Inside India

We're in Gorakhpur now, train ticket to Trivandrum confirmed for tomorrow. However, we're unable to get air tickets to Male confirmed, so Hilath may have to hang on to his garlands for a while yet.

Gorakhpur is an unremarkable Uttar Pradesh city whose residents know people only come here to go to somewhere else. It's crowded, dirty and dusty, but energetic and enterprising too. Unfortunately, it's very difficult not to get ripped off here, whether you want a room, a bus, or even a meal. There's usually three or four parties between you and the service you want and the actual price may be 1/4th of what you really paid.

This is what puts me off most about India, even though there are a great many places here that I want to visit.

Yesterday was quite a day too. First an early morning bus to catch to take us from Katmandu to the border. They kept picking people up even though the bus was packed.

It was a misty morning and the sun only came out when it was noon. We drove mostly along the Terai, the flat strip of land in Nepal (in the photo).

Border formalities went without incident, but at the Indian side they asked the inevitable question: "Where's your visa?" Luckily the immigration officer didn't make too much fuss.

As we waited for our bus a few yards into India, the sun set. It was quite a sight: a flaming red ball dipping behind silhouettes of people, rickshaws, and traffic pouring in and out of both countries.

This is the last post until we get to Trivandrum on 18 December, after travelling 3,200 km.

One last thing, two days ago in Katmandu, Muha, who was homesick earlier, was at a travel agency inquiring about Mongolia!

I think he misses our friends in Gongaboo Choke.

I wonder if Sharif's stuffed toy and Shanoo's stuffed toy will ever meet each other.