Restful Rishikesh
Trip Start
Oct 11, 2005
1
8
Trip End
Ongoing
Rishikesh, India
Tuesday, November 1, 2005
We continue our journey to Rishikesh on a state bus (you know how much un these are!) and arrive at about 2am. The hotel is of course closed and we have to wake up the rather disgruntled staff. What's annoying is that I had phoned from Chandighar to advise them we would not arrive until 2am and they weren't ready for us.
Still We got settled and the next day we head out in search of a meditation course. What we find is an ashram that is a cross between butlins and colditz! having had a look round and a chat with a guide it is clear that they will take our money and we just join in with what is going on. This really wasn't what we were looking for and to be honest the place gave me the creeps, hardly the setting for finding inner oneness or whatever else it is you are upposed to do (don't know, we didnt go!)
In stead of meditation we sign up for a 3 day rafting adventure paddling a 60km stretch of the upper Ganges (The clean bit!). This is much more up my street than sitting in Colditz and going Ummmmm.
We get up early (6am URGH!) and head for the rafting office, they whisk us off up into the mountains to our base camp, thinking we will be roughing it a bit I am a little nervous (bellie still not quite right). We arrive at the camp to find tents etc. However each tent had an en-suite bathroom and twin beds and is frankly of a better standard than most of our other accomodation! (See pics!) - Hannah I will be expecting this standard at Summer Camp next year!
Rafting was amazing, the scenery stunning and the rapids were teriffic, One in particular, the wall was awesome, we followed another raft full of testosterone fuelled Indian men down, they flipped and went straight in, we went through and stayed the right way up, testiment to our excellent paddling!
We also had the opportunity to body surf two sets of rapids. What this actially means is jump out of the boat into a frezzing cold river and get spun around for a bit. It was actually great fun but once back in the raft I realized just how freezing the water had been, my teeth were chattering & the boys down stairs had gone into hiding! (Male readers will sympathise!)
As we got a bit closer to Rishikesh on the last daywe came to an outcrop of rock 10 meters above the water level, our guide beached the raft and said that he thought we might like to do a cliff jump from the outcrop. Me, Jump off a cliff. Danny & Kate of course were well up for it and I was not to be outdone, so off I trots. Now from the water 10 meters up doesn't actually seem that far. From 10 meters up, however, well lets say I wasn't as confident at the top as I was at the bottom. None the less a deep breath, 1 step forwards and I plumet like the proverbial lead weight into the water. After the 3rd time of being in the river I am now absolutley sure that I have no intention of going in again. It is just too bloody cold!
We reach Rishikesh and dry land and after 3 days in a Raft I am quite glad that we were at the end. The guides had been outstanding, I can't remember their names, I generally refered to them as the one with the tash and "crazy"; This name was awarded to him as he has absolutely no concept of what slow-forward means, he paddled at full tilt constantly and frankly put us to shame!
Within an hour of being off the water we were on a delightful state bus headed for Delhi...
Take Care All,
Jxxxxxxxxx
Comments
hi babes
msending you loads and loads of love missing you lots looks like your having a boring time and probably want to com.e home!!!
Lewes was great onsaturday dan took good care of me. Spare a thought for us back in the rather dull and wet uk
love katy philip mollie and george xxx
Hello there!
Hi Matey hows the stomach? By the way thanks for giving me dysentry (I'm blaming you even tho it's technically impossible!)
Hope your having a great time and made it to a beach!
Miss ya
Kate