dodgeramus

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[dodgeramus]

[dodgeramus]

Day 10: Woke at 6:20am for breakfast and poo before setting off back to Banaue, enjoying stunning sunrise views en route. Tricycle back to town via lovely "bowl" village surrounded by paddies, then met up with the Italians again, who suggested going to a cafe with Wi-Fi to book accommodation inSagadaa, which we did. Caught a van together, but this promptly broke down due to overheated brake pads, so had to wait for a replacement, playing tennis ball football in the meantime. Finally made it to Sagada around 2:30 and headed for tourist info before struggling to find our hotel, the shittly named See Too Ville. Got showered/powered up, then down to town to have lunch at Yoghurt place and search in vane for Wi-Fi. Planned next day at the tourist office, then down to Sagada Brew to drink beer, play cards and finally check emails. Home after for First Dates before bed.

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Day 85: Up at 5:30 after non-sleep/mossie feast. Irritable, especially when airport transfer wasn't even there, but got to airport in good time. Checked in, then had Subway wrap, beer and valium before flight. Slept a bit and watched family guy, then two-hour stopover in Abu Dhabi. 8-hour flight followed, which was uneventful: watched Steel Magnolias and ate lots. Alice threatened to go back to Ni's but then changed her mind. After landing, waited ages for baggage, then met mum and dad and drove home. Pizza and salad before bed at 3:30am our time.

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Day 84: Slow start; I packed while Alice did yoga. Paratha and egg for breakfast, then checked out and left bags before uber to Dilli Haat. Shopped there (shirt, rug, pickles, etc), then Khan market for coffee, then I went to Hauz Khas while Alice went to Janpath. Chilled in cafe drinking bitter tea, then met Alice again and pottered before trying to get thali at Social, but only available at lunchtime. Went to South Indian place instead for nice thali, then back to Villa 33 to pick up stuff and get uber to airport hotel, where the kids on the desk were pretty shit. Out on mission to buy illegal valium (Rs1100 for 10!), then back for shower, another mission for oranges and juice, then back for bed.

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Day 83: Up at 8am for nice breakfast and conversation with Anil (owner) and Maddie, young yoga traveller from Oz. She joined us as we headed out to Dilli Haat after, but it was closed due to elections, so walked in Lodhi Garden instead. Old Delhi after for cycle rickshaw tour, then metro back to Hauz khas for lunch at Social overlooking the lake. Walked back to our, buying mangoes en route, then chill for couple of hours (including failed Jacuzzi attempt). Out at 7ish to Social roof terrace for cocktails and beer, then kathi roll for dinner before home for bit of IPL and bed.

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Day 82: Left at 8:30am for last breakfast at ICH then walk to train. Shimla to Kalka on you railway, 10:40-16:10, then Kalka to New Delhi, 17:45-21:55. Listened to podcasts, read David Sedaris and watched Brothers Grimsby and Lagaan en route, and ate burger and then lots of courses on Delhi train. Taxi to Villa 33, arriving 11pm.

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Day 81: Slow start and late breakfast at Indian Coffee House, then shopping (Indian shirt, waistcoat, water bottle, more sewing machines), wax museum and Shimla museum. Bit more shopping, then drink at cheap rooftop bar before getting samosas and "twisted caeser salad" and having then back at ours. Packed stuff and chilled before heading back to rooftop bar in evening for two beers and mediation chat, then dinner at popular cheap place, provision shopping for next day and final walk back to Ballyhack. Bed while Alice packed. 

[dodgeramus]

Day 80: Indian Coffee House, then walk down the southern slopes to Dhanu temples, including argument about Zorastrianism and ignorance! Long walk back uphill, then lunch at burger stall, which was delicious. Home for chill after, then tea and gin and tonic outside, bumping into our neighbours, two young US medics. Out for dinner at Wake and Bake (pasta and soup), then home for start of Lagaan before bed.

