We left Delhi on the express sleeper train to Goa.  Within 30 minutes of leaving the city we were surrounded by the lush green Indian countryside. As we travelled further south we watched ladies in saries working in the fields, men hurding cows, goats and even camels, whole families on motorbikes and people walking between villages.  The service on the train was great – we got fed five times a day – curries, dahls, chipatis, curd, tea, cakes, yum :)  At night our seats folded down into two double bunks, allowing us to sleep for much of the journey.

26 hours after leaving Delhi we pulled into the heat of Goa.  We got a cab to our digs – the Blue Corner, a small enclave of coconut huts by the side of the lush beach and warm waters of the Arbian Sea.

We spent a few days in Goa, and didn’t really do much – our plan was always to use this time to relax.  We walked into town a couple of times, but mainly hung out, reading, sunbathing, swimming and eating.  Food was amazing – very fresh, really tasty and as expected, a bargain.  You had to try really hard to spend more than a couple of quid on dinner.  There’s quite a few ex-pats here in Goa and a good mix of nationalities – we think a few people escape from the resorts up the road to come to our little place in the sun.  Including Manu, our new friend from Rajastan who despite never seeing a pool table before managed to ace me after I potted the black.  Git.

I really enjoyed our stint in Goa, it’s been a great wind down from the build up and stress of getting this far, I now feel ready to take on the rest of India.  We’ve planned the next leg of our trip – we’re off to the holy town of Hampi further south (7 hour train, £3), then onto Mysore and Kochin.

 

Wow, this place is chaotic.  We arrived into Delhi airport at 4am this morning, the entire city was covered in thick fog, so thick even the driver looked nervous.  After a white knuckle ride into the centre (during which I’m sure the driver kept falling asleep) we arrived at our fifth-floor guest house.  We’ve been for a stroll around the town of a million car horns, where we’ve been harassed by countless ricksaw drivers, chatted with scores of locals who just love to fire questions at you and been ushered into one phony tourist office where they tried to re-book our train tickets to Goa.  We battled with the metro to go to the Red Fort, only to discover half of Delhi is shut on Mondays.  Other than that all is good, if a little smelly.  Our initial encounter with Delhi is brief, for tomorrow we leave for Goa on the Rajastan Express.

We went on a 4×4 trip into the desert yesterday with some of the Vodafone Qatar crew.  15 people, three jeeps and a lot of sand and speed, loads of fun.  The drivers were pretty crazy – shooting up and down sand dunes at speed, catching some air (yes, in a Toyota Landcruiser, take a look at the photo) and generally having a riot.  We made it down to the inland sea (Khor al Daid) where the sea juts into the desert – you can see Saudi Aribia on the other side – before heading off to a camp for tasty middle eastern food, yummy.

PS – Leigh, thanks for the travel sickness tablets, very handy :)

 

Hello folks,

This is my first blog so be gentle with me.

Arrived in Doha on Thursday – imagine a large construction site in the middle of the desert which is gradually being transformed into a millionaire’s playground, where Western ex-pats and migrant workers from the sub-continent outnumber the natives 5-1, and you’re getting the picture.

Qatar has a population of 1 million (85% in Doha) and the highest average GDP in the world. I’ve seen no crime, no begging (but labour is extremely cheap), 4,000 beautiful hotels and 6 million massive Jeeps plus the odd Jag. Just like Delhi, then.

Stelios and Hee-Jong are looking after us very well – we had a tour of Doha and its COWS (cell cites on wheels, silly) yesterday, lunch in a mall built to look like the place that looks like Venice that’s in Las Vegas, and a lovely night out with booze and everything in an open air sky bar. Only £14 for a glass of wine. We also visited the museum of Islamic art, which was fascinating and beautiful.

Oh, and did I mention the pool and sauna on the top floor of the apartment building? That’s fascinating and beautiful too.

We’re off for a 4×4 tour of the desert this afternoon and we fly out to Delhi tomorrow for some proper luxury. I can’t sing off though, without mentioning that Qatar has an IRISH BAR. Is nowhere safe?

Toilets – 8/10 (marked down for lack of amusing trademarks like shower hose etc)  Food – 9/10 (amazing Sri Lankan buffet last night)

 

The day has finally arrived – we’re here in the office for the last time.  I’m trying my hardest to kill time and Jeannie looks like she’s actually doing some work.  A few sore heads this morning thanks to last night’s attempt to drink Newbury dry.  Photos have just gone up on FB: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=207240&l=c0c67&id=614690061

Saying goodbyes all day to loads of really great friends here, now that sucks.  I’ll miss these crazy kids.

Here’s select few photos of the fun we’ve got up to over the last five years at Vodafone.  Don’t worry shareholders, your investments are in safe hands :-S