Hotel The Hermitage Rishikesh

... high up, with the river way below - its scary just getting to the place!!!!!!<br><br>As soon as I checked in I booked myself for the trip to Rishikesh to attend the evening aarti. As we walked into town, it was full of the usual indian hustle and bustle, and the Ganges looked beautiful as the sun was setting. We walked up to the place where the aarti takes place, and my first reaction was "Wow" when I saw the beautiful Shiva statue in the ...

... visit each year, that inside it is spectacular and spiritually rewarding. Back down with knees pounding from the descent for lunch, we then spent the afternoon together playing cards, trying to dry things out and just hiding from the rain. That evening a crevice at the horizon seemed to appear allowing a spectacularly colourful sunset that was set against swirling and thunderous clouds. Very memorable.<br><br>The next morning the rain had stopped and after breakfast ...

... birthdays, so a nearby cafe had a party for him with whiskey, beer, and old Indian men telling racist jokes. It was pretty funny to see all these Indian guys trying to act cool and western to impress all the foreign travelers that they had lured into their cafe by providing alcohol. I was starting to feel a little better by Tuesday morning and wanted to get out and see something in Rishikesh besides the Little Buddha Cafe, so when some people were renting ...

... I also welcomed. Lovely all round, and to be honest has probably reached the top of my 'favourite people of the trip' list. A*. Anyway, when the inevitable goodbye happened in Delhi (as they were flying home to Stavanger), I found it to be the hardest yet. There is a chance I may see them again as they'll be at Uni in England soon, but if I don't then I wish them long and happy lives. Great girls. English Prick: He was a competitive little bugger, and if anyone told a funny ...

... to find my way (or how I remembered it and found my way back) but I did. At the end of the winding path were a ton of shops and people selling things. And then the Laxman Jhoola bridge, which crosses the Ganga River. This is one of two 'pedestrian' bridges in Rishikesh that cross that cross the river, which splits the town in two. Pedestrian, but with motorbikes and bicycles. They are pretty narrow bridges and there are a LOT of people ...

Hello Everyone! Sorry I have been rubbish - been in India 4 days now and this is my first entry - poor performance! so apologies for keeping you all in the dark. I arrived in India on Tuesday morning at 11.00am Indian time so about 5.30 UK time, no flight delays apart fortunately apart from the ridiculously slow luggage re-claim at Delhi airport! I had pre-arranged a airport pickup from the hostel I booked to stay at in Delhi - thankfully ...

... until 10a so I took time to refresh, have breakfast, &amp; enjoy the surroundings. The tour was wonderful and Ravi did a great job pointing out the most important temple highlights of Rishikesh. The original name of the town was Harikesh - hari = god, kesh = hair - and I like to think that maybe in some twisted way that's where the term 'hair of the dog' comes from! 'Rishi' is basically a term used for a person who renounces ...

... and listening to your yourself separate from your ego followed by a lingering but peaceful stare. I wanted to tell him a joke but i couldn't think of any suitable.<br><br>Some of the characters we have spotted over the week at the aarti - First there was Kate Bush who, dressed in flowing white sheets, curls and unfurls like sails swaying in a trance to the music like one of those dancing flowers and make dove silhouettes with her hands. Other casualties ...

... at least I hope it was only cow), and his friend with the open sores. I began to wish that I had packed a few less t-shirts and more of those sanitary suits they have in '24' for people working in toxic/radioactive environments. This place is filthy! I hope I don't get sick....I guess it is a little late for that. Kite Runner: Riding through the Chandi Chowk market on bicycle rickshaw, we came to the section of the market ...