Goa & Kerela: Since Pushkar I have traveled many kilometres and seem so many things - Hindu, Buddhist and Jain temples, palaces of Maharajas that once ruled, massive forts perched on top of hills that reflect the strength of its warrior builders. And I spend hours in a bus looking at the country side and its people. It is such a magical place.

Udiapur is a city in the western state of Rajasthan. It is so romantic with "misty ochre-shadowed hills and pale, intricate buildings which encircle a small lake. At the lake's centre is the mythical Lake Palace - by day a wedding cake dreamed up by feverish imagination, by night a spot lit mothership". It is definitely a city worth visiting.

I visited Ajanta and Ellora caves near Aurangabad. These caves are literally hammered monuments out of rock in remote areas of the state. They were done 1000 to 1500 years ago by Buddhist, Hindu and Jain monks. What wonders they are.

Leaving Rajasthan we flew to Mumbai and then hopped down to the state of Goa which is party central. It's on the west coast of India and has over 100 km of beautiful beaches. The sand feels like corn starch under my feet and the Arabian Sea is like a warm bath. We practiced yoga in the sand at sunrise, went for long walks and sat in thatched beach huts drinking beer, eating fresh fish for just cents and watch the most incredible sunsets. Truly bliss.

Further south is the state of Kerela. I've really entered the tropics where heat and humidity can beat you down quickly. This is winter and the average temp. is 28 degrees Celsius. Summer or monsoon time would be unimaginable - even having survived Toronto's heat this past summer does not prepare you. The Kerela people are the best looking in India I think, which wonderful smiles and a gentle manner. Their government is more socialist than other states and so infastructure and social services are much better and the people really benefit. They have 100% literacy and are very well educated. I stayed overnight on a rice barge converted into a houseboat. We cruised the many canals, just south of the city of Kochi. A very romantic moment. I also got a great motorcycle ride in Kochi which was so much fun. The driving everywhere in India is chaotic and madness. There are no rules. Motorcycles or scooters are more often the family car and you see mother, father and 2 on 3 kids all perched on a small bike, no helmets, weaving in and out of traffic. I only had to share the bike with one person, so consider myself lucky.