milkman..

The road to Rishikesh..

2008-07-19T12:13:00.000+05:30

Still can't believe, the loads just get bigger..!!

The guy on the bike was stopping the load from falling off.. haha.

Last day in Varanasi..

2008-07-14T15:32:00.002+05:30

My Hindi Teacher.... Deepankar.

My Flute teacher.... Asok.

My neighbors sister..

My local fruit & vegetable market.

Another neighbor with her son.

Cobra bite..!!!

2008-07-05T09:57:00.005+05:30

When I went out to get breakfast this morning this was the sight that confronted me at 9 o'clock.
As you can see below although not to clearly is that it is not enough to put the people of from swimming and bathing.

The body wasn't cremated because the man died from a Cobra bite. When death is from a Cobra bite the body is wrapped in Banana leafs and put into the Ganga.

Some bodies are not cremated because Hindu's believe that when the body is cremated that the poison will be released into the atmosphere, e.g. lepers & Cobra bites.

Also bodies of children under the age of 10, people Babas (Holy men), these bodies are also just put into the Ganga.

The body is in front of the boat on the left. The top step where I'm standing is the entrance to the hotel.

My Neighbours..

2008-07-04T10:08:00.000+05:30

These are my neighbours how live next door to me in a room approx 3x4 metres. But they seem very happy with life and have different priority's than us in the west.

The music shop..

2008-07-01T10:05:00.004+05:30

This is one of my teachers playing the Indian Bamboo flute (Basuri)

Death in Varanasi..!!

2008-06-29T13:55:00.005+05:30

This old man was just laying in the road and as you can see covered with flys.. Looks like he just died in his sleep. A lot of Hindu's come to die in Varanasi because they believe that they will escape (Samara) the cycle of birth and rebirth and therefore (Return to the Source) God.

If this isn't enough to put most people of eating chicken I don't know what else to say.

Just another day...!!!

2008-06-29T13:39:00.006+05:30

Hi...!!

A protest against rising prices & record inflation in India.

The harsh realities, when it's in your face it give a completely different perspective on eating meet.

These chickens legs are tied together so they can't escape.

This put me of eating meat altogether. Though not completely a vegi, I haven't eaten meat for months. In India it's easier than in the UK to not eat meat.

A day in Varanasi.

2008-06-27T19:09:00.003+05:30

The sky's opened and the rain poured down.

The Grandfather of the tea shop you see behind him.

My local tea stall. Which also do a mean Samosa.

View from the roof.

2008-06-26T12:24:00.003+05:30

A view from my hotel in the late evening overlooking the Ganga.

Flooding in Varanasi.

2008-06-25T11:57:00.004+05:30

A casualty of the floods in Varanasi..

Working in the hotel where I'm staying. They start at 8am and finish about 7pm.

Again another record, how much can you get on your head..??
When I think that I've seen it all, another record comes along.

One night's difference.

2008-06-23T11:44:00.006+05:30

These are the photos taken a day after the ones below. What a difference a day makes.!

This was the view from my Hotel a couple of days ago. But when I woke up this morning the water was up so high that the steps are no longer visible and you can't walk down the riverside any more.

All the grass and the steps in this photo have disappeared and now nearly up to the top the steps. If this can happen in one night, it will be interesting to see what happens in the near future..

Speech Impediment...!!

2008-06-20T11:06:00.006+05:30

Why I wondered was it that so many people in Varanasi were either deaf or dumb or perhaps both? People greeted you with a nod accompanied with some sort of sign language or with a gargle from a pained expression. It wasn't till later that I begin to realize the reason for this peculiarity... PAN, this was the answer.
PAN for people like me that have never heard of it and don't know what it is, is a mixture of beetle nut, tobacco & calcium. It sold in a leaf for about 6 rupees and is put in the mouth and left. This is then transformed into a mouth full of red saliva which in turn is then kept in the mouth and then spat out, but the longer left in the mouth the better. When people talk to you, if they talk to you because sign language is preferable. They tilt their head back and speak from an open mouth which is holding the red spit. So it sounds like they are speaking to you from under water... !! Makes communication very difficult especially if you are not aware of what it is that is making the person disabled in the speach department.

Hair cut Indian Style.

