I’ve never been to India. Least not yet.

I had a plan to go in 1983 with a school friend, Mike – but we went interrailing across Europe instead. And I twice visited Sri Lanka in the late 90s as a taster for a grown up odyssey to her much, much larger neighbour.

Didn’t happen.

But, at 63 and rather gnarley, I figured if I don’t go now then I never bloody will. I have the luxury of nine weeks to explore the north west of the country – the first three weeks alone.

Can you sense my anxiety levels? Can you?

Rudely, I didn’t follow up on my last Anxious Gardener post about wonderful Cambodia. But this time I intend to post regularly and once again, I’m reliably informed, I will be meeting elephants!

Oh, and I haven’t posted from my phone before. So, hey, let’s see what happens.

I land in Mumbai tomorrow. (You might have to hold my hand.)