Hotel Jaipur Inn Rishikesh

... of the Ganges. The statue is beautifully lit, and set against the sunset the image is just breathtaking.<br><br>The aarti was very peaceful, if a little animated and a bit geared to the tourists, but a wonderful experience all in all.<br><br>I met some really great people at the lodge and at the camp (more Brits at the camp roughing it out.......the local Indians clearly prefer the home comforts more!!!!!!). Next day I went for a 6am ...

... helped pack up and made the same eventful journey back to Rishikesh. The chef who made our three meals a day was an absolute wizard, using only a single burner stove he created fantastic food worthy of any full blown restaurant. This time the rains had made the route even more hazardous but like all good adventures, we got back to be able to tell the story!<br><br>Back in Rishikesh we now have a couple of days before taking the train to Amritsar in the Punjab, on the ...

... I decided to ride with Tamir, an Israeli guy I met here. Although Tamir and the Enlgish girls had rented scooters a few days before, renting scooters turned out to be a problem. Most of the places had already given theirs out for the day by the time we went searching after breakfast, but we were able to find one place that still had one. Unfortunately, this scooter was still available for a reason. Any time Tamir let off the accelerator, it would shut ...

... he would sulk for a second or two ('Mummy, I want to be the staaaaar :( ) before attempting to steal the show with an anecdote of his own - never realising that he generally failed. He annoyed me so much I allowed myself to be drawn into his absurd one upsmanship, and I 'pwned' him in the funny story department if I do say so myself. The kind of guy who enthusiastically bleats about 'this great author, dunno if you've heard of him, I think he's called Jack Kerouac' and then ...

... invited me to take a class with her the following day. I did and it was so lovely. Kathak dance is beautiful and has so much meaning, you're basically telling a story. She wrote some explanations for us (Barbara the Italian and I). she made us a bell anklet, she taught us movements...we chatted and had some chai. Oh it was wonderful. At one point she gave me this look and asked if I wanted to see a palm reader. She must have been reading my mind because I really was thinking about it. We ...

... them. It was a bit nerve wracking to cross. Lots of beggars, monkeys, and cows sitting on the bridge as well. Then a walk full of shops, people, motorbikes, jeeps, food carts, beggars, babas, dogs, cows, cow ****, and who knows what else, all while not sure of where exactly I was going! Eventually found the school. Of course, none of the teachers were there when I found it but I met a guy who lives in the ashram (guest house) across ...

... was there waiting for me with my name on a piece of card - didn't I feel special! Me and my first new friend Becky jumped in the taxi (a Suzuki people carrier thingy)and off we went on probably one of the most crazy journeys I have ever been on! For those who have never been to India, there are no road rules....literally! people actually do what they want and no one cares! from cutting other people up to having 5 cars in a 3 lane roads it ...

... ways and goes into the mountains to dedicate his life to God. How 'hair' actually fits in with all this I didn't quite get but a little research on my own offers the realization that with Rishikesh being an abode of Shiva from whose hair the Ganges is said to flow how fitting that the Ganges flows through Rishikesh and it's at this location that the Ganges flows out into India's northern plains. In the Sikh religion, hair is ...

... Shirley Valentine, a woman in her 50's who has been completed 'Rishikeshed' - sari over her head like M.Teresa, beads-a-gogo, henna all over her hands and bindi - singing words that didn't exist and clapping unrhythmically. Her dowdy friend next to her, not having been bitten by the bug clapped unsurely probably worried about her friend and having to explain to friends and family back home that she stayed behind or perhaps just secretly looking forward to her ...

... kites. "I wonder if they have battles like in the Kite Runner?" I say. "Oh yes, on India Independence Day everyone flies kites from the rooftops", says our bicycling guide. " How much are kites?" Theresa asks. " Not much, just a few rupees," answers the guide. " Can we stop? I want to buy some kites," says Theresa. " Really??" I ask, "how are you going to fit them in your pack?" " Not for me, I want to buy some for the ...