Exclusive Tour Diary: Rowan Milburn (New Zealand)

Namaste (Hello in Hindi, hope you are all suitably impressed!) and welcome to the first edition of the White Ferns tour diary for the quadrangular series in Chennai 2007.

It's been quite an experience really and that is only in the first two days. They got a team newbie to write the diary entry and being my first time in India there is plenty to say!

We arrived off the plane and ready for the series to come after preparing at home with games against New Zealand 'A" and Australia youth.

The wait was over, I was about to travel to India with the White Ferns for the first time. I was very excited about it. It all got a bit much for other newbie Selena Charteris who walked out into the humid Chennai evening and promptly spewed her anti malaria tablet and a bit more into a plastic bag. At least there were only 200 people watching!

The hotel in which we were booked was unbelievably luxurious and the staff was incredibly hospitable. Never before have I experienced service like I have during these two days in India no matter where we have gone.

After a good night sleep the White Ferns single-handedly destroyed the breakfast buffet and hit the streets for a walk and stretch.

All unpacked and settled we hit the streets but only made it next door where it turns out the sports shop had 40 per cent discount. With the attitude of "it would be rude not to" we went in ... and stayed there, many of us returning two or three times that day.

Today we risked life and limb and went on a Tuk Tuk to a shopping mall. For those that don't know a Tuk Tuk is a little taxi cart on a motorcycle base and very snugly fit three White Ferns.

Three near misses later we made it and for someone that gets motion sickness not at all ideal. The trip home was slightly more eventful if that is possible, in that a hand appeared in the Tuk Tuk when we had stopped at the lights looking for money.

Following this harrowing experience we had our first practice where the conditions were good. I have never drunk so much water in all my life and am feeling all the better for it!

Looking forward to getting in to matches in the next few days. Our match itinerary begins with a practice match on Monday against India "A". I will write the next entry after that match.

In the meantime I have more water to drink and preparation for the matches to do.