Morning all. You woke me up. It's 1.15 p.m. here in sunny Melbourne. I'm just on the first cup of coffee. Out carousing? Nah. I wish. Working on my Blurb novel. I'm half way through. By New Year it should be complete. All those rambling reports have been cleaned up, re-written or added to. Now, thanks to Kristina's post, I have a way of finishing the process.

As for 2010. I can't guarantee I'll still be alive. I think you'll have something before then. Perhaps I could write the trip report BEFORE I go.

Juicy, naughty, tawdry details? Me? El Pooch? I am the soul of decorum in here. As I've said before, if the REAL story got out, Katie [Editor] would have me expelled! I'm getting so old and haggard now that only blind people find me attractive. Naughty bits are getting fewer and further in between..

But, of course, not all naughtiness is rudie-nudie naughtiness. On every other level I've become naughtier than ever.

No fear.

This is the great revelation of my last five years of Doggie travels. [Before that I was so career-obsessed I knew nothing but myself. Look at ME! look at me! Look at ME, ME, ME! ] I thought I was travelling the world - but I was only travelling in the country called 'Dogster'.

I got bored with that place.

We don't want you to catch the ire of Katie the Editor either (although I bet she secretly likes your stories too), just remember to toss us some crumbs along the way. An occassional juicy morsel is appreciated.

But actually...the real treat is when you throw in tidbits about yourself!

Glad you're travelling how you are now. You've gained quite a following here.

yes, I'm glad I'm travelling this way too. It's been quite a revelation. Actually, the process has only really come together thru this board. You've seen the history. Unless someone had asked me in the first place, I never would have written a word.

And the writing gives me the eyes to see. And the eyes to see give me the writing. And the writing...

I've been secretly congratulating myself for stumbling upon this odd combination of character, India, idiocy and adventure. It makes travel a dream. Literally.

As for titbits: I've been at some pains to remove them. Unless they reveal me in my essential stupidity. I reveal those bits 'cos they make me laugh. Mostly I'm trying to be a participant witness with attitude - I fail, of course - but I try.

Looking forward to your return to India, and the stories that will come out, dogster style.

I know, India has a wealth of history, many customs, many religions, all sorts of things tried over the years, many old traditions still abound, and dogster to fathom all this.

I am already fascinated by the list of places you are planning to visit. And enjoying being part of the planning, vicariously.

How long are you planning to be in India this time?

Three months, magical. That's why I do it so slow. I've found that three days is the perfect length to stay somewhere. One day to arrive and let everybody adjust to you, one day to do the normal tourist things and the last for adventures. Three days is enough to get a whiff of whatever juicy local scandal is in the wind. Mostly I'm tumbling in to somewhere I've never heard of.

I also build in holidays from travelling. Six day gaps, like at Ahilya Fort in Maheshwar, my idea of heaven. I might spend a fortnight getting to know Kolkata more. My word, it's an interesting city.

By the end of it I'm happy to do not very much at all. It was in that zone I dropped in to Siem Reap last time. That's when the best stuff comes.

You have the first month sketched out. What are you thinking for the other two months for countries? Stay in India or move about to others?

All India, Jaya. Incredible India. The first month I have sorted, I'm just waiting on details of three fairs/festivals in Chhatisgarh. Dunno where I'll be for Holi. Last year I was in Goa. I'm over paint.

The last few weeks I might go back to Maheshwar and chill. Ahilya Fort. www.ahilyafort.com
I dream of it.

I'm very mew to these pages, & I really don't like spending the hours on the net that I can see already would be required for a full appreciation of the dogstyle canon - however, this latest itinerary tells me you've got it (travel in the widest sense) right. But you don't need anyone else to tell you that! Still it's great to tune in to these inspired ramblings (in widest sense) from time to time.

Don't need to exhort you to enjoy the trip, because that's pretty guaranteed. Don't get too cocky, we just won the series.

Good on ya.

Heya leon! Good to see you back in here my friend. I enjoyed our last exchange. Been checking your comments re your eventual itinerary. I haven't tried Cochrane's so I'll be interested in your report. Where are you staying in Darjeeling?

