Watching something like the equivalent of The Voice in my hotel room on Anjan channel. I like my hotel room despite its poor outlook - not the mountain view promised - and somewhat shabby furnishings but it is nice and big and warm and feels safe up away from the traffic of Rishikesh. Eyes sting from the dust but at least know my way from the hotel to the ashram, despite a few odd twists and turns. And this morning sitting drinking chai and eating porridge with loved ones, suddenly India seemed doable.
It started relatively well. The delays to the flight meant that I actually got to Delhi at a more sensible time and had less time to hang around. The flight was basically good, sleep possible, but aslo disturbed by turbulence, food, etc, but I definitely dozed for a bit and just about managed to watch the movie Dunkirk by the time we arrived. The flight took an extra hour as we could not fly over Pakistani airspace which created a moment's tension but luckily we were blissfully unaware of any issue till the flight arrived. Delhi airport is huge and I was heading for the transfers, but could not access any information on departures. A man with a big gun, both of which were tucked by a sign saying not to come near, suddenly asked if he could help, but he could make sense of where I was trying to get to. I then headed outside the airport for some fresher air and to try and find some money, but failed was all the ATM would tell me. It took a while to work out how to get back into the airport, but eventually succeeded. Luckily having got some rupees at Heathrow airport I was able to buy a delicious plate of samosas and good coffee, before queuing up go through the stringent security checks to await my short flight to Dunradun. I even found a quiet spot and a lounger to relax on. Nationwide kindly told me that suspicious activity had been spotted on my card and to await further instrutions. Just as I was about to board the next flight, and too late to sort out any more money, I got word my card had been unblocked. Luckily I had enough money with me for the 45 minute pre arranged taxi and travelling through the dark got to Nature Care Village was able to have yet another meal, whilst sitting outside in the chill air, trying to assimilate where I was. My affable but slightly aloof host, told this dishevelled older women, in effect to chill, but throughout my stay I never quite got the hang of things, and each night I was very cold, but that aside, I thought the location and guest house lovely and the other guests made for a sort of Agatha Christie type cast of characters all sequestered in an out of the way location where they are all held together to answer questions from Poirot.
I am pleased to say however, that there was no murder, just dogs, good and scary, loud music from the wedding next door to dance to, rivers to fall into, elephants heard but not seen, children and water buffalo, soft light, and wonderful food. and that great cast of characters with whom to pass the brief days spent in an Indian village just outside Rishikesh.
I was attracted to the place because I wanted a quiet place to recover from the overnight flight and I was interested in the promise of Ayuvedic plants organic homegrown food and the beach and
My camera got damaged from falling in the river (which stopped me filming the ayuvedic tour) and in the satsang we cannot take pictures which is also a shame as the atmosphere ranged from electric to really funny to obnoxious, but suddenly tonight down by the Ganges my camera started to work again enabling me to capture scenes from Triveni Ghat arati or evening worship.
It started relatively well. The delays to the flight meant that I actually got to Delhi at a more sensible time and had less time to hang around. The flight was basically good, sleep possible, but aslo disturbed by turbulence, food, etc, but I definitely dozed for a bit and just about managed to watch the movie Dunkirk by the time we arrived. The flight took an extra hour as we could not fly over Pakistani airspace which created a moment's tension but luckily we were blissfully unaware of any issue till the flight arrived. Delhi airport is huge and I was heading for the transfers, but could not access any information on departures. A man with a big gun, both of which were tucked by a sign saying not to come near, suddenly asked if he could help, but he could make sense of where I was trying to get to. I then headed outside the airport for some fresher air and to try and find some money, but failed was all the ATM would tell me. It took a while to work out how to get back into the airport, but eventually succeeded. Luckily having got some rupees at Heathrow airport I was able to buy a delicious plate of samosas and good coffee, before queuing up go through the stringent security checks to await my short flight to Dunradun. I even found a quiet spot and a lounger to relax on. Nationwide kindly told me that suspicious activity had been spotted on my card and to await further instrutions. Just as I was about to board the next flight, and too late to sort out any more money, I got word my card had been unblocked. Luckily I had enough money with me for the 45 minute pre arranged taxi and travelling through the dark got to Nature Care Village was able to have yet another meal, whilst sitting outside in the chill air, trying to assimilate where I was. My affable but slightly aloof host, told this dishevelled older women, in effect to chill, but throughout my stay I never quite got the hang of things, and each night I was very cold, but that aside, I thought the location and guest house lovely and the other guests made for a sort of Agatha Christie type cast of characters all sequestered in an out of the way location where they are all held together to answer questions from Poirot.
I am pleased to say however, that there was no murder, just dogs, good and scary, loud music from the wedding next door to dance to, rivers to fall into, elephants heard but not seen, children and water buffalo, soft light, and wonderful food. and that great cast of characters with whom to pass the brief days spent in an Indian village just outside Rishikesh.
I was attracted to the place because I wanted a quiet place to recover from the overnight flight and I was interested in the promise of Ayuvedic plants organic homegrown food and the beach and
river. In some ways some of this was delivered - e.g. a talk on the various plants, which was very interesting, and a walk to the river at sunrise which was fun and enabled me to see a bit more of the area. Having a wedding next door was also fun, though it meant the place was not quiet, but I enjoyed going to see the groom arrive and was invited in but resisted. I also loved walking down to the river and seeing the animals and child- herders and just sitting and hoping an elephant would appear. I found it hard to sleep as it was cold and there were so many intriguing sounds e.g. the birds were stunning. (For example saw a kingfisher, egrets, parrakeets) And everyone who stayed had amazing qualities from people with huge knowledge of cooking, a man from America on his first trip abroad, who turned out to be part First Nation, an Indian looking woman, who actually came from NZ but lived in Switzerland and a single mum on her first trip by herself, drawn by Mooji to India, but who preferred the quiet of our spot, to staying in town to hear more satsangs. It felt like a real treat. and the home grown organic food was lovely. I think some of the claims for the place are a bit exaggerated at present, e.g. wellness centre, beach, but in time the place could be amazing, (though probably more expensive) and at present it just has a great unspoilt charm and lovely feel to it. No wonder Rishikesh was such an assault on the senses when I first arrived and today I have almost been mown down several times but I am surviving and enjoying aspects of it, not least seeing Nathan. And it is also good to have been able to attend satsangs and hear music and be part of the visit of the Sangha to here. That is pretty special.
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