Day 5 – Jasper

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This morning the temperature had dropped and the clouds were in for our first stop of the day; Pyramid Lake which lies at the foot of Pyramid Mountain. Although the sky was completely white, the grey of the low cloud added drama to the surroundings.

Our next stop was Old Fort Point, which coinsidently was where we walked to last night. It was lovely to see it in a different light however as by now the sun had started to break through the cloud. There was some beautiful reflections in the Athabasca River and we managed to find a high up view point which we completely missed yesterday (probably a good thing as it was very icy at the top so one of us would probably have been off the side in the evening light)

After a quick swing by Jasper Park Lodge for a mooch around their grounds (basically here’s a look at another hotel we couldnt afford to put you in 😂) and we headed back into downtown for a spot of lunch. We found this amazing cafe called Bear Paws Bakery. 10/10 for the food and lattes and would 100% recommend if anybody ever comes here!

This afternoon was all about Maligne Canyon. Armed with our cleats (not clits as I had originally thought) we set off for a walk around the canyon. I’ll be honest, I thought we would get to walk around the Canyon floor however we spent the walk up high looking down into the canyon. The photos just dont do it justice and dont show how deep it actually is – 160ft deep in parts! It was still a stunning walk with more frozen falls, ice climbers and snowy surroundings. Thank god for the cleats as it really was super icy in parts. Thank God nobody make the domino effect happen, especially as most of the group are over 65 (I really hope I’m still having these adventures at 65!!) After the walk we were treated to hot wine and s’mores. What more could you want to end the day!

Day 4 – Jasper

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This morning we left Banff and began our journey to Jasper, with a few detours along the way. The first of these was a beautiful walk at the Johnston Canyon to see the lower falls; a wonderful display of how nature can make art out of ice. It was however incredibly slippery at times so thank God for the railings of the walkway, which was suspended off the side of the canyon wall. The shades of blue of the frozen falls against the white of the snow was a photographer’s wank bank, so we managed to get a fair few snaps.

Back on the bus to thaw out and we started the drive along highway 1A, which I have to say is probably one of the most scenic drives I have ever been on. The sky and the landscape was constantly changing and it was hard to know which window to look out of.

We stopped at Lake Louise ski resort for a spot of lunch which was absolute torture as I was desperate to go and join them on the slopes. One day I will get to ski in Canada! At least I got to have some of the tasty slope cuisine that is chips and a hotdog.

Back onto the highway and we stopped at another frozen waterfall to watch some crazy people climb up it. I’m all for extreme activities but I think I’d draw the line at that.

We arrived in Jasper around 4pm and I have to say I’m not sure how I feel about the town. The surroundings are beautiful, but walking around the town itself, it’s just got such a odd feeling about it.

We decided to head into the woods again and came across Old Fort Point Trail. This lead us to sunset over the Athabasca River which was wonderful to see. It was such a treat and totally worth being out in the -8 again.

We ate in another brewery tonight (again.. sorry Santa) and watched some ice hockey before coming back ready to do it all again tomorrow. The walls at this hotel are rather thin…. let’s hope there’s no horny people in the vicinity!

 

Day 3 – Banff

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It was another beautiful crisp morning in Banff with the temperature down to -10c and we started the day with a visit to Bow Falls. Again due to the weather the majority of this was frozen solid but a small part was still flowing, as well as the surrounding Bow River. It was a slightly twitchy arse walk down to the waters edge due to the large blocks of ice everywhere, but you’ve got to do it for a decent photo 😉

Back into the warmth of the bus and we were taken to a nearby ranch for a horse and sleigh ride. Armed with hot apple cider and blankets we were taken around yet another frozen lake and were lucky to see a coyote having a wander about. Fire pits and marshmallows greeted us after the ride; it was pretty funny to watch the majority of the group burn theirs to a crisp by sticking it directly into the flames 🤦🏽‍♀️

What’s the best way to warm up after freezing your tits off all morning.. a dip in the hot springs of course. Unfortunately going from -10 to +40 meant my ginger skin/body didnt cope very well. Those who know me know how badly I do with extremes of temperature (Fern I hope you’ve read this) 😉 Once I had eventually got in after boiling my legs alive we were treated to beautiful views of the mountains and enjoyed a float around in the warmth.

