Location
Current Location: Auckland, New Zealand (updated 5th May)
Next Locations: Home!!!!
Past Locations: Delhi, Agra, Varanasi, Lucknow, Chandigarh, Shimla, Dharamsala, McLeod Ganj, Amritsar, Rajasthan (Jaipur, Bundi, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Ranakpur, Udaipur), Mumbai, Arambol, Hampi, Bangalore, Chennai, Mamallapuram, Pondycherry, Tamil Nadu, Madurai, Kanyakumari, Kovalam, Varkala, Alleppey, Munnar, Wayanad Wildlife Reserve, Mysore, Gokarna, Singapore, Hanoi, Sapa, Halong Bay, Hue, Hoi An, Dalat, Mui Ne, HCMC, Mekong Delta, Phu Quoc Island,Chau Doc, Phnomh Penh, Battambang, Siem Reap, Kratie, Si Phan Don, Thakek, Vientiene, Vang Vieng, Phonsavan, Sam Neua, Vieng Thong, Nong Khiew, Luang Prabang, Chang Mai, Kuala Lumpur, Perhenthian Kecil, Kota Baru, Penang, Cherating Melaka, Singapore, Sydney, NZ
Tatty Backpacks Blog 
Sep 18, 2010 @ 17:22:15
Dear Rach & Andy, Glad to read your 1st impressions and see your 1st fotos of India.I’m sure you are not at the end of your surprises in that chaotic yet fascinating country.Open your eyes & your hearts;take it all in.I’ll be one step behind you(figuratively speaking)for the whole trip. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ANDY. The Taj Mahal;can’t think of a more romantic spot to celebrate together!Hope this e-mail,the 1st of many,gets thru.C yez,Tonton.
Sep 19, 2010 @ 07:26:47
Hey TonTon
Love you
Rx
Sep 22, 2010 @ 20:38:43
Glad you’re having a great time. But you’ve got to learn to be open-minded about bus-schedules etc.The notion of time in the “East” is totally different from ours!No use bitchin’about it;you have to adjust,nespa?So,stay “cool”(what a ridiculous “western” expression) or rather “zen”.As Henri would have advised “Doucement les petits”.Hope the rain has eased off.Where to next? It would be helpful if you could print a simple map of your planned itinerary for all those “groupies” who want to follow you(virtually) on Google-earth. Wear the fox-hat.Tonton.
Sep 23, 2010 @ 15:10:57
Will try and put a map of the itinerary… but it is subject to massive changes! everything is up in the air xx
Sep 26, 2010 @ 16:50:27
Glad your enthusiasm has returned;things seem to have changed for the better since your stop-over in Lucknow (sic!)on the lovely(?)Ganges.You must be getting used to last-minute change of plans by now;invaluable experience for a marketing executive during her sabbatical year,nespa? En route for the Himalayas now,to break in those raunchy boots.Wish I could accompany you,but my mountaineering days are,alas,a thing of the past. Autumn is with us here,with high winds and leaves blowing everywhere;but I like this season,with its lower temperatures,subtle colours and blazing sunsets.Thanks for Taj Mahal postcard. Bisoux,Tonton.
Sep 29, 2010 @ 09:16:57
As you begin your 3rd week,the trip seems to have really taken off;more laid-back,more contacts etc.& all those people wanting to take your photos; Bollywood here we come?Love your travelblog,Rach;the photos & lively comments enthrall we would-be back-packers, back home.Keep it up! Spoke to Rex last evening,he was buzzing with excitement & can’t wait ’til Xmas to see you both again.What a memorable trip already & it’s just the beginning!Delighted for you.Try to avoid spiritual Yanks/cranks at the Golden Temple;yeah man,ye know.C yez,Tonton.
Oct 05, 2010 @ 08:08:06
Indeed we are much more laid back… enjoying the wonderful views of the Himalayas from Himachal Pradesh… just got back from 5 days in the mountains… you would have loved it. The boots are doing really well now they are truly broken in… so my feet are not broken!
xxx
Oct 05, 2010 @ 14:02:36
Have been impatiently awaiting the next thrilling instalment of your travelblog & was not disappointed;it reads like an adventure novel ,with stunning views and friendly smiles to bring the text alive. After a week of silence,I assumed you were off on a trek,where internet was inaccessible. & what a memorable trek into the mountains it turned out to be,in some of the most spectacular scenery on the planet.Marvellous stuff this touring,it could become addictive;can’t get enough of it,even vicariously! Glad you beat the shit out of the boots & broke them in good & proper,on such a memorable hike in ideal weather conditions. Pray f’ruz in Amritsar,Tonton.
