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Rishikesh India: Much More than Yoga, Vegetarian Food and Shopping! 

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Playing my wood flute besides the Ganges River, watching the birds soar high into the Himalaya Mountains, I felt like I never wanted to leave. Rishikesh does that to people. I know more than one person that has showed up in the quaint village only to decide not to leave. The town is brimming with visitors from all nations, creed and color, and most come for one thing, health. Whether it’s to enjoy the holy Ganges River, the many ashrams scattered throughout the hills, or all the vegetarian cuisine, it’s a great place to chill out and find peace with the world. 

Chandra Tall Lake in the Himalya Mountains

Dancing with the Whims of Nature at 15,000 feet (Part 3 of the series)

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I stood there feeling high, not from marijuana, although it was readily available in the area, but from the sheer ecstasy of the profound beauty before me. Perhaps it was the altitude of 15,000 feet that made me feel high. Kirti and I had journeyed by car, then by bus up Rohtang pass, known for being one of the deadliest roads in the world.

We hiked the last six kilometers to reach the khajana (Hindi for treasure) of nature known as Chandra Taal Lake. The soaring mountain peaks and lush green fields surrounding the lake made it look like a painting alive with the whims of nature.

Manali: Little Town of Big Surprises

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We were super excited about our trip to Manali so we left Delhi around midnight on a Friday night. It was a holiday weekend and we were hoping to miss traffic, but we didn’t. Instead it took us five hours to get out of Delhi! Finally the roads cleared somewhere around daybreak and we welcomed the clearing air, blue skies and quaint villages, along with the first dawn of our nine day vacation. We drove through the cute towns of Mandi and Kullu where we stopped at a fruit stand for some fresh apples. I eventually took my turn at the wheel so Kirti could take some much deserved rest before navigating the steep winding roads of the Himalaya Mountains. Finally, 18.5 hours later, we arrived in Manali. Little did we know that Manali is a little town full of big surprises.

Real Estate Woes in India

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I blogged in the past about renting a beautiful apartment in Gurgaon, but it unfortunately hasn’t been all roses. I’m currently in a big dispute with my landlord, and the situation is quickly escalating.

The problem is due to the high cost of my electricity bills.  My first bill was about 30,000 rupees, or about $450 USD.  Frankly I wasn’t all that surprised. My flat is about 2000 sq ft and  has 5 separate AC units. None of them work correctly. I also run an air purifier and there is a ceiling fan in every room. On top of this Indian homes are not insulated or very energy efficient. I have big gaps in the sliding glass doors where I can feel hot air pouring in. So, I assume these are all contributing factors to the high electric bills.  

The Ganga River

7 More Things That I Like About India

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I realize I’m guilty of bitching about things over here so it’s high time I share some more things with you that I appreciate about India. There are many special things that I like about India, and here are my top seven.

Love

I know it’s corny, but I love my boyfriend, Kirti, very much. I never expected to find love in India. The best I hoped for was maybe a companion and a little fun. But four months into our relationship we are very much in love, in spite of significant cultural differences. He is adventurous, funny, smart, and compassionate.  Kirti has made a huge difference in my life and has made my adjustment to life in India much easier. I am thankful for him every day! I guess you never know when and where love might strike, so keep an open mind.

Road trips

There are so many cool places to visit over here!  From mountains to beaches to ancient forts and spectacular temples, it is all incredible!!  Plus it is very close to so many other countries that there are endless possibilities for vacations and it’s hard to narrow it down. Soon I hope to visit Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand, maybe even Africa.