hari Om from Rishikesh

Namaste friends and family,

Let me start by making amends for my long absence from blogging. I fell into a common blog trap, having composed a novel and loosing it (due to one of India's regular (planned?) power outtages), getting discouraged and then starting to feel as if I had so much catching up to do that I would never get it all in. this is how days turn to weeks and it seems as if I may have dropped off the world at times. So, let me begin with the here and now. the here is Rishikesh, Uttarkhand province, town made famous by the Beatles (and the Maharishi) some years back and self proclaimed 'yoga capital of the world'. In a beautiful setting, at the foot of the himalayas, with the ganga river running through it, Rishikesh offers all sort of delights for the foreigner from extreme yoga practices to white water rafting. I have been leaning on the easy side of things, electing to stay in an ashram on the more tranquil side of town (less the marching band that trumpets, blows and beats wildly outside the internet cafe as I type-- this is India after all and tranquility is often fleeting. I guess that may help to suggest why there is so much emphasis on finding inner quiet and stillness. Because god knows it can often be tough to find it outside). I have been immensely enjoying my days here, doing yoga, bathing in the ganga (it's quite clean here as Rishikesh is just a few hundred km from where the river leaves the mountains), visiting mountain waterfalls, small local villages, mountain-top godess temples and attending a wonderful course about hindu philosophy(I am quite tempted to stay here for the remainder of the course). I could easily see myself spending some serious time here, focusing on increasing my knowledge and cultivating discipline and inner understanding. Something that wouldn't be overly difficult to do seeing as I've been spending around $6-10/day. But alas, I must get moving in two days as I'll be off to attend a truly unique event, the Kumbh Mela, the largest religious gathering on earth (more on that later). Nonetheless, I may consider heading back this way come April/May.

Since my last blog entry, I spent the remainder of the week in Mohali, being the much spoiled guest of a group of college-aged girls at the Residence run by my friend's family. the ladies were wonderful, and took me around Chandigarh (although not the most inspiring of locales), inviting me to meet their friends and families, and feeding me all sorts of delightful treats. Aparently Punjabis love sweet and fried and after a week with the ladies, I began to fear that I may be 300lbs when I leave India.
then i was off the visit the families of two of the lovely ladies in villages located near Patiala. It was absolutely wonderful to be welcomed into their homes and families and everywhere I went I was treated as an honoured guest. One of the girls lives in a beautiful farm house, set amid fields of wheat and mustard plants, with various fruit trees in the yard (sadly not the season for mangos, papaya, lemon, guava..etc). however, it was the season for various vegetables which were plucked from the garden and savoured. In fact, the food there was the best i've had in india so far. Perhaps some of the best i've ever had. Sweet red carrot and potato stew slow roasted over a fire (on a chulla- an outdoor clay stove that is an important part of traditional indian cooking), fresh chapatis with locally grown wheat made with love by Bebe (grandmother), lovely dahl, fresh Buffalo-milk curd (yogurt) and ghee (clarified butter), warm buffalo milk lightly spiced and sweetened, homemade lemon, ginger, mango, pickle. Wonderful, wonderful food, with amazing company in a beautiful place. I am still amazed/delighted with how kind and generous people are, constantly opening their homes and their hearts to you....

Much more to say. Will continue tomorrow... xoxo