After my local site seeing I had a few horrid days absolutely covered in bites Auntie (hotel owners mum) insisted they weren't mozzi bites but ants. Now considering I am surrounded by plant life and I am staying in a half tent half cottage I did expect to find those annoying critters but to be honest I am surrounded by the little fuckers (excuse my French). There are thousands of these with the majority of them being red and really really small. I went from not getting bit at all to having about 15 bites mainly on my arms..my god they itch!! Jai managed to get my some allergy tablets as I felt lousy as fell for a few days.. had bugger all sleep (less than usual) I am lucky the allergy tablets worked whatever they were they knocked me out cold and I was able to sleep, the itching eased and the swelling and redness of the bites went down. Unfortunately this appears to be an issue that I am going to have to deal with for the 4 months now they have had their first bites they want more and again today I have been bitten on my arms, hands and feet and I couldn't even leave my place today because of the monsoon rain!! :(

Since being here I have been pretty cautious when it comes to going places.. I have only been out of my hotel campus as far as 5 minutes away on my own... I know what you think.. chicken..amazingly after all the confidence I had about going to India before I left it soon leaves you when I got here.. after 2 weeks I thought I was starting to find my confidence..but yesterday (28th) I had no food and very little to drink left.. I had to go to the closest shop to me just to get some bits and bobs to get by and I found myself not being able to go and getting really nervous about leaving the hotel premises. I don't know why..but the gremlins in your head about being alone really does get to you..but I will start again and try and get some confidence.

I have no internet in my actual accommodation I have to sit in the hotel owners lobby to get connected to their wifi. Because the tv is crap I have 2 channels and they are on a 3 or 4 programme loop so I like to spend my evenings sat in the lobby finding out what is going on in the big wide world and talk to people (since it is not recommended to go out at night i have nothing else to do) Since being here a little girl often came to the lobby to give Auntie bags of salt she would always say hello with a big beaming smile. After seeing me quite a few times she must have gained some confidence because she would turn up in the lobby not to see her Auntie but to see me and she would turn up with a piece of fruit "this is for you" and a big smile. Her name is Priyanka and she is 14 years old she is the hotel owners maids daughter, she is very sweet every time she comes to the lobby she comes with a piece of fruit (with my food shortage was really well timed) She speaks little English but enough to get by so its really funny trying to have a conversation. Anyway her mum started waving to me whenever she passed by and then her mum came up to me with no English and gave me an apple. I can see this little family being some company for me in this campus. Priyanka and her mum have asked me to go with them to a market fair on Monday.. it will be the first time in the market for me because I have been a chicken to go on my own and I am really looking forward to it.

The hotel owners grandaughter maybe 5/6 years old with lovely English has just asked me to join their family party so thats all for now!!

Happy Rakshabadhan everyone!!