Visiting India

Well what an experience! Stunning colours, beautiful clothes and amazing architecture. The weather wasn't bad either having left England at 1 degree and landing in Delhi at 25 degrees!

We experienced the Golden Triangle with a group of 24 soon becoming our good friends as we spent all of our waking time together. The Taj Mahal was probably one of the highlights of the trip, standing proud and gleaming in the sunshine with such stunning symmetry. Whilst outside, children performed to bring in the money for their families - a harsh reality. Rides on a rickshaw and tuk-tuk took us through narrow streets full of shimmering fabric, squishing between the cows, locals and street sellers and then we joined the madness of the main roads - also with the cows, dogs, pedestrians and lorries. Oh - not forgetting the push bikes and mopeds which seemed to be the main way of getting about, particularly if you'd just been to collect your roof tile or sheet of wood from the local building yard, or were delivering gas canisters, shoe boxes or blankets, not to mention taking your family of 6 out for the day! Fruit sellers were to be seen alongside the roads including the motorways (a meeting place for many Indian youngsters) and the amazing sight of goatherds moving their flock never ceased to amaze me.

An early start one morning led us to Ranthambore National Park - the only place without the plastic bottle littering problem - where, although the tigers did not show their faces, we were lucky enough to see crocodiles, wild boar, owls, monkeys and sloth bears. In contrast, the Amber Palace, high up in the hills, gave us the feeling of decadence with each mosaic covered wall and the far-reaching views across the valley.

So what next? Inspiration is developing in the form of bright colours and pinks, so watch this space for my next creation. But for now - I can safely say we are all curried out and enjoying being back home in Dorset where, although it is freezing, the sun is shining and the sea glistens along the beautiful coastline.