Taj Mahal

We got to Agra at 3.30am.  we had to wait until 6am for the gate to open.
We went to a restaurant, Mum and Dad had breakfast.

The Taj Mahal is the most beatiful palace in the world. It is for burying the kings wife, and the king.

Dad is touching the Taj!

Its made of marble.

The minarets are things that a man goes up and shouts something.
They are on the side of the Taj.

You can see the reflection of the Taj in the water.

The gate is made of sandstone.

Port Blair, Andaman Islands

We rented a motorbike and went on a boat to Ross island. There was an earthquake 71 uears ago which ruined all the navy houses.
Next we went to Chatham sawmill to see the wood being cut.
We took a ferry to Bamboo Flats and we rode to Mount Harriot through the rain forest. The trees were massive and some had Strangler Figs growing on them using the trees trunk for support.
We saw a massive sea Eagle fighting with two Seagulls over a fish.
We returned to the harbour and bought a two foot long Barracuda fish. We took it to a restaurant called The Cool Bar and they fried it. I had it with Biriani (chicken), Pakora, popadoms and Parathas. It was the best fish I have ever eaten!

We returned to Port Blair through the small villages.

Leaving Havelock Island

I really want to stay in Havelock, especially with Charlie Blackspots the puppy.
Also the other two puppies called Julia (white and black spots) and Kendal (brown boots)

I will miss snorkelling, helping Sargeant and Nellie in the reception and Cook.
I really like the spaghetti Bolognese.

I will miss Pakoras, popadoms, onion bhagees, Aloo Pakora and paratha.
All of these things I tried for the first time.
Our hut was Good, the lock was in the shape of a fish. It was made from bamboo and straw and had an upstairs.

Coconuts sometimes fall on the roofs and make a really loud bang on the tin.
Mum nearly got hit by one.
There are millions of Hermit crabs here. I found a massive one in our bathroom.

Havelock Island

We walked four kilometres to Eco Villa resort.
We met Jean Piere from south east France, we had lunch with him and decided to go snorkelling tomorrow.
We rented a motorbike and saw a Bollywood movie being made on the beach. We went for a ride and saw a big Kingfisher as big as a sprite bottle.
We are waiting for our big white snapper to be cooked.

Our hut is very nice. It is made from bamboo and palm and is 10 steps from the sea.

The boat to Havelock Island

Today we got off the train at Chennai, we went to the airport on a bus. The bus stopped on the wrong side of the motorway.
We got a ticket then a flight for Port Blair, Andaman Islands.
We got out of the airport into a taxi to a boat.
Train, bus, aeroplane, taxi boat, all in one day! (and an Autorickshaw to the beach hut)

Airport food

It's called Idely, and it cost 65p.
I don't like it.

Cochin to Chennai

Yesterday we went to Dal Roti restaurant on the rickshaw. It was closed. We went to an Xmas museum, it was the wrong museum. We walked 2 km to the maritime museum but it was just about to close for lunch. (this kind of thing happens a lot in India!......Dad)
Then we went to Oceanos restaurant which was great! We had prawns, fish squid and lime soda.
Today we are going to Chennai on the Chennai Express sleeper train.

Keralan food

Speechless!
Really nice, better than Delhi food, bananas mangos and coconuts fresh from the tree.
Good seafood.

Fort Cochin

We are in Fort Cochin, Kerala State.
Yesterday we went on a bus to the backwaters. We went on a boat. We had a look at how string was made from coconut hair. The boat wasn't powered by an engine, it was powered by an old man with a four metre long stick. The boat wasn't very big, it was only three seats wide and six seats long. We had a lunch stop and the plate was a leaf (banana leaf)
We had Indian food which was quite nice. It was a bit spicy , rice, Dahl, alloochat (potato), curried vegetables and mango and lime pickle which was VERY spicy which is why I didn't have it! We were on a lake around a small island.
When we got back to the home stay, two Indian boys showed me how to play cricket, which is their national sport. I showed them how to play Leggo.

Kerala Express

48hours, two nights sleeping. The backrest lifts up to form a middle bed with another above. The journey was great, we sat with an Indian family. The train food was a bit spicy the waiters brought it to us. Dad bought me a snakes and ladders game which we played (relentlessly).
We saw the landscape changing, we travelled 2816 km. it's cooler here, and raining. There are palm trees and bananas