Blogs from Uttarakhand, India, Asia - page 9

Introduction : To me trek to Roopkund was nothing less than any Bollywood flick. It has got everything in it from action to drama to romance to emotions to comedy ( of errors - of course created by us ). You take a hike you reach bugiyal ( meadows ), take a left turn you can see Mt. Neelkanta, Mt. Chaukhamba, Hati-Ghori Peak, Bandarpunch and Kedardome. Look straight vast lush green field lies ahead of you. Move your chin bit up massive Nandaghunti is looming over your head. Turn right you can see the mighty Mt. Trishul, Roopkund is at the foothills of Trishul. Zillions and zillions of scintillating stars illuminating the night sky. There was rain, snow, blizzard, wind everything in a single trek. Strangled just 400-500 mts away from Roopkund and not a single ... read more

Dhunda and Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, India 20th Sept 2014 “Wind in my hair, I'm a part of everywhere Underneath my being is a road that disappeared” Eddie Vidder I was not quite ready to ride to Himachal and I felt like getting out of Haridwar for a few days in the mountains. Gangotri seemed as good a place as any. Gangotri is one of the 'chardham' sites in Uttarakhand (the others being Yamnotri, Bodrinath, and Kedanath) which are pilgrimage sites revered by Hindus who aspire to visit them all in their lifetime (together with the more prominent sites across India of Dwarka in Gujarat, Puri in Odissa and Ramaswaram in Tamil Nadu). The Uttarakhand sites are all source areas of what eventually becomes the greater Ganges River below Allahabad. I had been given variable local advice ranging ... read more

Upon my arrival at Swiss Cottage, I was greeted by this little pup of unknown mixed breed. He was quite a jolly fella, sometimes too much. The story of how he ended up at Swiss Cottage was a fascinating one. He and his siblings were found on the street. They all looked decent except him, he didn't look like he would not make it. He was brought to the guesthouse, where a kind Spanish traveler spent 7000 Indian Rubies to get him the proper treatment needed. Fast forward five months and here he is chasing little children and chewing on furniture. A true story of chances and survival. "I'm afraid of people. Afraid of what they might do to me. Will they hurt me? Traveling has taught me that people just want your money. They ... read more

Triveni Ghat Rishikesh reminded me of Southeast Asia. There was a backpacker/hippie vibe to it. The city's main draw is "Spirituality" and that being the main reason for most people's visit. That, yoga and meditation. Along the Ganges river sit Rishikesh. I didn't know the Ganges started all the way up near the Himalayas. I met Santi, an Argentinian on the night bus. It was one of the worst bus ride that I'd ever had. For some smart reason, I decided to choose the bed on top of the rear tire. It was a very bumpy ride. I had to fend off mosquitos as well. At one point during the night my body flew up and I bumped my head. Never pick the seat or bed on top of the rear tires. Once we reached Rishikesh, ... read more

One thing I love about traveling in foreign countries is that for much of the time, I have absolutely no idea what is going on.I can't speak or read the language, and in India, I can't even read the letters. I don't know what people are doing, why they're doing it, or what I should be doing. I constantly see things that I can't begin to understand or comprehend. Sometimes, I figure these situations out with a little experience and knowledge. Other times, it remains a mystery. Each week, I will write about something I see or experience that completely baffles me. Or a simple curiosity. If anyone had any ideas about what I write about, or actual experience, feel free to leave a comment. I'll report back and update the post when or if I ... read more