Oct 07, 2010 @ 11:31:45
We were indeed too far away from the world to get in touch… but in McLeod Ganj now with the Dalai Lama in residence… exciting! Lots of fast internet connections here so will get some videos uploaded onto our youtube channel if you want to check them out. Hope you are in good health and lots of love to you xx
Oct 09, 2010 @ 23:59:36
Have been anticipating your forthcoming locations via Google earth & Wikipedia.McLeod Ganj seems a little too touristy for seasoned travellers such as yourselves,with hordes of dharma bums strolling the streets,in search of nirvana.Watch out for the real cool dudes & thieving monkeys! ps don’t miss “Moon light café! If you run out of funds,Andy could always open a driving/stockcar-racing school in any Indian city;no shortage of prospective customers,nespa? Watched your videos on u-tube. Say hello to the Dalai lama & stay zen agen,Tonton
Oct 26, 2010 @ 12:50:05
No news from u2 for a few days. Hope you got out of the desert ok.
Where are you now?Your latest album of photos (no5) is
not accessible;not underlined this time.Don’t be discouraged when
the blog deletes;my Pc gobbles up my attempted emails
all the time & sends them hurtling into cyber-space to be
read by E.T.& his mates;much to my chagrin,grrh!First cold
nights here;winter’s on its way & you’re gonna miss(?)it
this year.Lucky backpackers!Blog us again soon,pliz Salut,Tonton.
Oct 28, 2010 @ 11:56:18
Hey TonTon… the link to the photos should now work? Try again.
Will get on the blog soon, have been ill to be honest… rajasthan trip went a bit wrong as I had a terrible viral infection and ended up in hospital for an afternoon to get some fluids into my body…. on the mend now though but it was not very fun! Love you lots xx
Nov 07, 2010 @ 09:25:31
Facinating blog and you have given us even more of an insight of what to expect when we head out there 3rd December. I’ll add a link to our site so others can follow you on your travels.
Good luck and great journey!
Tony
Nov 09, 2010 @ 11:51:05
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it and thanks for the link.
Nov 08, 2010 @ 18:00:00
Tried once yesterday & twice 2nite to comment on your blog”Hampi&Dinali”
& 3 times I clumsily erased the message. If I cock it up again I’m gonna throw in the towel! “doucement Tonton”,I can hear Rach whisper.
Meanwhile,back at the festival of light,you kids are having a whale/shark of
a time.Lucky that your trip coincided with Dinali.A rival for “Pleasantfest”?
Have been doing a little research on Google earth & Wikipedia,the better to share your travels “virtually” on the web,my dears;as Dolan/Dahl might say Saw those fabulous ruins in Hampi & climbed those enormous boulders that
surround the temples;a truly magnificent site.But what interested me even
more was the phenomenal number of different religions all celebrating Dinali in their own way;each with its own Deities,in a spirit of tolerance,
sharing & respect.An admirable lesson for Humanity!End of sermon.Tonton
Nov 09, 2010 @ 11:53:49
Hey Tonton… all your comments are comign through…. you just need to wait for me to approve them! I have sent you a link by hotmail to the independent site… it is indietravelpodcast.com…. look for the article about ‘collecting’.. its written by me! xx
Nov 08, 2010 @ 18:17:29
Hey,my lil square has turned green.Can you catch “Delhi belly” on the net?
I’m expecting an”explosive blog” about Dinali,once you get to Bang-galore. I wouldn’t be surprised if it was a noisy place,with a name like that…(‘scuse the puny pun) C yez
Nov 14, 2010 @ 16:52:19
From Hampi to Pondichery in the space of a week;that’s serious travelling!
Was expecting more about Dinali & the festival.What impression did Bangalore leave you? In Pondichery(former French colony)your français will come in handy,Rach.Must be hot down there,so far south.Scorchio?
Logged into as you suggested & was amazed how the young Kiwi couple have been able to travel all over the world for the last 4years & are able to make a living out of it,too.Maybe you will follow in their footsteps? You are already on the road to fame & fortune;I found your
website on Google & felt chuffed and proud cos I don’t have (m)any famous
friends…yet.Where to next?On yer (bamboo)bikes!Tonton
Nov 30, 2010 @ 10:36:07
Hey Rachel & Andy..!
Long time…! Your trip looks so fantastic, I am so jealous. Hope you are having the time of your lives and a wonderful experience. Lots happened here, will update you soon. Take care, and enjoy!!!!!
David Roberts
Dec 01, 2010 @ 04:21:01
Thanks for the comment Dave…it’s always great to hear from home… we are indeed having an amazing time!