Day 176, Bhandhav Barh to Khajuraho, India

Cows on the road

Another early start, another go at finding tigers. Unfortunately no luck again, but a beautiful drive through the park anyway.

Then back for lunch and a 7 hour drive to Khajuraho, home of the Kamasutra temples.

I have to write about the Indian traffic and the toilets.

First the traffic. I have already written a little about it, how crazy it was in Delhi and Varanasi. Traveling long distances isn't easy either, 275 kilometres over 7 hours. The roads are often full of potholes, and driving on the opposite side of the road is very common, especially when that side is less damaged than the correct (left) side. When there's oncoming traffic, they squeeze past, with centimetres to spare. Children walk in the middle of the road, even busy 'motorways', as well as the ever present cows, women with baskets on their heads and cyclists.

Public toilets are another matter again. Most loos are Asian, which means squatting. No big deal really, as who sits on a public loo anyway? But the difference between toilet and toilet.....Some have not seen bleach, ever, and reek to high heaven. There's usually one of us who will go in first, bravely, to check it out, and comes out to give the verdict. There is never loo paper as it's not used here, instead a bucket and shower head contraption similar to a bidet. Then you also use the bucket to rinse the toilet, making sure your feet are out of range. Of course we all carry our own toilet paper. And thank goodness for strong thigh muscles!