Day 12 -(Aug 28) - First update

well. here it is. My first post since I left.
What have I been up to?
* 3 luxurious days in Bangkok.
* Getting to Delhi airport without hotel booking document and the hotel not turning up to pick us up as organised. Delhi International is the most unorganised airport I've ever been to. Including Harare airport 15 years ago! We eventually worked out where the pre-paid taxi terminal was, and I managed to push my way through to the front of the line and pay a fee to get a taxi.
* our $US35 a night room in Old Delhi was a bit of a shock. Cockroach pellets sitting on all the drains. Shower and toilet all in same room, with water from shower flowing directly onto the ground. And $35 is a lot by Indian standards!
* Saw some mosques, temples, miscellaneous historial buildings. Check my flickr account for photos.
* Got hassled by most Indian males on the street trying to scam us/sell us something! Very annoying

* After 3 days in Delhi we finally got out, and arrived in Jaipur, the "Pink (orange?) City". This was heaven compared to Delhi, but that's not saying much. Lots of wild animals in the street (cows, pigs, stray dogs/cats, donkeys, goats...). And animal shit all over the place, to go with all the rubbish strewn everywhere too. Luckily I had my scarf to mask the smell when required. Jen used my handkerchief.
* Met a guy from the US (who's been living in Johannesburg for 2 years), Ben, who we shared a 3 hour car ride from Jaipur to Pushkar with for one day. Ben, Ben and Jen in a car (with Omouk, the driver). Pushkar was lovely. No pollution. Not too many hassling locals. Cheap good food. Was my highlight of India so far.
* After one more day in Jaipur Jen and I split up so I could come back to Delhi to sort out a replacement passport (mine's already damaged, after only 10 or so days!). I'm here for 11 hours (6am - 5pm) just to visit the Australian Consulate, apply for the passport, and get-the-hell-out-of-here! Heading to Agra, where there's a little mosque called the Taj Mahal, or something like that. After Agra we're on to Varanassi (on that famous India river) and then to Darjeeling for some respite from the 35+ degree heat we've experienced everywhere else! We'll hang in Darjeeling for a week or so, before heading south again.

that is all,
Benji

All packed

3 days until I leave. I've thrown all that I need into the day pack from my big backpack.

Here's what I've packed:

Antibiotics (for when, not if, I get sick)

Malaria tablets (for when I'm in the centre of India)

Imodium (for when, not if, I have diarrhea!)

Ventolin (asthma medication)

3 pairs undies

2 t-shirts

1 wife beater

1 pair thongs

1 pair shorts

MacGyver knife (grandfather's Suisse army knife)

two silk sleeping bag liners (to avoid bed-bugs!)

1 small travel towel

1 lucky horse shoe charm (my other grandfather's)

itinery/e-tickets etc.

Wearing:

1 pair shorts

1 pair undies

1 button-up shirt

1 pair black socks

1 pair skater shoes

1 camera around neck

1 portable music player

1 airline headphone adapter

1 pair headphones

1 money belt for passport/cash/traveler's cheques etc.

I think that's it. 

This is all I need for 3 months (Bangkok, India and Taiwan)

Counting down now

6 days to go

as above. That is all