the bus journey from fricking hell.

Delhi was a bit of an experience; I stayed with my friend Tasker in the ghetto of Delhi - actually its not tat bad, its perfectly safe - and I loved it, it has a great atmosphere, less stressful, less people hassling you, more of an auethentic indian feel.  Then I went to the tourist 'zone' to get my bus ticket to manali in the himalayas.  Para Ganj, its called; what a fricking shit-hole.  Supposedly Delhi's answer to the Khoa Sahn Road.  Now I see why everyone comes to Delhi and absolutely hates it.  I would, if I hadn't seen the true side of Delhi myself.   Anyway, I got on a bus, meant to be 16 hours.  Obviously all the usual Indian stuff happened -  we left three hours late, we were marched off one bus, onto another, then after ten minutes taken back to the original one again - for no apparent reason - then at three in the morning we had to change buses, a fight broke out amongst two indian's for god-only-knows what reason.  And then the woman sitting directly behind me started puking.  Every five minutes.  With 8 hours still to go.  Those who know me know I have a bit of a history of travel sickness, which I only overcame by taking bus rides in India and the like.  I did well, until... Two hours from Manali EVERYONE started puking.  I mean, everyone.  It was ridiuculous.  The bus stank, and constantly the sound of vomiting could not be avoided.  I lasted an hour before I gave in and joined them.  Not a happy last two hours of an already pretty shocking journey.   Nevertheless, I got there in the end, found an amazing guest-house, randomly met an old friend I travelled briefly with four years ago, and had a good night on the piss.  Met some cool people, hada good night.  Our guesthouse is wicked; about a pound a night for a room that overlooks the himalayan foothills, and although Manali is a touristy place, it still has that unmistakeable Indian charm.  I love India.  I've already e-mailed a recording studio in Delhi asking for work.   Tomorrow me and a couple of friends are going on a 5-day trek into the Himalayas, staying in tents, going with horses, eating in the wilderness, eventually going up to 5200m...can't wait.