It’s been a travel day back from Amritsar today and I am starting to get into the mode of preparation for the next couple of countries, namely Hong Kong and Japan.

On waking this morning it was raining and surprisingly I was delighted.  It has been a bit dusty and dry out here so it will make for a change and a drop in the temperature of a few degrees.  My instinct was that if the driving was perilous in the dry it is even worse in the wet.  I was trying to impress to my Taxi driver this morning that I had plenty of time for my flight, but I don’t think he understood.  Yesterday’s drive on the way back from the border we passed a car that had just been involved in an accident.  Its front severely dented there were a heap of onlookers as we went by.  My driver talked to himself then did a little prayer.  I think it was along the lines of “There but for the grace of god go I” as it had clearly moved him that such things shouldn’t happen.  However, within 200 yards he was overtaking two cars on the dual carriageway down the middle of the white lines and blaring his horn for them to move out the way.

Leisurely flight to Delhi and the Express train again.  I am really impressed with this service.  It’s 3 times as good as the Heathrow Express and costs £1.40 each way and you get a running visible and audio commentary of exactly where you are.  The station terminals are also state of the art.

Feeling a bit hungry and in need of some basic food I kept my eyes peeled for the KFC which is prominently advertised and located in the Delhi Metro terminal.  As I wheeled my bag up the levels from the underground platform I noticed it was closed.  I assumed that they must have been closed for lunch.

Out into the infamous ‘back of the railway station’ I pulled my chariot with conviction through the on coming Tuk Tuks and Rickshaws and made my way to the Pre Paid Taxi Office.  I have now learned that you need to be more forthright.  Not as forceful as the Policeman I just passed with a 3 foot heavy bamboo ‘teaching’ stick.  “I need a Taxi for….” Price came back immediately and it was the same as a few days before.  A group of about 15 drivers were closely around me listening for dispatch.  I paid and a receipt was written. “So who is going to take me?, who knows where it is?”  They started discussing it between them and arguing.  A tall man with a white security uniform came to help me.  “So who will it be then?” I said.  He looked back in the office for help.  I started to gesture the route and to show my confidence that I knew where it was and therefore they should know.  One driver took the ticket and before we had left the group he started to light up what look like a spliff.  I pointed directly at him and said “and you can put that out now!” and he duly did, much to the amusement of the others.

And did he know the way.  Not a chance.  He had to keep stopping for directions.  He didn’t even see the hotel when we were parked outside it.

I have to say that India has given me a little perspective on its life.  I haven’t fully avoided all of the challenges that it deals with, but at the same time I am glad I haven’t ignored some of them.  My travelling friends have been a breath of fresh air.  It has been more an experience than a vacation and I am truly looking forward to the next 10 days just to recharge my batteries.  Everyone I have spoken to has said the same.  You go home or move on for a rest.   It has so many wonders to see and the people are on the whole friendly and with big hearts.  I really like the family values that they share.  The challenge I have found is that our western way of living is different to theirs and I am not going to judge, it’s just different.

In closing off on my India trip I have devised a simple game from my blogs over the last 14 days.  It’s a sort of India Bingo, I call it ‘I GO!’, where you need to see if you can remember the story where the word or couple of words came from.

I was going to make it competitive, but we will do it just for fun.  But to show you what you would might have won…

1. A copy of my cancelled Air India tickets to Amritsar

2. My recipe book for returning from ‘Delhi Belly’

3. A signed copy of my forthcoming bestseller ‘An Idiot guiding How to book Online!’

Here are the I GO key words…

And food today.  A Chicken Murgh Tikka Masala (Mild), with Pea Pulao and Chapatis.  Absolutely delicious.  And two packets of Skittles.  Appetite is coming back.

And for where next ? click on Where Next