Rishikesh, famous for the Beatles

I spent five exciting days in Delhi. Well on the most part it was exciting. I did take a few days to recover from the jetlag. My friend Mash, an Indian I have known since 2005 met me in Delhi. We had met each other in Nepal on my around the world trip. I saw him again in 2007 in Kerala and we have stayed in contact via Skype frequently. We had initially planned to take a train to Rishikesh, but took had his private car instead. It was a colorful 7-hours to get here. I was amazed with the number of high rise apartment buildings under construction outside of Delhi. I noticed hundreds of projects. It reminded me of Dubai back in 2008.

Rishikesh is considered the Gateway to the Himalayas and the yoga capital of the world. You can’t even get an egg here. So gone are the days of bacon and eggs for breakfast. I am becoming a vegetarian quickly. I stayed at one hotel, which was not up to my standards. I could have lived with the room, but the Ayurveda Spa treatments were not good and in a clean enough environment for my tastes. So I moved to the lovely Great Ganga Hotel. It’s a moderate hotel, but the service and attitude of the guest is superb. I had arranged to get 7-days of spa treatments. Another last hoorah before I enter the ashram. I’ve been here and have gone through all the treatments. A combination of Ayurveda and Western spa stuff. On the most part, it was very nice and the price was extremely reasonable. She only burned me with hot oil twice! Hehe. I loved being pampered and feeling like a princess. The Turkish Hammam was great and just about every inch of me got cleaned, scrubbed and massaged. I’m treated like a VIP here. Not sure if it is because my friend Mash, who is in the travel biz, or because I am here so long and am getting so many spa treatments. The staff calls me the Spa Doctor!

The hotel asked if I could write them feedback on my treatments and experience. So….. in my anal ways I give them a full 5-page typed report. I would like to get in the International Spa Consulting business someday, so maybe this is a start for me. I think they are interested, but their budget is lacking at this time because of the world economy.

Even here at this moderate hotel, the electricity and cable goes out frequently. And we haven’t even had rain in a couple of days. When it does rain the thunder is deafening! It’s loud, scary and exciting!

Rishikesh is famous because the Beatles were here in the 60’s. I think their album White Lightening was inspired by their stay here. They also learned transcendental meditation, which I hope to learn. One of Mash’s clients, an American living in India for 9-years is part of this group who teaches this form of meditation. Google transcendental meditation and you’ll see a lot of info in it.

I have stayed in my room a lot because of the heat and humidity and some rain. Every time I go out I turn into a hot sweaty mess. I lived in the desert of Colorado and New Mexico for the last 25-years, so it will take me some time to adjust to the humidity.

I met a young professional girl from Vancouver of Vietnamese heritage. She has traveled for 3-weeks alone through India and was very lonely. We had breakfast, a yoga class and dinner together before she left town. We had the Nazi Yoga instructor from Japan who nearly knocked me off my feet by correcting ones of my poses.

Every time I take a walk I have to dodge all sorts of people, animals and vehicles. And have to remember to look the opposite way of how I know! Yes the British had a huge influence here. Everyone stares at me; I swear it is not my imagination. But it is in a friendly way if you smile back at them. The dogs seem happier here than in Guatemala. I am pleasantly surprised. There seems to be fewer beggars here than I remember from my past travels to India. People touch me just because I look different, I guess. Many say Namaste, hold their hands in prayer form and bow.

I love to walk along the Ganges River, they call it Ganga! I get dizzy watching the flow. It is dangerously swift. The religious pilgrimages’ here are fascinating. The music during prayer time is mesmerizing as I hear it echoing from across the river. The tide is unusually high today. Some of the steps leading down to the river are flooded. The water is extra muddy. I haven’t seen much rubbish or any dead bodies floating in the river, yet.

The monkeys have been aggressive. At first I was fascinated with them, but now I am a tad afraid. My spa attendant was attacked by two of them while leaving work and had to get 5-shots. A monkey jumped on the Vietnamese ladies back while we were putting on our shoes after yoga. She screamed, and the monkey jumped down and looked so surprised.

It’s my last night to be bad…………I smuggled a bottle of vodka here. It is forbidden to sell alcohol in Rishikesh. I’m having a couple of Vodka and tonics in my room! My friend Mash came to visit me. It’s a tradition for us. I brought a bottle of duty free Absolut Vodka in Nepal and we drank a few V&T’s in the room when we first met. He’s pretty healthy and only has vodka with me. I’ll worry about being healthy tomorrow when I am off to the ashram. I’ll have no internet or TV and will be living a simple and basic life. Gawd, I hope I have hot water and get a room to my self. I bought some of the traditional hippie clothing, so I should fit right in now. Maybe I won’t get so many stares. Nah, it’s the fair skin and blond hair.