Riverside Resort Rishikesh

... a boat flip over through the Grade 4 rapid. Everyone was safe, but I was amazed how they managed to then stay on the raft (which was upside down) through the rapids!!! The one thing to remember when white water rafting is paddle, paddle paddle, otherwise you're out!<br><br>Once we were through to the calmer waters we did some "body surfing" - ie swimming through calm but fast flowing waters - the water was cold, but it was so much fun!<br>

We arrived in Rishikesh after a 1 hour bus journey frought with peril (only kidding!). Our bags had a bit of peril though as they wern't tied down flailing all around on the roof! We jumped in a autorikshaw and headed to High Bank (a leafy paradise) we checked in to the Green Valley Resort and sat outside of our RS 200 deluxe room and admired the lack of traffic and human prescence. All we could hear outside our room were birds or the screech of a monkey or two ...

... across the bridge the next morning. We spent the next few days relaxing, trying out yoga, riding scooters, and enjoying the green mountains of uttarakhand. it was a really fun trip and i think we all wish we could have stayed there longer.<br>

... at all, except for a few Indian families. And the whole time, the workers were following us around because they had to turn on the water for each different slide individually when we wanted to go down. Today was actually a really nice day and the sun was out so I was even able to get a little of my tan back.<br><br>After getting back from the park, Tamir and I went into a travel agency to book a trip out of here. Many of the other people we had met here ...

... pioneers, while I'm just off on a bit of a jolly up and enjoying my life). The kind of guy who speaks like he is an authority on jazz because he owns a Miles Davis record. The kind of guy who tells everyone how he is going to study philosophy at Uni, but hasn't got an original thought in his head. The kind of 19 year old who knows everything, basically. In other words, all mouth and no substance. We tried in vain to avoid him, and all sighed inwardly whenever he invited ...

... I'm always right. So I read his eyes and then we got to chatting. We ended up chatting the whole day, about the world, life, we got all deep and stuff. These conversations are the norm in Rishikesh, sometimes they are superficial but this one was real and lovely. And he's just a friend and I like it that way.<br><br>I took him to my favorite place for chai and usually there are only foreigners there so the the owner was a bit iffy about my bringing him in. He actually bad mouthed him the ...

... with a few people who had started the course the month before and were going to continue on with it. After brunch went to an art show at an orphanage that has a cafe. Saw some great photography. Lots of people were there. It seems like such a positive place. I just feel this sort of positive energy surrounding everyone I met. ALthough the town seems like a lot to handle, I think I will like it here. It's definitely an interesting place!

... the windows of the taxi everyone looked quite normal... well quite normal for what I expected for Delhi. The taxi than stopped about 5 min walk from our hostel as it couldn't travel any further. We got out and collected our bags and then believe it or not a pigeon shat on my head! ha ha no joke! I have taken this to mean that I shall have good luck on my travels! A few steps away from the taxi into the main street and the Delhi ...

... also called Ram Jhula Bridge) which offers up an amazing view of the Ganga &amp; surrounding hillside and attracts a lot of monkeys at either end, perhaps because they know people will throw them peanuts or pieces of banana. There are, of course, a lot of foreigners here and I met a good number of them from Canada. I also met a pretty cool private tour guide from Colorado named Kenyan and we had a brief discussion about gov't ...

... some kites. They cost less then 5 cents." We stop and go though the haggling process of obtaining kites. Theresa hands out the kites and the boys look grateful but confused. As we are starting to peddle off in the rickshaw the boys say something to our guide. He laughs. " The boys want to know what they are supposed to do with your gifts," says the guide. "What do you mean they don't know how to fly kites?" asks Theresa ...