This post was originally published on 27th May 2019 and updated on 20th June 2021. Have you ever felt an overwhelming desire to go somewhere or do something you’ve never done before? I’m not talking about a desire to go somewhere just because it looks nice or because it’s different to somewhere you would ordinarily…
Tag: india
Book Review: Eighteen Moons by Andi Webb
I first stumbled across Andi Webb during the first lockdown of 2020. Mid-pandemic, like so many others, I found myself with extra time on my hands, so I decided to take the opportunity to spend some time looking for new bloggers to follow. As soon as I found Andi’s blog ‘Diary of a Gay Dad’…
Why redundancy doesn’t scare me
August was largely a month of celebrations: I celebrated 2 years of The Mindful Gingernut; I moved out of central London and into my new suburban flat; I finally saw my family for the first time since March; I celebrated my 18 month anniversary with my boyfriend (no mean feat by my standards!); And I…
Goa, Mumbai, London – Days 14 to 16
This blog post is a particularly special one for me. Not only does it bring me to the end of my diary reflecting back on my first trip to Asia, and more specifically to India, it’s also time to celebrate, as this is my 100th blog post since the journey of The Mindful Musings of…
Goa – Day 13
Another night, another overnight train adventure Before arriving in Goa, it was time to embark on another overnight train journey. We were slightly better prepared for this one, and travelled in much more comfortable clothes. Our taxis also managed to pull up right next to the station, so there would be no walking across the…
Mumbai – Day 12
Day 12 was Chu and Eric’s last day with us. They had been the most wonderful company throughout the trip. They had so many interesting stories to tell, but were also keen to learn from each of us and to hear about our experiences too. They had become our ‘India’ mum and dad for many…
Mumbai – Day 11
Bleary eyed, we arrived into Mumbai on the overnight train, 12 hours after leaving Falna. Hot, sweaty, and still wearing clothes from the day before, we jumped into our awaiting taxi’s, and headed into Central Mumbai, where we would be staying at the Hotel Royal Castle. Mumbai (formerly known as Bombay), is India’s largest city…
Overnight Train to Mumbai – Day 10
A date with a Palm Reader… Day 10, and we woke up to another beautiful day in Udaipur. With only 5 days until I would be back in London, it felt like the end of the trip was getting ever closer. With this having been the longest trip I had taken so far, I wasn’t…
Udaipur – Day 9
It’s been difficult to start writing about India again with a pandemic hanging over us like a lead weight. So far there have been over 3,605 deaths in the UK, and we face social distancing measures. Meanwhile, the Indian government have taken a much stricter approach, by imposing a 21 day lockdown throughout the entire country,…
Udaipur – Day 8
Tensions Rising Day 8 – New Years Eve. What should’ve been a fantastic end to 2019, instead, marked the day that cracks started to show within our group. I guess when you have 14 people travelling together for a considerable period of time, with varying amounts of sleep, sickness, and enjoyment, it’s only a matter…
Pushkar – Day 7
Day 7 in India started with a squinty eyed 5am wake up call. It was time to layer up and head out to our awaiting tuk tuks, which would be driving us through the quiet back streets of Pushkar to the base of Ratnagiri Hill, whereby Savitri Temple sits at its peak. We would be…
Lost and Found in India
Hello Annual Leave, What an absolute pleasure it is to see you! 2020 has been a funny old year so far, so it’s nice to have 5 days off work, catching up with sleep, life admin and making plans for the next couple of months. After spending much of last year planning and prepping for…
Pushkar – Day 6
Before I arrived in India, two of the places I was most looking forward to visiting were Pushkar and Udaipur. When I booked the trip, I hadn’t heard of either of them before, but the more I read about them, the more I was looking forward to visiting them. I was sad to be leaving…
Jaipur – Day 5
Amber Fort Day 5 in India began with a tuk tuk ride over to the stunning Amber Fort, which lies 11km to the northeast of Jaipur. Construction of the Fort began in 1592 by the Rajput commander of Akbar’s army, Maharaja Man Singh, and was financed by war booty. This absolutely stunning fort, built from…
Jaipur – Day 4
After a 5 hour private bus journey (where I swear to god I thought I was getting frostbite at one point it was so cold!) from Agra, it was time to settle into Jaipur, the famous Pink City, where we would be spending the next couple of days. Our first stop of the day was…
Agra – Day 3
The beginning of this trip was full on. With plenty of optional activities which people didn’t want to turn down, we wouldn’t really get any ‘free’ time until we arrived in Pushkar in 4 days time. But for now, it was time to continue our journey as we travelled to Agra. Agra lies 206km (128…
Delhi – Day 2
After a restless nights sleep (thanks to a freezing cold bedroom, dogs barking outside, and spending half the night wondering if we had locked the bedroom door, but being too cold and tired to get out to check!), it was time to get up, and get to grips with Delhi. Our first stop was breakfast….
Delhi – Day 1
Arrival Day I arrived in Delhi on the morning of Christmas Eve after an 8.5 hour flight from London Heathrow with Virgin Atlantic. Whilst I had booked the trip through Intrepid Travel, flights were not included, so I took the opportunity to experience Virgin Atlantic for the first time, as my last little piece of…
Looking back at 2019
Does anyone else keep forgetting we’re not only heading into a new year, but a new decade too? I considered looking back at the last decade in this post, but I’m looking forward to drawing a line under it and moving on into the new decade with a fresh perspective, embracing new opportunities and living…
Reflections
When I decided to book my trip to India earlier this year, I knew it was a life changing decision. I still find it hard to explain the feeling I had at the time. It was a mixture of excitment and overwhleming emotion, just knowing that this was absolutely something I had to do. I…
Countdown to India – 15 weeks to go
With less than 15 weeks to go until my trip to India, it’s time to start getting organised. I still have a fair amount to sort out before I can board my flight from Heathrow to Delhi on 23rd December. I still need to: Apply for my visa Pay for the rest of my trip…
My Top Tips for First Time Solo Travellers
Firstly, it’s probably important to explain that I am by no means a seasoned traveller or solo holidaymaker. My travelling experiences to date have largely been in Europe, and most have been with family and friends. However, the last few years, have seen me pushing the boundaries of my comfort zone, becoming more adventurous, and…
My Indian Adventure
I recently wrote about the Laws of Attraction and the overwhelming desire I have to visit India. Well, I am beyond excited to let you, my readers, know, that I am making that dream a reality. This Christmas, I fly out to Delhi for a 15 day trip to India. Whilst there, I will visit…
The Mindful Gingernut 