Arrival

Pk says hi!


PK, the guide guru is making his offering to Ma Ganga from his office

window! Chanting and blessing each of the dieties with flowers and

incense occasionally stopping to show me pictures or silence his

phone's incoming calls. I can't ne the ringtone but I'm pretty sure

it's Kenny G.

Today is krishna's birthday! I asked how old he was. Got a good laugh

out of that one!

This is the most beautiful place on earth, second only to matunuck of

course!

My flight was amazingly smooth. I found my driver right away at the

Delhi airport and we set off for our 5 hour ... Turned out to be 8

hour ride to rishikesh. The driver informed me we were in for a lumpy

ride. :)

Driving in India is not recommended for the faint of heart. However,

I was able to sit back, relax and take in the rawness of Ma India.

Barely dodging cars, trucks, rickshaws and motorbikes with a family of

4 comfortably seated.... I closed my eyes and slept quite soundly! I

awoke occasionally to gaze out at the temples and altars. So colorful

and plentiful! The Indians are sleeping on the side of road, on thier

shop steps, on little wheel barrow thingys, all wrapped in sheets

looking like dead bodies.

Arriving at the base of the bridge Ram Julla my driver, Sumit,

informed me that we had come to the end of the road.. Literally, and

now had to walk 3 kilometers to the hotel. Ok.

Some men with an wagon thing stacked my bags and off we went across

Ram Julla. Hello raging Ma Ganga!!!!

On namah shivaya!

If you look down you see piles of fresh cow dung, Indians & cows

sleeping on the road side.

PK just now finished his morning puja and wants to chat.....

Anyway, if you look up you see the Gods. Everywhere. Needless to say I

stepped in shit.

It's amazing, lord Shiva, Hanuman and , Krishna standing regally atop

a simple temple. It's still completely dark but I can hear Ma Ganga to

my right and catch glimpses of her running in the moonlight.

Raj Palace is the hotel. I climbed the stairs to the second floor and

was greeted by a larger than life size banner of Maria. She is a

celebrity here!!....not kidding. My room is small but has a toilet

and AC!

I woke up to PK calling. We had morning coffee .... Bad idea.

Parathas, good idea!!

It's raining here, it has been for quite some time, and it will

continue 'for quite some time'.

Pankaj (pk) prompts me to ride side saddle on the back of his motor

bike. As I climb on the wet seat (thank god and amy for bepresent!) PK

says, now your adventure begins!

Winding side roads leave me completely tuned around and lost ... You

know how good my sense of direction is !!!!!

I caught my first glimpse of the giant giant shiva sitting in the

middle of the Ganga. I've been waiting years to see this 12 foot

statue!! I'm Namha!!

PK is feeding me home made pakoras that his mother just made. The beat

ever!

Maria and her trekking retreat come in tomorrw night. I'm going to get

a massage and shirodhara now!!!

Yeah! I love india!!!!



Om love!

Coral