Extracurricular Activities
Trip Start
Aug 09, 2007
1
61
95
Trip End
Ongoing
Rishikesh,
India
Saturday, May 24, 2008
One day a handful of us took a cab up to Neer Garh Waterfall. It felt great to get out of town a bit and into nature. The run off of the waterfall followed the path all the way up. We didn't quite reach the top as the cab only provided a 2 hour wait time, and most all of us had very sore hamstrings that made walking up hill a challenge. But we relaxed and enjoyed the scenery.
Another day we went on a rafting trip down the Ganges. It sounded fun and was fun but was the first time either of us has rafted and I was pretty nervous once it started happening. I was a bit freaked out at the first couple of rapids but then the rest were small and easy. Jeremy totally loved it but I'm not sure I'd do it again. If I could swim I might feel different. Or, if the guide wasn't constantly telling us , upon each approach of the rapid, what our percentage was of turning over. One was 90% and was a grade 4 rapid that one totally freaked me out. In between we could get off the raft and float in the water. There was 5 of us from the ashram and 4 Indian fellows and 2 guides. I was very impressed with the guides and their thoroughness in explaining safety, etc. I'm proud of myself for doing it but remember that I prefer land activities. Probably why I hate bridges and boats too. Prefer my feet on solid ground.
We rented a moped yesterday and toured around the hills. We started up a road that followed the Ganges and ended up hitting a hard monsoon rain that held us off on the side of the road for about an hour. We seeked refuge under the canopy of a little convenience store. After the rains subsided we took off again and there were many, many landslides along the roads and rocks falling. The monsoon rains are just starting so the dry land is adjusting. We then took off on another road and the views were amazing. We must have been close to a crossing border to Tibet as we saw a sign for Indo/Tibet Border Crossing. That was pretty cool to be so close but of course we couldn't cross. You will see many pics from road signs they have that are quite amusing stressing road safety.
We have forced ourselves to enjoy some Ayurveda messages. We have, after all , forced ourselves to endure cheap massages all through our travels. Making it our mission to experience the different techniques from different countries. Someone has to do it, right? How can you beat $9 massages? Ayurveda massages are very oil and you leave feeling like Kramer in the episode of Seinfeld where he was rubbing olive oil on his body to suntan and Newman kept picturing him as a turkey. Funny if you saw it.....Anyways......
Parmarth Ashram does a Ganga Aarti ceremony every evening that we attended. Explained in their words: Just as the sun's rising is marked by prayer, so is its setting. Each evening as the sun's last rays reflect off the boundless waters of Mother Ganga, we gather for the Ganga Aarti. This divine light ceremony is filled with devotional song, prayer, ritual and a palpable sense of the divinity of Mother Ganga. The aarti, an ornate oil lamp, lined with dozens of flames burning in pure ghee - is offered to God. We give thanks for the blessings bestowed upon us that day, as well as symbolically offering light back to Ganga aarti is a time when we break free from the normal stresses and strains of every-day life, and gather together in joy, reverence and peace. The ceremony is really beautiful and all Indians push and shove for a chance to touch the oil lamps before the ceremony is over. The boys in dressed in orange are from Parmarth's orphanage and are in training to become priests. As Jeremy was taking shots one encouraged him to touch the aarti.
We are spending a couple of days chilling on the high bank, doing yoga and eating good food. Then, we are off to Dharmasala, home of the Daili Lama and see what we can get into up there. More soon!
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Parmarth Ashram
Sadhvi Bhagwati of Parmarth ashram in Rishikesh given a detailed video account of what ashram life is like at http://www.indikana.net