Blog Archives

Day 71 - getting closer to Nepal

30/4/2015

After a good night's sleep, Fred spends a few hours exploring Varanasi, wandering the backstreets, checking out some of the temples and shrines, as well as soaking up the atmosphere of the place. In the evening he catches the overnight train to Chapra, near the Nepalese border.

"The wagons were pulled by a steam train and as we chugged along it felt as though we were riding with Casey Jones (made especially realistic with the hooting of the steam whistle)."

Follow Fred's adventures from this day 34 years ago on the Daily Diary page.

Dreaming of Spain by Kelly Reising

29/4/2015

It is a great honour to feature this travel story competition entry from Kelly Reising. It tells of a dream that all travellers will recognise.

Check out Kelly's very professional website (not travel related but a revelation!)
http://www.imperfectparent.com/magnetism

Read about Kelly's Spanish dream on the Kelly Reising travel story page,

Day 70 - travelling to Varanasi

29/4/2015

After a good night's sleep in his top tier 'bed' Fred continues his train journey to Varanasi, where he is due to arrive late afternoon. He plans to spend a night there before carrying on with his travels towards Nepal.

"As the stations rolled by I dozed and listened to the myriad different noises that accompanied the train's progress across the countryside."

Join Fred as he he heads towards Nepal on the Daily Diary page.

Day 69 - visit to Agra Fort

28/4/2015

As Fred prepares to move on to Varanasi, he has a restful morning and gets things ready for the journey. He then walks out to Agra Fort where he spends a couple of hours looking around.

"It was possible to get right up onto the ramparts of the fort (with only a knee-high wall to prevent one going over the side). Although the day was cloudy it was still an impressive view over the river towards the Taj Mahal."

More about Fred's day can be found on the Daily Diary page.

3 days to go - April travel stories

27/4/2015

Read our 4 great featured entries for this month's travel writing competition:

The Grate Went by Matthew Dexter
Lost in Love by Jeremy Parris
It's Like Being on a Different Planet by John Rayburn
A Close Shave by Gareth Nixon

Enter your own story to get featured and win prizes - see the Competition page.

Day 68 - paying for the gems

27/4/2015

After being collected from the hotel, Fred goes with Babar to the bank to change some money before he pays for the gems that he is hoping to sell in Nepal. He then heads with Jamil to the railway station where he buys a ticket to Varanasi for tomorrow evening.

"I got a second class sleeping reservation to Varanasi. From there I'll have to get another train to Raxaul on the Indian/Nepalese border."

Follow Fred's travels on the Daily Diary page.

Day 67 - day out in Agra

26/4/2015

Fred spends the morning with his helpful Indian friends being shown an array of products. After a reflective afternoon resting in his room he is taken along to see the Taj Mahal.

"I was amazed by the amount of vultures down by the river and perching in the trees. Also saw a lovely sunset over the side of the Taj with many reflections across the river."

Read all about Fred's day on the Daily Diary page.

Day 66 - eventful train journey to Agra

25/4/2015

Still feeling rough Fred is in two minds as to whether he should travel to Agra today. Deciding to go ahead with the journey, he gets a scooter-taxi out to Old Delhi railway station and buys tickets for the Toofan Express.

"After a little wandering around the station finding my bearings I bought a second-class ticket. As things worked out it would have been cheaper to buy a first-class air conditioned ticket (R76) than the R13-50 I did pay."

Read about today's eventful train journey to Agra on the Daily Diary page.

Day 65 - recovery day

24/4/2015

Fred has a fairly restful day trying to build up his strength after the bout of Delhi belly yesterday. He tries to get a refund for yesterday's Delhi trip and visits the railway station to plan his journey to Agra.

"I got back to my room, still feeling pretty weak and listless. Lay around reading, writing and dozing for most of the rest of the day."

Read today's short entry on the Daily Diary page.

We Love Memoirs

23/4/2015

If you would like to chat to the author of Fred's Diary 1981 and other authors of similar books, you might like to join the We Love Memoirs group on Facebook www.facebook.com/groups/welovememoirs/

Please let me know if you'd like a personal introduction through the Contact Us page.

Fred