[dodgeramus]

Day 80: Indian Coffee House, then walk down the southern slopes to Dhanu temples, including argument about Zorastrianism and ignorance! Long walk back uphill, then lunch at burger stall, which was delicious. Home for chill after, then tea and gin and tonic outside, bumping into our neighbours, two young US medics. Out for dinner at Wake and Bake (pasta and soup), then home for start of Lagaan before bed.

[dodgeramus]

Day 79: Usual start at Indian Coffee House, then walk down northern tracks, via Chapslee, cute monkeys in tree, sports day and other things. Back for street food (samosas and chana) then chill at ours (GoT), then out again in evening to Sol Bar, where we met Harry and Rupert, charity cricket filmmakers. Beer and lots of cigis with them, then late thali at popular hidden restaurant before comedy and bed.

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Day 78: Up early to check on Curve progress. Breakfast at Indian Coffee House, then walk to Glen and Annandale, where we had nice Maggi lunch at the Army Museum. Long walk back uphill after, listening to Buddhism podcast, then small argument about me being patronising for warning Alice about the market being crowded. Walked through market, buying Mirtazipine and knife, then home for chill in garden. Out for dinner at Western place, where Alice wanted curry, resulting in 15-minute order time. Afterwards got ice cream and cake before Queer Eye and bed. Curve money refunded!

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Day 77: Up at 8am (bit ill) for breakfast and downloading. Tried to get laundry but hadn't been done, so moved to Ballyhack and said we'd come back later. Kathi roll and coffee at Wake and Bake, then on to Western-style hanger to get salad for Alice and coffee shake for me. Back to our lovely place to chill in afternoon, then off to pick up laundry, which was missing two shirts. Back and forth trying to find these and eventually speaking to the owner, who said it was not their responsibility. Said I worked for Lonely Planet (cringe); she said the manager would have to pay out of his pocket! Eventually accepted Rs1000 for missing shirt, then got home to find my Curve card had been hacked and used to buy €1000 of stuff in Europe! Karma?! Phone to bank and emails to curve madenfor stressful end to the day.

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Day 76: Breakfast of omelette and bread in hostel, then walked all along the ridge, via Vice-Regent house and Summer Hill (thali lunch) as far as Chadwick Falls, which were dry. Got a 400Rs taxi back and explored town a bit more, finally finding delightful Ballyhack Cottage behind the church. Decided to commit to staying there for next 5 days. Dinner at strange cafe/restaurant/bakery with nobody there (biryani and tomato soup), then home for comedy and bed.

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Day 75: Arrived in Shimla at 5:30 and did long walk uphill to YMCA. Left bags and got dosas at Indian Coffee House, then back for Queer Eye on the balcony until our room was ready. Slept for a couple of hours, then out to explore. Lunch at Wake and Bake, then up to Hanuman temple for sunset. Back to town for tikka momos (chicken given wrongly!), then home for snooker before bed.

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Day 74: Usual start, then So Shanti yoga down in Dharamkot in nice half finished building with view. Breakfast at Cool Talk after, running into Rachel and Chiara, who were about to do a Bagsu cake-making course! "Adult play group." Back to our place to pack, then out for hike up to Gallu and around the mountains via flag place. Back to hotel to grab bags, then dinner at Trek and Dine with R and A (sizzles for Alice; pizza for me). Then said goodbye and got a taxi to Dharamsala bus stand, where we met a weird drunk Aussie-Polish(?) guy and another nutter shouting about hacking and how shit india/modi were. Finally got on small government bus at half 9.

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Day 73: Last day in Dharamkot. Usual start, then Tushita for meditation before coffee at Cool Talk. Walked down to town after to browse shops, then met up with R and A and went for lunch at Japanese place. Bought cheese after, then Bagsu to buy wine and other bits. Walked back with Rami while girls did yoga, then wine and cheese party on their balcony, talking of privilege, teenage years, parents, etc. Hot choc at Friends before bed.