Himila Cha Cha

view from our first place at night
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this is just going to be the first of a few entries from this part of india and i think we knew just from the bus ride here that we were going to want to stay for a while!

the scenery on the journey was fantastic and we saw monkeys living wild on the mountain sides, well i saw about 20 but ben missed them so i had to play down how cool it was, then he saw three and apparently that was better than my 20!!!!

wish i'd brought my ear muffs and leg warmers!

view from our first place during the day
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Manali is in the Kullu Valley surrounded by apple and plum orchards - which they use to brew local cider and wine (both very nice) and then hills on either side and snow capped mountains in the distance, the scenery is very much like scotland and for the last few days the weather has also been very much like scotland!

we arrived in Manali new town which was all loud and hectic so we took a rickshaw to a guest house set back from the town, it was really lovely and peaceful so we stayed there for three days but we have now moved to old manali which is nicer as it's a little village so it has shops and restaurants and internet cafes and places to watch the footie but it's still peaceful and very laid back

ben on the balcolny in old manali
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when we first went out in old manali we were taking the piss out of all the travellers walking round with hats and gloves and big socks and especially at the prats with blankets wrapped round them! then yesterday we went shoping for gloves and hats and big socks and ben is walking round with a blanket wrapped round him!!!!!

it's cold people real cold - although not oslo cold!

however it's supposed to be peak season and the height of summer so we're hoping it will warm up

but tim and traci arived yesterday and we're discussing doing a 5 day jeep safari with them which will mean we'll have to do some proper shopping but as i'm having a jumper made for me and it's only costing 2.50 i think we can afford to buy some warm clothes

our room in old manali
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wish i'd brought my ear muffs and leg warmers!

it was ben's birthday on the 13th which was unfortunately the day after we arrived so i didnt have much time to prepare but i did find a shop selling brie and a nice italian run restaurant to take him for pizza!

we then went to the only place that sells fosters and watched the footie!

there's been a lot of football watching and any trekking we do is going to have to be carefully planned around england games (and australia - as thats where tim and traci are from)

view from the balcolny in old manali
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and thats about it so far, the rain has hampered our plans to wander to the next village where there is a waterfall and hot springs!

one of the best things about Manali is "Hello to the Queen"

at our first guest house it was written on the front of the menu under a few of their special dishes and me and ben thought ok nice sentiment bit of the old empire spirit still lives on!

then we found out it's a dessert!!!! banana cooked lightly in a little butter and sugar covered with crushed biscuit and topped with vanilla ice cream and then smothered in hot chocolate sauce - oh my god it's delicious

ok thats all for now will add some pics when i can - unfortuneately the computers aren't so hot here so it might have to wait

xx