Ganga Nihar Haridwar

... through bazaars along the river until at just about 6:30 when we made it to the famous Ghat. As the sun sank down, devotees gathered on the steps leading down to the Ganges. Everyone was huddled close together, and most had purchased huge uncut industrial candy wrappers to cover themselves from the approaching rain (we got some anti-constipation cookie wrapper for rs 5).

While waiting for the ceremony to ...

... with her, and we filmed her getting her head shaved out on the street. (Buddhist nuns all have shaved heads since they are trying to avoid using any time on things such as appearance so they have more energy for their practice). Anyway, it was great walking around town- we got so many looks from the people we were passing. A Buddhist nun, a 6'6" blond man and an American girl dressed very different from the other women out on the street. It was quite the site for these people ...

... sie w 2010 roku! I organizatorzy z Haridwar oczekuja, ze w porywach bedzie liczyl ok 12 milionow ludzi! Niewyobrazalny tlum...niewyobrazalne przezycie! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kumbh_mela Obok Haridwar warto zwiedzic KANKAL TOWN, male, stare miasteczko z najstarsza Gurudwar (dla wierzacych Sikhs), ktora liczy ok 350 lat i nazwana jest od imienia jednego z guru, ktory tam przez jakis czas przebywal - Guru Amardass Gurudwar. Interesujaca ...

... ending to the day :) today we are relaxing before our overnight train back to delhi. this will be our first experience of an indian train so are pretty unsure about what to expect!! anyway i will speak to you all in thailand love xxxxxxxxxxx http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=1 07416&id=659020929&l=c52aa hopefully this facebook link will work as apparently the other didnt!!

... hovers on a platform of concrete suspended over the widening tributary of the Ganges. The sunset was spectacular and almost seemed to set behind Shivas head giving a halo like affect quite spooky really.... , it lasted a good hour and was brimming in colour as Hindus from all over the country descend on Risakesh each evening at 5.30 to take part in this ceremony. There is radiant colour from the rainbow of Saris, with music, prayer and ...

... the crowds, across the pedestrian bridge and through town to the vets office. Now I say office, but we are talking basic here. I was instructed to put her on the ground outside, while the brother, Kapil, spoke to the vet in his room and re-appeared with a list of medicines that he seemed to be suggesting I would now go and purchase. Now firstly, this was presumptuous, but more importantly the vet hadn't even inspected the dog! Ignoring Kapil, I went into the vet's ...

... protest. The core group was engaged in a sit-in but now many of the other villagers were gathered around in support and would not let any vehicles pass through and any attempt to do so, Ravi informed me, would likely be met with thrown stones or worse so we and our vehicle had involuntarily become a part of this event. I again had to apologize for my mistake in leaving my package behind for we would not be here otherwise and Ravi again insists, 'No problem ...

... place as chicken has not arrived yet and it was time for cocktails to start. Soon we got the news that the camp guy got the chicken, but it will take about 1 and half hour to get ready. We hoped that the briefing session last that long. The cocktail venue has changed this night due to some issues with the local people. Tonight, we had the bar just above the dinning area and the seats were arranged there. Since we saw no sign of people coming here soon ...

... like normal people (even though many an indian tourist was taking the autorickshaws!). As we got farther uphill and my blisters got worse the filth started to lesson and the street grew merrier and filled with Indians on vacation. The air was filled with the smell of frying breads, fresh rose petals for Puja (prayer ceremonies) and people. The views of the Ganges below were amazing and the soaring hills above as well. We found a ...

... happily heaving away. By far the most unpleasant, though, involved yet more warm, salty water. This time, I had to drink about 2l in quick succession, perform some vigorous exercise, drink another liter, exercise more. At this point, I was supposed to go to the toilet. Instead, it remained painfully trapped inside for the next hour. I tried more exercise, but with 3kg of water sloshing around, I ended up just lying around in severe discomfort until it finally ...