This week was our week to decide where we wanted to go, what we wanted to do and when we wanted to do it. Carpe Diem dubs it “student directed travel.”
Rishikesh sits in the small hills overlooking the Ganges. The two main parts of town are separated by the river and connected by a big suspension bridge (where the monkeys liked to hang around and snag your chip bag right out of your hand!). Walking through town on the first day here, I got a different vibe than I’ve recieved from any other place we’ve traveled to in India. With fliers for jam sessions being passed out by hippies in dreadlocks and small shops that look like your typical college dorm room of a stoner, Rishikesh knows how to cater to each hippy-dippy traveler that passes through. Most of the restaurants I’ve gone to don’t have chairs, but have wonderfully assorted cushions tossed all over the floors. Believe me when I say this: It is so amazing to eat an incredible meal and then have it be socially acceptable to lapse into a food coma while sprawled out on comfy floor cushions. The resturant owners totally get it.
Monday we all decided that a lazy day would be a nice break from our usually scheduled ones. We went out to breakfast and explored the town, popping into shops here and there. It was so nice for everyone to be able to do their own thing.
The next day we all packed a lunch and hiked to a waterfall. The water a clear blue, we all swam in the small pond at the base of the waterfall. As I sat on a rock overlooking the scene, I closed my eyes and took a few deep breaths in. “Am I really here?” I asked myself. I opened my eyes. And sure enough, there I was sitting on that rock in disbelief at the beauty that I get to call the life I’m living. It took a few more askings and few more closings and reopenings of my eyes.
On Wednesday we made our way to the cooking class we signed up for. Our teacher, Amit, welcomed us warmly into his home where we’d be doing the lesson. Amit said he’d prefer to call it “cooking sharing” instead of teaching. We cooked with Amit and his family and learned how to make some delicious food. We started with kofta and then made our way through cocnut chutney, a spicy red sauce, masala chai and dosas! Mom, Dad- although the cooking class was amazing I make no promises of how well I’ll be able to cook this stuff at home!
Thursday was another free day. We all got some work done that we needed to for Carpe and after that we did what we liked. Margaret, Amber and I found ourselves at this awesome jam session at the Anna Cafe. We sat and swayed along to the flow of the music. We all concluded that Rishikesh has a really good energy throughout the town.
Friday was our spa day. We all did a bit of research and booked some aryuvedic massages for ourselves. After that, some of us ventured off to the beach for a dip in the Ganga. We all had quite the relaxing day.
Today however, is the day that I think almost everyone in the group has been looking forward to the most. Today is the day we booked white water rafting down the Ganga. I can’t speak much on that though. Last night I ate some food that made me sicker than I think I’ve ever been in my life. I spent most of the night in the bathroom taking care of what we call “the double dragon.” So, my sotmach and I thought it’d be better to miss the rafting today. Although I’m pretty bummed out, I can’t say the whole day was a complete failure. I figured out how to work the TV in our room and successfully found the one english speaking channel. I was in luck: a Marvel superhero movie marathon, and who can say no to Guardians of the Galaxy?
Overall, we’ve had a pretty relaxing week-which is exactly what we needed. With so many amazing places and great conversations with all types of travelers, Rishikesh may be my favorite place we’ve visited so far.
