Ganga Maya Ki.... Jai!

I reached Haridwar at 4 in the morning and started asking around for taxi's who were charging way too much so I ended up getting a local bus, which reached Rishikesh at about 4:30.

After reaching I caught an auto to an ashram which was fully booked, therefore I crossed the Luxman Jula bridge at 5am and just seeing the sight of the Himalayas at that peaceful time was breathtaking! No one was around or to be seen, actually for a change not even a dog! This is when I thought wow; I know why I wanted to come back here.

The next day I walked around the markets and went to a small mandir for darshan, I was kind of disappointed with all the new buildings and loads of tourists, but it still hasn't lost it beauty. The one thing that really upset me was the German Bakery full of tourist, which used to be this nice little chai wala stall where I remember me and my familia taking some pics right on the Luxman Jula. Oh well! Anyway I really chilled out that day and booked myself for a 5 hour rafting session the next day.

I reached the travel agency at 7am and we left in a jeep to go all the way up to marine drive, where my rafting would start. We didn't end up starting till 10am and I was put into raft with this really nice family who ironically came from England. We were having a great time and went through some exciting rapids, but there rafting was only half of what I was doing as they had small children with them. So once they got off, me and my river guide Manoj were trying so hard to recruit more people because if we carried on we would have both been thrown out of the raft as the more dangerous rapids were ahead. In the end I ended up joining a group of 5 rafts, who were not only on there work trip from Reliance but were all guys! I think I’m getting used to this all guys thing and me being the only girl! Lol

Anyway being how guys are they said there's enough of us matcho men you don't have to paddle and no I didn't give them the woman power speech because I was really tired and used it to my advantage! So I sat right in the front holding onto the rope, which is the best position as you’re the first one going into the rapids. It was amazing, we were coming up to the rapid called rollercoaster and all I could see or rather couldn't see was a gigantic wave way over my head, my grip tightened and I thought here we go! Even after the white waters calmed down, it was not all over as we then came to golf course... wow I loved it! When the waves kept coming and the guys had to work harder, whilst I just indulged the freezing cold ice water from the Himalayas on a hot day I really felt like this is heaven! The thrill, the adventure, the adrenaline rush and the constant chant of the leader saying Ganga maya Ki and the team saying Jai every time we entered a rapid. Fantastic experience!

So we passed the most dangerous ones and then stopped off at his camp for chai and food, at this time I was starving as I hadn't eaten at all that day. Can you believe there are tons of camps on small little peaceful beaches all along the river Ganga, if I had known I would have camped! Next time!

My river guide who I must praise is really good, then took me to a place called jump off point. Once I looked at how high this rock was I thought great idea but maybe next time! Lol Anyway Manoj would not let me wimp out so I went up the 20 feet high rock and jumped and damn was I happy I done it!

That evening I went to Parmatniketan Mandir as it is said to have the best arti in Rishikesh and my god it was the best arti i have ever been to. The beauty of the amazing shiva statue on the banks and the vibration of the hundreds of students were really something astounding.

That evening when I went back to the so called ashram where i stayed i had a visitor, who was this really nice uncleji i met when i was rafting. Anyway his actually a professional photographer and came to give me some photo's his taken that have been made into cards, they are truly great pics of some amazing places in Uttaranchal.

So the next day i was heading off to Dharamshala (McLeod Ganj), So uncleji invited me for lunch before i head off. I went for lunch the next day and met his wife and gorgeous son Yogi, I had a really nice meal and then his wife dropped me to the bus stop for my trip to Hardiwar and then onto Dharamshala.

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