Arrangements progressing...

        Trip arrangements are proceeding. As part of usual routine prior to my long journeys, I

Jostling crowd for tickets.....

tend to read a lot, hopefully picking up  useful travel strategies from recent travellers to India. Whenever a useful item turns up, I include it in my tentative 'must take' list. My solo travel experience has been that failure to include seemingly inconsequential items in travel baggage can lead to frustrations---spare batteries, string for an impromptu hotel room washing line, pegs, soap dish and even Scotch tape. I recently learned that a monopod (as opposed to tripod) is useful in India. In Asia, many sights and scenes are frequently blocked due to the sheer number of people. Attach the monopod to the camera, extend the monopod 30 inches and shoot pictures over the heads of the crowds. Monopods also useful for the solo traveller to fire off a few "selfies" in front of major monuments!

       The nuances of world currency swings often seem arcane and remote as reported on the evening TV news. The latest buzz word is “tapering” and whilst designed for the US, it is hitting emerging economies (BRIC+ Indonesia) hard. The Indian rupee was rocked in September '13 and slumped sharply. Not being a very fleet footed currency trader, I missed a great buying opportunity ($1Cdn= 60 IR). Six months later & the $Canadian also has hit a period of weakness due to softening world commodity prices and the rate for rupees has dropped to $1Cdn =52 IR.

          Using the most useful “India Train Info “ app., I have been able to identify hopefully, the most appropriate trains to aim for as I move along my inter-city route. Cannot be sure of course, just how reliable the timetable data that I have collected really is. Hopefully worth-while, as at least I now have a specific train in mind when I come to confront the booking clerk who recommends a 3.15am departure. The reality is that actual ticket/reservation arrangements will frequently have to be made at very crowded, noisy & hot local Indian Railways ticket booths.