2008-06-19T12:14:00.002+05:30

Hair cut Indian style, this poster was in the barbers when I had my hair cut. Apparently its from the 20's or 30's. Thought that it was kinda cool..

Me with the short hair look.

Around the Ghats.

2008-06-15T19:54:00.003+05:30

I watched as the boatmen bailed out water as quick as their hands could move, it did not inspire confidence in the sea worthiness and as for the over loading....??

Removals the Indian way, it's the only way in the small Ghats!

This looks like hard work and the temperature is 45 c.

When I arrived in Varanasi, I’d heard so much about the place from TV and from other travelers, my expectations were pretty high. Although not disappointed, there were some things that I wasn’t ready for, such as the walk down the Ghats - which to anyone who’s not familiar with the place are – small lanes that line the River Ganges. It’s possible when the river is not too high to walk the length of these Ghats following the river. But be warned it must qualify as the world’s longest urinal and the smell is enough to bring the cremated bodies back to life.

Don’t let this stop you from enjoying your daily swim in the river and as most people that do swim in the river do drink it. The Indian stomach is made of cast iron. Not forgetting the washing of clothes, buffalo and dead bodies that are rotting at the bottom of the river.

Talk about being loaded

2008-05-12T15:16:00.002+05:30

This was a huge metal filing cabinet on the NH13. Yes this is the highway folks. The cabinet was rocking back and forth and I was worried that it could fall off. Which has happened to me before.

This nearly took my head of as it passed on my side of the road. Way hay...!!

It never ceases to amaze me how much the Asian people can carry...! This I reckon has to be some kind of record, if anyone can beat this I would love to hear from you.

Road Rules

It was strange at first the change in culture and attitudes. This at first was most apparent in the driving techniques. Believe me that there are techniques and after a year driving in India, I think I have learned a little.

Might is right ( I’m bigger than you so I can kill you, so you’d better fuck off out of my way)
Cow is top dog on the roads in India ( Everything gives way to the Cow)
Lorry or bus, depending on which is heaver and bigger at the time of weighting up the situation, as to who gives way to who.
Big fuck off four wheel drives with as many people in it as a bus in Europe.
Car with usually crammed with as many people as possible. (Six or more)
Motorbike / Scooter with as much on it as a removal van in Europe.
Pedestrian

Hepatitis and infections..

2008-05-10T13:17:00.000+05:30

This is my mate Angus in the hospital in Fort Cochin, after contracting Hepatitis A. We both ended up in the hospital within a couple of days of each other. Mine was sort of self infected because I started digging around in an infected insect bite that was a little infected with my Swiss army knife, which I didn't sterilise first. Doo'h.

The Western Ghats

2008-05-05T19:51:00.001+05:30

A ride through the Western Ghats in Tamil Nardu. This was a beautiful ride but in parts the road had given way to landslides.

A hospital visit..

2008-05-05T11:15:00.001+05:30

Charlotte had to visit the hospital in Kanyakamari. Charlotte is the bikes name. She was christerned by a friend.

Beware of the Crocodiles

2008-05-02T19:03:00.002+05:30

Some of the gang from the Sivananda Ashram

Crocodile lake which is just below the Ashram

Don’t know if I can quite believe it myself, but have just spent 2 1/2 weeks in an Ashram. During our stay we had to do yoga for 4hrs a day and meditation and chanting for another 3hrs a day. Up at 5am and bed at 10pm, living in a dormitory. Hay what the hell, I had a great time and was pretty flexible after the experience.
The location was beautiful, in the mountains quite near Thrivandram with a huge lake, which we swam in against the advice of everyone… look at the photo. While doing yoga in the open air hall you can hear the loins roaring across the lake…. Didn’t know there were loins in India but there you go.

Not so little spider

2008-04-18T11:20:00.002+05:30

This young lady woke me at 4am. For some reason I woke up bolt upright looking straight at her. Believe me she was as big as my open hand and my hands aren't small. I didn't kill her I went back to sleep and left her. But I must admit that I wasn't that comfortable with sharing a room with her. In the morning I had to pack with with no sign of her. So I carefully packed my stuff trying to make sure that she wasn't in any of my stuff, thankfully she wasn't. Later found out that this spider can give a nasty bite.

Driving in the hills..

2008-04-14T15:24:00.000+05:30

The tea plantations in Tamil Nardu.

