Yogi-ville in the mountains, big baller, new friends, touching home base, friends in the south

Rishikesh is known as the place in India for Yoga; at least from a backpackers perspective. There are so many babas here. Above is what I mean when I say a baba. This guy was always outside the door where I stayed; he was the happiest I saw, always with a big smile. What a better setting than in the mountains right along the rushing waters of the Ganges River.
While here I got busy with work, meeting with people at Ashrams, Guesthouses, Hotels, resorts, and learning the area. Being up in the mountains there are a lot of places that cover a large amount of distance so it wasn't possible to see the places I wanted by foot. Hiring a taxi for the day would have cost too much, so I talked to locals and asked if someone wanted to take me around on their motorbike. Sure enough, I found someone who I hired for about 7 hours to drive through the mountains, with wonderful views, checking out the different hotels and such. It was much more enjoyable on the back of a bike than looking through a car window. I don't know how so many people do these tourist buses around the countries; it is like watching through a TV. You have to be part of the place, smell the smells, be right up close where the action which a tourist bus doesn't allow.


One place that I went to check out was "Ananda- a health spa resort". To get here we had to drive 18 km straight up the mountain to arrive at this 5 star resort that sits on 100 acres and was an old palace. They have spa packages here for 21 days that start at about $18,000. A basic room for a night; which isn't so basic, is $560. After doing a walk through here I decided this night that I would write to the corporate office requesting they give me a complimentary night; what did I have to lose. Somewhat to my surprise they agreed and said that they would compliment me 1 night only for the room. What this meant was if I wanted massages, or special therapy sessions or meals that I would pay out of my pocket. I packed my bag with water, fruit and cookies to last me my 24 hours at the Ananda. When I checked they showed me the wardrobe that everyone wears which is a white loose pants and a white comfortable top. This is to go with the whole relaxation, therapy feel.

Everything about this place was beautiful with top of the line service and an atmosphere unlike the rest of India I knew. There were about 6-7 workers for every guest. After checking in I went down to the main spa area and alternated from hot to cold small pools where you walk on rocks and it imitates acupunture. From here I went into the steam room, followed by a cold tub dunk. My body was already more relaxed than it had been since arriving in India. Afterwards I went to the gym where I trainer did a exercise on the big rubber ball class, followed by an abs class. Later I went to a lecture by a ayurvedic doctor to learn a little more about this and then had a complete tour of the whole spa facility with all the specific massage rooms. I headed back to my room, turned on my ipod, filled the large tub that overlooked the scenic valley, lit some candles in the bathroom and spent the last of my energy thinking how I went from a $4 room to a $660 room.

I fell asleep in the most comfortable bed by 8:30 only to wake up at 6:00 with the sun rising outside my window with an undescribable view of the mountains. I woke up slow and walked to the main building for my morning yoga class. After yoga I went back to the gym where I went to a stretching class. As I was the only guest that showed, the trainer helped to stretch me while doing a sort of Thai Massage in the process. I went down to the spa one last time before my 24 hours of bliss was over. I checked out at the latest time possible and went to the main gate to meet my driver on a bike (I think I was the only visitor in the history of the Ananda to be dropped off and picked up on a motorbike by a guy who spoke no english).

I then took a public bus to Haridwar where I caught the evening ceremony where people light hundreds of little baskets filled with flowers and float them down the river. (At times of the year the number of baskets is thousands and once every 12 years it is literally millions of visitors a day that do this-2010 is the next time this happens.)

I headed back to Delhi where I met friends of friends who happened to be in the India tourist industry. I stayed at there apt and we spent all the day and night talking and getting to know each other before I headed out early the next morning on a train to head back to my family in Jaipur for a short stay before my flight to the south of the country.

I could either have taken a train to the south which would have taken 3 days or a 5 hour plane ride. I decided to splurge and go by air. I arrived in Bangalore, where I have been staying with good friends that I met a couple of years ago in Egypt and then stayed with in India, Kiran and Vibha. After my time in the north where I didn't eat meat and only had a drink one day, now I was in the south where I have eaten meat with every meal almost and I went out with Kiran, Vibha and their group of crazy friends for a wild night that took us until 4am and lead to a day of rest and recovery. After finally coming alive that next night and looking forward to a good night sleep, the clock turned midnight and it was time to sing happy birthday to Kiran. Followed by singing the doorbell ring and friends who decided to surprise him stopped over with a full meal, cake, bottles of liquor and other people. As I passed on drinking, this night continued to go on until 5:30am.


I am now caught up on sleep, emails, blogs, and the 3 days of terrorist action in Mumbai has come to an end. I have a bus to my next destination tomorrow at what lies ahead we will see.

When I arrived at the airport to fly south I read on the screen: "Explosives, weapons, and liquids over a certain amount are not allowed in Carry On bags" -does anyone else see the problem with this?