As always visiting the Taj Mahal was the highlight of our trip. However many times I visit this enthralling monument to love it never ceases to amaze. The following day 2 of us went to see a show, an extraordinary combination of film and theatre which really brought home to me what an extraordinary love affair it was between the Mughal king Shah Jehan and Muntaz Mahal. The tears streamed down my face as the beautiful Muntaz smiled down from the clouds on a loudly grieving Shah Jehan.

Steve achieved his objective from the Red Fort at Agra as it faces the Taj Mahal. Our guided our round this magnificent building was slightly curtailed by a heavy shower, a reminder that the monsoon rains were still lingering. We were lucky that this was the only time the rain really affected us and mostly it confined itself to night time sorties, Camelot style.

We whizzed through the back streets of Old Delhi aboard the ubiquitous bicycle rickshaw negotiating the narrow streets lined with shops and crammed with people, carts and bikes all trying to go in the opposite direction. We either galloped into town on horse drawn tongas or bounced and phutted aboard bright green and yellow automated rickshaws or tuk tuks. Our more usual form of transport was our bus that became in turn a stage for a magician, a shop for a vendor of spices, and an opportunity for Narender, our guide, to peddle the street vendors wares in an environment in which we could examine the goods before making a decision and finally, a dormitory as we began the long early morning drive back to Delhi at the end of the India trip.

I think that Jaipur was a favourite with everyone. The romantic position of the hotel (but not necessarily our own rooms) looking out on the palace in the lake and the early morning 'traffic' of decorated elephants making their way to the Amber Palace had us all spellbound. The Indian rum and coke at the textile centre was a stroke of genius on the part on the part of the red bearded owner and Angela proved that it does not necessarily take years of experience to block print an elephant. Customized tee shirts could have become the new fashion if we had all been wearing suitable apparel - Anita and Christine sporting their elephant motives were the envy of us all.

Kathmandu was a real contrast to Delhi, still a jumble of traffic and people but without the urgency. Mahesh, our local guide, educated us in the culture and religion of the Nepalese and also taught us how to cross a highway full of moving traffic. We had two days sightseeing in and around Kathmandu with two memorable lunch stops. A roof top restaurant at Boudhanath Stupa from where we could look down on the stupa itself and after eating enjoy some retail therapy in the small shops that encircle the temple. At Patan we ate in a pretty, shady courtyard out of the glare of the sun. Envigorated after this restorative break we were able to stroll confidently through the throng of street traders and politely request the vendors of singing bowls not to demonstrate their wares too close to us!

Too soon it was our last night in Kathmandu and we fell on our Chinese meal with whoops of joy as it made a pleasant change from Indian cuisine. From the seventh floor of our hotel we could see the city spread below us as we reminisced about our trip and experiences in these two, very different and vibrant countries.