This afternoon was free to do what we wanted and we managed to stumble across a lovely walk (Fenland Trail) through the forest along the river. It was so peaceful apart from the creaking of the trees as they swayed in the wind and the odd tapping from the resident woodpeckers. We finished off with a few more shops, a new Pandora charm and of course a Maccies for tea. Just can’t get enough of their chicken and maple burger!

Tomorrow we start the journey to Jasper so will be mostly on the bus.. thank god for a good book!

Day 2 – Banff

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After a night of broken sleep we got to see our first proper view of the mountains; and they are amazing – although it’s really making me want to go skiing which I won’t get chance to do 😭

Our first stop was to a viewpoint to see the Fairmont Banff Springs nestled in the trees. At around 800 dollars a night we decided we would need to sell a kidney to stay here.                              Next stop was to Two Jack Lake, which due to the super cold winter temperatures, was frozen solid. Surrounded by the mountains it was another beautiful place to get lots of snaps. The final lake for today was Minnewanka (which we obvs found rather amusing) and we were able to walk out onto this one. It was so peaceful. If it wasnt for the -8 we could have sat here all day!

After all the frozen lake hoping it was time for the highlight of the day as we took the gondola to the top of Sulphur Mountain. Visability was amazing which meant we got the best views; it really was stunning. They had a lovely seating area with fire pits but we decided to take on the boardwalk to see more of the views, and they didnt disappoint. Although its made us realise just how unfit we actually are 😂

After a spot of souvenir shop hopping we went for a walk to the Banff Springs to see what we can’t afford. It was art deco inside and with the views you can see why it’s on the pricey side! Had a posh piss in there though. Got to be done!

We had welcome drinks tonight (free wine.. yay!) & then headed out for something to eat. Sorry Santa… we ended up in a brewery and we both had a coke 😉

 

Day 1 – Arrival in Banff

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20200205_201729Its back! But just a short one today as it has been mostly travelling.

As is tradition we arrived at the airport far too early, but that gave us enough time to enjoy a posh coffee and croissant (which was definitely filled with a whole tub of Nutella) and a Boots meal deal 👍🏼

We flew with Air Canada and we certainly did not go hungry. Unfortunately the last snack was a spicy sausage roll which meant the plane was particularly fragrant by the time we landed.

By the time we drove into Banff National Park it was dark so we were unable to get a good look at the mountains, but we are very much looking forward to this tomorrow!

Tea tonight was McDonalds obvs – got to keep the world tour going!

Nearly 24hrs awake so off to bed. Please don’t be a little bitch body clock!!

Day 11 – Alwar

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Another blog late to the party due to wifi issues!

Day 11 was our last full day in India 😣 we started the morning off with a ride on a traditional camel cart to visit a local family who gave us a cooking demonstration. Chapati and a spicy chutney. What more could you want first thing in the morning! It was so lovely to see all the local children running around and getting excited seeing all us tourists.

The rest of the day was spent relaxing by the pool and having a cheeky massage. I say massage, it was more of a form of torture 🤣 never before has the masseuse got on the bed and put all her weight on my back and legs! I’m flexible but she bent me into some very odd positions…

We were treated to a Pakora demonstration before dinner so hopefully I’ll be able to whip some of these badboys up! Santa tried a deep fried green chilli. He soon needed a glass of red to wash it down.

The evening we were treated to some traditional dancing and lots of alcohol. The small boy dancer would make the most fabulous drag queen. He had the best cheek bones ive ever seen! Santa enjoyed more wine and whiskey this evening 🍷

 

Day 10 – Driving to Vanaashrya

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Today has been another day of travelling. Our guide decided it would be a good idea to give 40 people 3 bottles of gin to share. By the end of it I think it was safe to say we were all pissed as farts. I got to the hotel, face planted the bed and slept for an hour, but that might be due to the massive lack of sleep over the past few weeks.

Today we have visited more forts on our way here. They were both very different but the architecture was amazing. And as a bonus.. nowhere near as busy so was lovely to properly explore without pushing your way through loads of tourists. We were followed everywhere by monkeys hoping for a tasty snack, however we know better!!

The wifi is horrendous here so I’m afraid this is all I’m going to report of for today. I can’t even upload a photo! We’re getting a lie in tomorrow… 7am! What a treat!

Day 9 – Ranthambhore

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Today has been all about the wonderful wildlife that Ranthambhore has to offer.

