Welcome, Billy Clarke!

Thanks Billy. You can be a member of my website Wildlife Uncovered.

=D

I've been a couple of times, have had the Africa bug the last few years!

I try to travel as often as I can afford & set it all up myself & try to keep away from the usual tourist haunts.

In Africa we hire a 4x4 & a tent & get lost in the bush for a couple of weeks on our own.

In the cities of India you will be surrounded by hawkers & beggers, treat them politely, it can be overwhelming but these are people trying to make a living, trying to get the best price just as we do here when we go for a job we want the highest paid wage for our labours.  If you feel you want to give something to beggers get them to do something for you, tell you something, show you where something is, as we earn our money then so should they, even as token gesture.

To help with your ideas for India,  Try two days in Agra for the forts as well as the Taj but when you visit the Taj go early 0500 before the crowds, watch the sun rise there before it fills with tourists.  There are many forts in Agra all tied in with the history of the Moguls & the sad story behind the Taj.  You can always sleep later in the day.

The history of the fort at Rhanthambhore is facinating & the way the fort is built to prevent raids & prevent war elephants from attacking.

Not sure how many days you have but Johdpur is interesting but try & get out of the cities away from the beggars & other pressures.  Try to get to the villages to sample the true India, the village life is not much different than ours.

Hygene the food itself is not a problem but germs are everywhere, you touch a door handle then wipe your mouth = Delhi Belly!  This is no different to here in the UK except these are new germs to us westerners we have not got the immunity to them & germs breed fast in these temperatures.

Regards

Roger

Thank you Billy,it`s a pleasure to be your friend.

Alan