Amristar

HI.
So, sorry I took so long to get on here and write to you but it was hard to come by computers, let alone working internet where I was, and plus I spent a lot of my time traveling on trains and buses and planes and so I was very much away from the online world.

I loved Jaipur so much. There are lots of great forts, and the food as usual was delicious. Mmm. I was sad, but ready to leave. It's also the place where it was the HOTTEST I have ever been. I had wanted to go farther west initially, but it gets even hotter as you go deeper west into the desert. Sooooo I will save that for next time! I got a train for about $20 Up to Amristar and it was seriously the worst train ever. Well the train itself wasn't that bad, hahaha, but the surrounding conditions were horrible.

First of all, I just want to say that during the day it was 45-50 degrees, and during the evenings it MIGHT drop (if you're lucky) to high 30s and low 40s. My train was no air-conditioned so it was very very hot. I was told that my stop would be around 10am. That still being the morning, I Thought, wouldn't be TOO hot to be on the train. It is the hottest between 11-4 or so. So I got to talking to this family next to me and they said we should arrive around 11! Now, I was already looking at 8-10, so a 14 hour train ride, and it just became 15 hours. I kindof sighed, but there isn't anything to do about it so I just went with it. I don't know if you know what Indian trains look like, but there are 3 wooden benches that are on top of one another (not enough room to sit, just lay down on) and technically you are supposed to each have your own but there are so many people that they pack on the trains that sometimes you even have to share that. It was hot and stuffy and crowded and stinky. The toilet, is just a hole in the train floor where you can see the track beneath you, and off goes your pee (or otherwise...) ! I cannot even tell you how sweaty it was, all of everyone's clothes were drenched, and on top of that there was a lengthy windstorm and sand was flying in through the windows onto us. IT was like 1000 sand people on one dirty slow moving train.

In the morning I was asking around about who was stopping where and what time etc. because I tend to try to find people getting off at the same stop as me so that I know where I am and stuff- otherwise I could so easily miss my stop or get off at the wrong place etc. So I Was asking around and I asked this family where they were getting off. They said their stop was around noon, and so mine should be only 2 hours after that.....

TWO OCLOCK. So my train ride just became an 18 hour one. YUCK and midday at that.

So I moped for a bit and then just bought as many cold drinks as I Could and drank them, and never had to pee once because of how much I was sweating. My bum was sore. I was very tired from not sleeping (it's really hard to sleep when there are like 15 Indian people staring at you ). I was anxious to get to my hotel room which I had prebooked. It actually wasn't until 4:30 pm that we arrived at my stop. OMG. almost 22 hours. Oh it was so horrible. The entire time I was swearing I would never take a train again.

finally, FINALLY. I arrived in Amristar and got a cheap tuktuk to my hotel and my room was dirty and filled with cockroaches. wahhhhhhhh. I won't give any more details about that room, but I slept there for 2 nights..... ew.

The grreat thing about Amristar is all the amazing temples. There is the golden temple and lots and lots of other very diverse temples that are so gorgeous. I really enjoyed my day out. I also went to this very strange "border show" at the Indian/Pakistani border. The immigration offers did this like one hour interpretive stomping dance with their uniforms and guns and stuff, and there was a huge crowd and they were all shouting. IT was very dramatic and interesting but I didn't really understand the meaning behind it. Hahaha! I asked an Indian guy near me in between his shouting and he said he didn't understand why either. We were all just going with the flow I guess.

On the way home from the border show I asked my tuktuk driver to stop at the bakery, because there is an Indian sweet that I am OBSESSEDDDDDD with. It is white in colour (or dark orange. I don't understand why these two colours taste the same), and looks like a piece of fudge or something but the texture is that of a very rich pound cake mixed with melt-in-your-mouth fudge. It was INCREDIBLE. So I bought some to bring to X and Reffa for us to eat. Mmmm. I think they are gone now. I am keeping the address so that I can order some maybe in the future. I Don't know how I will live without this treat now.

After my decent day/horrible nights in Amristar I went to the airport for my much anticipated flights!! Off to Thailand!

It took me a full 24 hours to get here, but I am here in Surat Thani with Reffa and X :):):):) I am sooooooooo happy to be back visiting for a little bit!!! YAYYYYYYY. Eating so many great things, and the temperature here is hot, like around 30-35 but nothing compared to india!! OMG. Can't wait to go to Koh Samui! BEACH BEACH BEACH! and I AINT WEARING NO SARI. it's bikini time.

Love you guys ! Miss you!
xoxox