We started the morning with the usual 05:30 wake up call to ensure an early start in the park. It is split into 10 zones and we were given zone 5. After driving for a while and seeing nothing but a peacock we were starting to think the animals had abandoned this zone. Then we saw our first animal, a Samba deer. This was quickly followed by a spotted deer, kingfisher, mongoose and an Eagle.
We continued round the track in our jeep and suddenly out of the bushes jumped T102 (the rangers know which one is which and they are all numbered) Our first view of a stunning Royal Bengal Tigeress. It really was one of those moments you will never forget and it almost brought a tear to the eye! She didnt hang around and continued her journey into the jungle, but we left the park on such a high. What a privilege to actually see her. Fortunately we had a 2nd safari booked for the afternoon. Could we be lucky and actually see another tiger?

Back at the hotel after safari round one and we actually got to use the facilities and have a relax by the pool. It ridiculously hot and I was sweating from places that is not ok, but this was short lived as it was back out for safari round 2.

I was sat on the outside of the jeep this time, which meant being constantly whacked in the face by branches and various other bushes. After about 45 minutes we heard the call from a deer that signaled a tiger was near by. Just to hear that was amazing. Then we spotted the grass moving and out of it strolled T39. What a total babe she was. She sat in the nearby lake for around 30 minutes sunning herself. This gave us the opportunity to take plenty of photos, as well as watch her and appreciate her beauty. She even took a slow James Bond style walk out of the lake, giving us chance to take more incredible photos before stalking off into the jungle.

It really has been the most magical day.

Day 8 – Driving to Ranthambhore

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Not much to report for today as we have spent the past 12 hours on a coach! But we have finally arrived in the most beautiful hotel in Ranthambhore. It has an outdoor shower which I plan on jumping in very soon.

We had a very early wake up call for our sunrise visit to see the Taj Mahal across the Yamuna River. Whilst it was amazing to see it again, the promise of a sunrise was a little disappointing, seeing as the sun was nowhere near it… we managed to get a faint pink tinge through the mist but it was lovely to see it without the hustle and bustle that was there yesterday.
After breakfast we visited an ‘inlay factory’ which still does the same art that can be found in the Taj Mahal. The intricate designs are incredible, but of course this and the hours of work comes at a hefty price. We therefore settled for some coasters, however the first salesman was a very naughty boy and tried to swindle us out of a fair whack of dollar.
We also visited the ancient village of Abhaneri, famous for its stepwell which was a fascinating piece of architecture. It was here I got my first mosquito bite of the holiday. So rude of it to not ask permission!

Aside from the lunch stop, the rest of the day has been sat on the coach. Unfortunately we took the wrong turn and ended up on what can only be described as a dirt track, which as you can imagine on a large coach, was an incredibly bumpy ride. It definitely kept the locals entertained!

Tomorrow is safari day, which means another very early alarm. Fingers crossed the wildlife behaves.

Day 7 – Agra

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Another day and another early start as we left Jaipur for Agra. The journey was a relatively smooth uneventful one and took just under 6 hours. The driver however decided to blast the horn at all times, even if there wasn’t anything in the road! This is clearly part of their driving test 🤣

This afternoon we arrived in Agra and headed for Agra Fort; the main residence of the emperors of the Mughal Dynasty until 1638. Again we were treated to some stunning architecture and beautiful views, including our first glimpse of the Taj Mahal. There was plenty of selfies taken here – at least they asked and didnt just point the camera in my face!

After the fort it was the one we had all been waiting for; The Taj Mahal. It was absolutely stunning. It’s such an amazing feeling as you walk through the archway and more and more of the Taj gets revealed. We got there at 4pm and it was absolutely heaving. Everyone is trying to get the perfect picture therefore everyone is getting in each other’s photo, resulting in quite a few stroppy people. By the time we left around 6pm it was much quieter, so would advise a later visit!

You can get up close and have a look inside. It really is so pristine and incredibly well preserved. The intricate design of the inlays are amazing to look at. It really is a stunning place. The alarms are set for stupid o’clock tomorrow to head back out to the Taj Mahal to watch the sunrise. Hopefully there won’t be as many looky looky men… telling me I look cute doesn’t mean I will buy your purse!

Santa enjoyed the special deal tonight; 3 beers for the price of 4. There was however a mix up in the bar so he ended up for 5 for 3. One happy Santa.