S: Ganges and Himalaya

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Maybe it was because of the chillier weather of the north, maybe it was because of the holyness of the river Ganges - or maybe it simply was because of being aware that our long trip is soon coming to and end that I suddenly felt like starting all over again - enthusiastic and happy over this great opportunity to visit the other side of the world.

So, after all the 8.3 celebrations and the hot desert of Rajastan, we decided to go further up north to escape the worst heat. After a few days in Jaipur (visiting Hannas friend Asha and her family and meeting Toshita from the center of Dalit rights), one day in Delhi (visiting Sunita and the national Campaign for Dalit human rights) we came to Haridwar - a holy city that is built up on the rivershores of Ganges. Along with hundreds of other people we spent a few days there, bathing and attending the religious evening-ceremony every night. It was an amazing experience for me - not so much religious (although I find it logical to worship the sun, water and other natural elements since you can see and feel what a big impact they make on the earth and peoples lives) but because it was such a nice city. Not too warm, not too cold, not too noisy, not too silent, not too crowded, not too empty - but simply just perfect! It was also small enough so that we could walk everywhere (not arguing with ricksha drivers) and even though it was a bit commercialised it didn't feel bad because it wasn't the main thing (bathing and praying in the river was) and the salespeople just let us be and didn't even pay us that much attention. It was also really interesting for me to watch all the pilgrims, shaving off (offering) their hair, bathing and praying and washing their clothes and themselves in the river (though it was so dirty!). The second day there me and Hanna also bathed - and it was so hilarious because of the extreme coldness (and dirtyness) and the whole thing about praying and dipping the whole of you - even you head- to get your sins forgiven. It was just so crazy - but also crazy fun! 😊

After these days we went to a city up in the mountains (Himalaya!!) and if the first trip to Ganges was really great for me - then this other trip to the mountains was mostly just stupid - because I ended up getting sick and spent most of the days indoors, in the bed, or in the toilet... It was also crazy cold - not crazy fun any longer - just crazy - beeing in India, freezing, (under 3 blankets)!! But I was happy to be with Hanna, buying me warm socks and tea and lending me more clothes and blankets. And when I got better again I could go out to have a look at the gorgeous mountains that surrounded the city. But then it was already time to leave, and I can assure you that if you ever go to Mussoori then this busride will not be easy to forget! Either you will be amazed by the wonderful wievs, or then you will have another kind of experience. Well, me and Hanna had the other kind of experience. I would like to compare it with a bad ride on a roller coaster: the bus driving all too fast on a tiny road (constantly turning all over) on the mountainside. Hanna was afraid that the bus would fall down the mountainside (and we would die) while I was spending all my time thinking about everything and anything else than throwing up - not succeding very well though since other people was throwing up through the windows (and after a while I had to join them). But the busdriver just continued as nothing happend, maybe it's everyday life for him - these stupid lowland people that can't even take a short trip in a bus without getting really afraid or sick! However, after about an hour on this nightmare-busride, we ended up here in Dehra Dun (sitting in a internet cafe listening to a techno version of Hare Krishna) and it's warm again - finally! 😊

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Comments

[Piia]

Oi, minäkin haluan matkalle! Oon välillä lueskellut tätä teidän blogia. :) Kuulitko muuten Sofia, että Bulevardin kämpästä tehdään perheasunto, ja joudutaan kaikki muuttamaan pois heinäkuun lopussa? Jostain kai pitäisi etsiä sitten uusi koti. :( Mutta nauttikaa täysillä teidän vikoista viikoistanne reissussa! Suomessakin on jo melkein lämmin. :)