So cool you're hitting Yangsum Farm - tell the guy Hi! from the man who got lost. [I'm the only guest that EVER managed to get lost up around the monastery after evening puja - something you gotta do BTW] He'll tell you about Doggie.

Best room at Yangsum is the honeymoon suite, separate cottage. Trust me. And the food at Yangsum! Lordy! Stunning. Boggling. Fresh!!!! Organic. Lordy! Lordy!

Go see the lady with 16 children.

Where else are you going up there?

Goa: You'll probably pass thru Panjim. Within a block of the Panjim Inn are two excellent restaurants. One is old style Portugese. The other is the coolest little dive about 300 yards from Panjim Inn. Forgotten the names.

Old Goa is totally boring. lol. And prepare yourself for pale, Russian package tourists. Basically - don't do ANY of the classic tourist things, make your own err... entertainment, and you'll be fine.

A slow waddle thru the Anjuna beach area should provide you with anything you need to help you on your way.

But I want to know more leon.. I have my eye on you. Lol.

Now this is WOW! The homestays look & sound amazing, as does everything else. In addition to being our teller of tales, you are also our trip planner. I'll never have 3 months, but I can dream...Thanks for posting.

"Old Goa is totally boring." - not during the St. Xavier day festival, believe me! Then it's mobbed by loads of people in their best clothes, first attending mass, and then the street fair. But that's in December.

Great programme!! Jodhpur suggestions -
Balsamand - www.welcomheritagehotels.com
Ajit Bhawan - www.ajitbhawan.com
Ratan Vilas - www.ratanvilas.com
Pal Haveli - www.palhaveli.com

Youve skipped Mt Abu..have you been there already and stayed at the Jaipur House? - www.royalfamilyjaipur.com/

Since youre headed back to Maheshwar at the end, you could consoder -
Dungarpur - www.udaibilaspalace.com
Dhar - www.jhirapalace.co.in

Finally managed to work my way through all your links. It looks great and I'm green with envy. How's the rest of the planning going or are you too involved in the books still?

Thanks again nik. Yeah, I had those last two places on the list. I'm feeling pleased with myself, I've just managed to find a tent city in the Chhota Udepur area for their mela/fair/whatever it is 7/8/9/10 March.

Now, I'm trapped in the furtherest, darkest, deepest corner of Gujarat, on Holi - not knowing where to go. Lol.

I'd love to know your suggestion for the grooviest, boutique-iest, oddest, most unexpected place to stay in Jaipur, BTW. In the middle of it, fantastic food, a little bit crazy. I bet you know just the place.

Hi mary, I didn't see you there.
I'm right in the middle of planning. Being screwed around by changing dates of obscure tribal festivals in Chhatisgargh and Gujarat, but I'm making progress. Right now I'm thinking of dropping Ahmedabad [where I've been] and going to Bhuj and this place

http://www.hodka.in/shaam.htm

I'll blow out the Little Rann of Kutch and go to the big one instead.

I've decided to blow out logic and follow my intuition. As we both know, there's many ways to swing a cat. I'm going to go to as many tribal festivals, melas and religious celebrations as I can. In between I'll sit, solitary, on my heritage balcony and dream of tomorrow.

That looks good too. Seems fair to blow away those ass. I like the idea of the crafts but then I would.

The whole trip sounds wonderful - just what I imagine you doing - lots of festivals and dances. Hope you are taking the blundstones.

Do keep letting us know whats in your mind - well the travel bits anyway.

Hi Dogster, I'm enjoying watching your planning develop. March is coming quick isn't it?

It'll be mid-February, I think - if these Bastar Festivals will make their mind up about dates. I'm on the edge of drawing a line under the planning now. I have availability at most places where I need to secure it. I've ditched the people who have screwed me around, sent a couple of terse E-mails and dumped those who just thought I was a walking wallet.

Soon the great day will come when I drink too much and book it all in one go. Three, four days, I reckon. Then the fuse is lit.

When you venture into non-touristy/off the beaten path areas, how do you go about eating without getting sick?