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Hi Stu Thought you would like this quote from John Madden (film director) in today's Sunday Times: "India has always intrigued me. There's something seductive and mysterious about it, but I had never been there until I shot my new film. I landed in Rajasthan just before the monsoon, and didn't know where to look first. It was teeming, loud. staggeringly hot and overwhelming. I was reeling for two days. The country quickly absorbs you, and it completely changed me. I don't think it is possible to go there and not be changed in some. I recall walking through Jaipur and being offered a card advertising Excellent Happy Tours, with a picture of a Mercedes, by a man with one foot in his tuk-tuk. That was the Mercedes , and there wasn't the slightest sense of any contradiction between the picture on the card and the reality. He simply beamed at me and said: "Good speaking English". So I hopped in and we went around the block. That's classic India." Priceless! I think we can both agree with this and he describes the country beautifully. We are off the South Africa in two weeks but are already planning to return to India (the South) next year. Cheers Steve P.S Where's Sticky?

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I think that summed up India pretty well Steve, we loved, hated it, couldn't wait to get away, can't wait to return. People have asked me how it compared with China, there's absolutely no comparison, China's fantastic, but India gets under your skin. Had I ventured there as a young man I may never have left. Like you we plan to return, either later next year or the year after, only this time I think we'll organise it ourselves, rail and bus travel is easy, and you get right so much closer to the people and the country, a little too close sometimes but what the hell. One memory I have is sitting at the back of a bus with the rest of our group, nine of us at that time, going from Bharatpur to Agra singing Yellow Submarine, much to the amusement of all the locals on the bus, hanging out of open train doors while crossing the Thar desert to take photographs and riding on an elephant to the Amber palace. Not to forget Varanasi, I doubt that anyone who's ever visited there could ever forget it, dawn and sunset over the Ganges with the Ghats as a backdrop could have been on another planet it was so alien, weird and beautiful. I gone all George Harrison, found myself singing Hare Khrishna, Hare Rama, occasionally. Friends who have been before say that they prefer the south, if you want I'll get a list of some "must visit" places. Haven't heard from Sticky for a while, although I believe that he's working more than ever since he retired.

Namaste Stu

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Hi Stu You have echoed my thoughts exactly. China was grey and sad whilst India was colourful and vibrant. Varanasi must be the most incredible city on this planet, I loved it. The way it excited all the senses and the 20000 Hindu pilgrims a day certainly made the city lively. The Ganges at dawn was the most remarlable city, chaos but calm. Everyone knew what they were doing, holy bathing, laundry, praying, having hair shaved, cremating bodies and a multitude of other activities but there was peace. Nobody payed much attention to anybody elses activity or reason for being there and just got on with there own thing. Then there was the sunrise - wow!! I can also believe that maybe I could have stayed if I had visited earlier in life. I can now appreciate what George Harrison found in the Hindu religion and Varanasi. Everybody must go, it is difficult to find the words that describe it adequately. Yes Stu, I woulkd welcome any information regarding the South of India. Cheers Steve

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