Mike and Cathy Travels

Setting out - Delhi to Shimla Humayun's tomb in Delhi We regretfully left our 'holiday within a holiday' in Goa and took the short flight to Delhi (making sure no battery packs were in the check in luggage). A quick scan of the google maps (an essential addition to any taxi journey) showed the traffic on a Sunday evening was not too bad, so we booked an official black and yellow cab to 'Laffair'. The original hotel we going to be the Puja Palace ( which we used on another Intrepid trip 15 years before ) but due to a recent fire many hotels had been closed for safety reasons. Next morning we had a tour of the crowded market area of Old Delhi. Narrow streets Traditional transport Imaginative wiring Rickshaw traffic jam - along with motorbike which can be seen just dismounting the pavement.  The 'team' at the Jama Masjid - and 'H' - (Harshvardhan) our brilliant and friendly guide. At 300R for a ca...

The Cathedral in old Goa  Our hotel Mateus off a quiet road in the center of the old Portuguese part of town. Let sleeping dogs lie... we came across many dogs ,some in quite large groups but never felt worried. They mostly seemed well fed and happy to bounce around before finding something more interesting.  Inside one of the churches in old Goa, still the largest in Asia aparently. I didn't realise that the Portuguese were in Goa for 400 years before the Indian army fought them and won the war in 1961. Our bus to Old Goa for a princely sum of 15 rupees(around 20p)  each Oh well it had to happen , pictures of food, in this case a fish Tali in a busy lunch spot in Panjim.  And while on the topic of food and drink here is the bar that even brews it's own craft beers about 3 min walk from the hotel.  We are leaving Panjim and the Mateus hotel to seek out of the beaches of Goa. But before this blog moves on here are a few mor...

Mumbai, maddening but marvellous. The traffic is terrible taking 2 hours to go 20 miles but even in the thickest tangle there is much more good natured than you'd ever get in the UK. We are staying with 'family' who were neighbours to Cathy's parents in 'Bombay' back in the 1960s. Cheers from Nalini  In the garden with  Ammu A typical street On the Mumbai local train at a quiet time, with our amazing guide from Khaki tours. We did two trips, one to elephant island and one walking tour of historical Mumbai and both were full of interest and insights. Unofficial accommodation  (count the satellite  dishes ) With Ravi and Shoba at the banana leaf South Indian Restaurant. Lunch with Dilip, Sumir, Gayatri and Kapu  Rasmalai ...yum At the top of Gilbert hill On juhu beach  Carvings of Shiva and Parvati on elephant island  The amazing Britania restaurant where the Parsee owner at age 97 still waits...