Hello all... this blog will now be under the joint penmanship of Claire and Helen as we cant be bothered to write one each!!

So wow its been quite a while since the last entry so much to fill you all in on.  Currently we are in Delhi and taking a chill out day to sort all our shit out and recouperate (if spelling mistakes its all Claires fault!!). 

Firstly Helen arrived looking lost and bewildered at Trivandrum airport to be greeted by burnt Claire after a couple of days up in the hills of Munnar.  After finding our Rickshaw guy (Shaiju) we took the long journey back to Mitra where Helen promptly collapsed into bed!! After a day of wandering around it was time for Claire to say her goodbyes and blub like a baby.  All morning i was sobbing whilst saying goodbye to all the people i had come to know and love, the kids, beena, sashikala, anihl and regi.  So we donned our packs and took to the road heading north for Varkala. 

Varkala- The first major beach experience and the first stop on the tourist trail!  It was clerly visable as the line of tibetan and kashmiri shops faithfully follow travellers wherever they go.  Beach best in the morning when hung over tourists still asleep. 

Allepy- THE BACKWATERS... nmet up with an old friend of Claires from Mitra, Thomas, and bargained our way onto a houseboat.  Cruizing at an extreamly leisurly pace we took in the surrounding paddy fields, villages and general natural splendor.  Thomas and Claire proceeded (after a bottle of gin) to discuss the oddities of Indian life.  Helen slept.  As there were only 2 beds Claire took a matress under the stars which was a pretty cool way to spend the night!!  After breakfast the next morning we headed straight for Cochin, Kashi cafe (a favourite of Claire and Thomas' and now a new convert Helen).  Much mosquito repellant was applied after the harsh lesson Claire learnt last time she was in Cochin (120 bites in one night!!!).  After a day in Cochin we bid farewell to Kerala and took the night train (AC ....VERY COLD) to Goa.

Goa-  Panjim first stop, portugese town with a laid back atmosphere but nothing to keep us longer than a day or so.  That fateful old goa was the next stop for a few hours.  But oh what a few hours... only 2 minutes of the bus and Claire discovers her wallet has been lifted and with no hope of regaining it.  After standing on the side of the road swearing and looking a little lost Claire called her poor father at what must have been 4am english time to cancel the cards!!  Claire has then proceeded to take money from the charitable and kindhearted bank of helen.  With old goa slightly marred by this incident we took in a few churches got bored and left.  To the beaches!!!  The most northerly beach in Goa, Arambol, was our destination full of aging hippies and us.  Found ourselves a beach hut and a few cocktails, and settled in for a few days chilling out.  We went to a night market near by to test our bargainning skills, had our spiritual experience at a special tree...where basically the religion is weed and trying to lure women into thier beds .... we left..promptly. 

Mumbai-  A pleasant suprise!  Expecting dirt ridden, claustrophobic and beggar infested city we were pleasantly suprised to find broad road, relativly clean streets and less hassle from beggars.  We saw all the sites, played a little cricket with some local kids in the oval maiden, and walked a long LONG way!  Mainly because of our lack of any sense of direction.  Attempted to watch a bollywood film and made it to the half way mark (we think) but a freezing cinema, numb bum and absolutly no comprehension of the story forced us out after only 1 1/2 hours!!!  Poor show old chaps! (we have reverted to usuing overly English phrases to counteract the crazy accent Claire has aquired....long live the Raj!!)

Last night we flew into Delhi barely an hour in and Helen was stuck down in her prime with the deadly curse of Delhi belly ...the iron stomach of Claire soldiers on!!  Hlen would liek to make known she is still alive and almost well...thanks to her kind sponser immodium. 

OK this has been mammoth time to look bureacy in the face and attempt to get a visa for vietnam!! 

Miss you all and love you lots

Helen and Claire xxx  (it sounds better this way round!!)