Parked up the the night in Varkala.

River crossing in Hampi.

2008-04-12T17:52:00.001+05:30

I had to drive my bike first down these steps, then on the way back up the ramp. Coming down wasn't too bad, but still a bit nerve racking. Going up was the worst because the bike is so heavy it got half way and I couldn't get it up any further. So I ended up holding the bike half way up waiting for help. In the end a number of people came to the rescue and we managed to push it up the rest of way.

After getting down the ramp above I had to drive on to a moving target. The boat was moving all over the place and how I didn't get a dip in water god only knows.

Hampi "Karnataka"

2008-04-10T16:08:00.003+05:30

Mystical Old man who was the village elder. Taken in a small village near Hampi.

This photo was an accident and I'm very pleased with it. Doesn't she look so spiritual?

Loved this photo of my travel partner.

Met this guy in the middle of nowhere. He just seemed to pop out of the ground. He was very helpful like most Indians and gave us shelter from the midday sun.

The first step..

2008-04-07T19:42:00.000+05:30

Hay, welcome to my shiny new blog site. As most of you know I have been traveling around India on a Royal Enfield Motorbike that I purchased in Sept 2007 in Goa.
For the first six months I stayed in Goa while I got used to the bike and to be honest got it fixed up to a reasonable serviceable condition. Yes I bought a bike that was pretty fucked, because I refused help which I was offered on a couple of occasions from people that new a hell of a lot more than me, because I always know best ha ha. But I'm a man and course I thought that gave me the birth rite and an inborn knowledge of all things mechanical. But to my surprise this was not to be the case and I ended up buying basically a heap of shit. I spent many days in the garage while the bike was being fixed, but this gave me the opportunity to learn a little about the bike which later became very useful so everything turned out perfectly.

Mysore in Karnataka

2008-02-19T15:56:00.002+05:30

Maharajahs Place...

The Maharajahs Palace was an impressive Building.

Crossing the river in Gokarna

2007-12-18T18:44:00.001+05:30

This was a hair raising moment when I crossed the river in Gokarna to go to Kumta. This Enfield is heavy maybe around 200kgs and it took three of us to get into this little boat. On the other side it had to be lifted up about 1 meter which nearly broke our backs.

Yana 100kls from Gokarna..

2007-12-13T21:09:00.002+05:30

These two huge rocks are to found 25kls into the jungle on a gravel path. There are temples carved into the rocks and it is a pilgrimage destination for Hindus.

This is the larger of the two rocks and they are completely isolated from anything else. There is just jungle all round for 360%.

This was the path which was approx 25kls to the rocks in the middle of the jungle.

Around Gokarna

2007-12-12T12:26:00.003+05:30

This was taken in the jungle in search of two huge rocks.

In search of Honey Beach.

2007-12-10T12:36:00.004+05:30

We watched as the two gentlemen put the bail of straw on this lady's head, it seemed kind of heavy as it took two men to lift it onto hear head.

This is Honey beach, after a trek of almost 20kms we eventually found it.

I spent a few weeks with these two lovely girls and we hung out together. We had a great time and sometimes it was a squeeze getting the three of us on the bike.

Om beach (Karnataka)

2007-12-03T21:34:00.001+05:30

Om beach in Gokarna (Karnataka). Name Gokarna aclually means cows ear in Hindi.

More people from Goa.

2007-11-12T17:38:00.002+05:30

Namanja form Serbia.

Ana form Portugal.

Charlotte from UK.

Kt from USA.

Nina from Israel.

People I've met Goa

2007-09-24T17:26:00.004+05:30

Khali from the UK

Carolina from Italy & Francisca from Portugal.

Gael from France.

Pavlik from USA.

Goa in September

2007-09-12T17:11:00.002+05:30

The only sun worshipper on Anjuna beach in September.

This is from Hilltop overlooking Vagator beach, it was unrecognisable a couple of weeks later full of beach shacks and sunbathers.

If any one can throw some light as to what this is I would be grateful. So far haven't found out.

These are some of the pictures taken in the last few weeks of the monsoon. During the month of Sept 2007.

Leaving Dinner.

2007-09-08T15:45:00.000+05:30

My leaving dinner...

London just a couple of days before leaving for India.