So, just booked a room in New Delhi for the first night(s) at Hotel Raki International in the area of Paharganj, where most of backpackers are staying. The idea is here getting in contact with other guys and checking posssibilities and latest travelling-news.

Lonely Planet is saying, that rooms are having windows - important, at least for the first night(s). Rooms is 300 Rs/Night, which is around 5 to 6 EUR.

I am arriving late at night - at 00.20 with Austrian Airlines, so a taxi will catch me up at the airport with a shield with my name on it.  Funny…

Went to the Nepal embassy in Vienna (Akazienstrasse 30, 1230 Vienna) to get the Visa for Vienna. Everything went fine. After paying a fee, leaving a photo and filling out a form, I received my Visa within 10 Minutes.

Ok, I am focusing on a more defined route. I will focus on the northern part of India and will join parts of Nepal:

Delhi - (Agra) - (Jaipur) - Rishikesh - Bareilly - Kanpur - Varanassi - Patna - (Darjeeling) - Kathmandu - Delhi

The idea is starting from Delhi. I am not sure, wether it’s a good idea visiting Taj Mahal and the palace in Jaipur. I will make my decisions in Delhi. My plan is going north - where the Ganges has its source. Going to Rishikesh and going further into east by following the Ganges: Bareilly, Kanpur, Varanasi, Patna.

Depending on transport, time and my personal condition, I will decide in the area of Varanasi/Patna wether I will travel to Darjeeling or directly to Kathmandu in Nepal. If I am visiting Darjeeling, then I will travel to Kathmandu via Darjelling by jeep and bus. Should be an adventure. Crossing the borders…

Yesterday I succeeded in the second part of my rabbies vaccination. Same symptons as last time: A little bit cold, a little bit hectic and a “hot” night, which means, that I felt, that my body was struggeling with some side-effects of the vaccinations. Interesting, as it was the same last week after the first rabbies-vaccination.

Interesting stories, which Albert and Anna-Maria are telling about India. Very valuable infos and tipps.

The planning is now focusing on Dehli and the North-West to the source of Ganges and this area. Depending on some things, I will decide following the Ganges fast to arrive in Darjeeling. Something like this…

Some guys are asking me - what are your plans in India and where do you want to go there.

My plans in India are exploring the country and getting in contact with another culture.

I am planning three different routes. I do not have a lot of time - there are 3 weeks left. It’s OK and I know, that even within three weeks it is possible to see and visit a lot. I have got some plans and possibilities, but will decide on the fly, where to go and what’s the best.

What I am planning is to start in New Delhi. Go to Agra and Jaipur. I will go there by bus and train. The weather in India is very hot at the moment and it is short before the raining-season (is starting in June).

Route 1: If it is not too hot, public transport is OK and it is possible to travel “fast”, I will choose Route 1 and  go further into the south: Ahmedabad, Bombay, Goa.

Route 2: If public transport is OK and the weather is too hot, I will check the East: Kolkata or Darjeeling with a wonderful view to the Himalaya.

Route 3 I am going to choose, if I decide to focus on nature and the north and if I notice, that a big tour is getting too exhausted.

Lets see…

I want to play safe, therefore I invested in safety and vaccinations. Today I took the first of two cholera oral vaccinations.

1. Reading the instructions.
2. Opening the package with the powder and give it in a glass.
3. Filling water into the glass and wait until it fomed.
4. Put the oral vaccination into it.
5. Add another part of water.
6. Mix it.
7. Drink it.

The medicine tasted a little bit like rasperry… not bad. After a few minutes I got stomachache, felt a little bit strange - but it did not take long… Hm…

The more I am talking with other guys about India, the more I get to know, which people have already been there. I like this, getting in contact and getting inputs - where to go, what do see and listening to their travel-experiences.

Anna-Maria (a working-colleague in Austria) was in India twice. She was there two times. First time for 2 months and the next time about half a year. North and South. She said, both time it was too short…

Yesterday, the lady at the reception at my fitness-center in Vienna noticed me reading Lonely Planet India, while I was doing sports. She came to me and shared her experiences with me. Will meet her next time again and she is going to prepare some stuff. Wonderful.

On Monday I am going to meet Albert. Another guy, who has been in India for several times.

Well, this as a short update from my site. Very exciting…

Trying to get in contact with a working-colleague - Pooja S. She comes from India, works in the Netherlands within the same organization at the same company as I do. I am working with her in the area of 2.0 and internet. She inspired me a lot in doing this trip and made me interesting in the culture of india. Well… lets see what she is going to tell ;)

Okidoki. Just coming home from the institute for tropical medicine in Vienna. Heavy - got the first 4 out of more then 10 vaccinations: 3 in my left and 1 in my right arm. I was already vaccinated for Hepatitis due to my last trips through South-East-Asia. This time, it seems to get a little bit harder. And more expensive. I seem to understand… It’s good, that those vaccination is possible within two weeks…

Japanese Encephalitis (2 vacc.), Rabbies (4 vacc.), Cholera (2 vacc.), Typhoid (1 vacc.),…

I tolerated the serum very good, although my left arm is hurting at the moment a little bit…

My next appointment at the institute is on April 21 and April 28 - on April 17 and April 24 I have to take one oral vaccination of the Cholera-thing which is now in waiting in my fridge…

Friday early in the morning I was standing in the indian embassy in Vienna at Opernring 1 (1010 Vienna). Some people were standing in the small line: Two backpackers, one business-traveller and an indian couple.

I was excited… Gave the ambassador my visa-sheet, an image, my passport and 50 EUR for a 6-month-travelling-visa (shortest you can get). I was surprised, when the very nice ambassador told me, that I can catch my passport with the indian Visa at 5 PM this afternoon. Perfect, it does not take more then 8 hrs.!!