BEST DAY EVER in INDIA

Hey everyone! If you didn't know I have been ill for a while, but once I heard our next stop I put all my energy into healing!  I have been looking forward to this stop the whole inter trip!  One because we were going to be near a river and in the beautiful Himalayan mountains; which I never thought I would actually be able to say.  That I have been to the Himalayan mountains!  More importantly we got to go WHITE WATER RAFTING today!!!

The day started off with a peaceful rain.  Then we all trickled out on to the lawn for a yoga lesson.  The lesson was very professional and peaceful outside.  We had a master in a white gown and we led us in Om sounds and chants before and after.  Then we proceed to a delicious buffet style breakfast on the roof top.  There was coffee, tea, mango juice (which I usually do not like in the States but was very good here,  we also had watermelon juice here which I had never had either and it was the boom!! I couldn't get enough) bananas  peaches, a cooked vegetable dish, toast, and omelets.  I have no had fruit for two weeks and those peaches were so ripe and had to have two!

Following breakfast we jumped in jeeps to a camping/ tent/ outside hotel/ resort place. Here we enjoyed volleyball and the SWIMMING pool!  I was in heaven.  After constantly being in the heat  it was nice to jump in cool water.  The pool standard were not the best; most of us agree we probably  would not have jumped into this green, buggy pool, but here we were already use to the cleanliness of the area and said "What the Hey!".

Finally the time had come to white water raft, we instantly all wanted to jump in the boat was we got to the water.  We couldn't sit still to listen to the rules and precautions.  Before we all jumped in our guide told us all to get calf deep in the water, facing land, and hold hands.  We soon saw where this was going and all the girls were screaming "NO".  Haha but the guy came by and pushed us all in!  The water was heart stoppingly cold but felt delightful once you got out.  The ride took around 4 hours I think he said.  The swells were HUMONGOUS, some probably 6 feet. No drop offs though :( and no one capsized, even though a group tried to on purpose.  Our leaders were so awesome.  The let us jump in and pushed us in.  They had crazy games to get us to accidentally fall in.  The whole ride was so much fun.  Half way we pulled up on shore for a wonderfully handmade Indian buffet.  And made another stop after that to jump off some ledges and follow creeks up to a cute waterfall.  Overall it was quite an awesome day!

Tomorrow we get to get up bright and early for our next stop!  Wish us safe travels!

Love Ya! 

     Kaitlyn

Rishikesh is Calling

Guys I'm not going to lie, ever since we've touched down in Delhi I've been dreaming of going to the mountains of Northern North India. There is just something about being cramped in cities with millions of people that I've still not felt all that comfortable about, but then again you can't really complain since India has about a billion people in it anyway.

Rishikesh is this small town is about 6 or 7 hours by bus drive outside of Delhi, and the landscape and view here is by far the most amazing thing that I have seen in my entire life. A lot of people here have posted about how they went to the Beatles Ashram or gone swimming in the Ganga and how both of those experiences have been great. I'm not going to lie, both of them have really been amazing, the Beatles Ashram, which is pretty run down, has by far some of the best graffiti I have ever seen. As for the Ganga, the best way I can explain it for my ECU friends is that if you've done the Polar Bear Plunge this past year you could easily go jump in the Ganga.  I've also figured out that the only reason that people say you can get your sins cleansed in the Ganga is because its cold enough to literally rip the sins out of your body, and that's no joke, I've never been so damn cold in my entire life. A lot of these places I can't really expalin without showing you guys a lot of pictures, which I will eventually on facebook.

As for the city of Rishikesh, the best way I can describe it is that it is pretty much a meeting point for the World's hippies. This is the off-season for tourism, yet there are people from all over the world here. Just the other day I met a group of hippies from San Francisco, Baghdad (no joke), and London. I even got a quick jam session on the djembe drums with a few of them, it was a great bonding moment.

On a bit more of a serious note, I can say that this trip has truly been a opportunity for me to have some personal growth, unfortunately it was not in stature; however, in the past 14 days I've though a lot about who I am and what I can do to better my self. I think that each and every single person on this trip has had some growth. Each member of this group has a completely different personality, completely different views of the world, and new ideas based on their observations; for me personally I love it. I like meeting and getting to know a little bit more about the people on this trip and trying to get a better understanding of the world and society that we live in based on another person's way of thinking.

Take care,

Josh

Adventures in Rishikesh

Greetings from Rishikesh, my new favorite place in India.

I know I haven't blogged in a while, but I've been so busy soaking up everything that India has to offer. I really don't want to leave. I even emailed my parents asking if I could come live here for a year if I graduate early. I'm pretty sure they weren't too thrilled about that question, but I'll never know since they never email me back (here is your cue to do so). I can't even believe how beautiful this town is. We have visited the markets, explored the Beatles Ashram, and most importantly, we have dived into the majestic Ganga River. Despite the scorching heat in Rishikesh, the river remains cool and calming, and by cool and calming, I actually mean freezing cold and filled with massive rapids. This morning, we went on a 4-hour rafting journey on the Ganga. West, Josh, Lindsey, Leela, Karina, and I sat in a raft with our awesome guide Bijay. He made us feel comfortable, but also challenged us to push ourselves. We jumped in, fell in, danced, sang, and overall had an amazing time. We also went cliff diving; it was a baby cliff though. As enjoyable as it was, I don't think I'll be doing that again. I got basically all of the water of the Ganga in my ears, and my head continues to throb as I sit here. I should probably do something about this soon. Aaah I can't even put into words how crazy this entire day was. I feel so liberated, not to mention I have been cleansed of my sins. Life is good, aside from these ear issues. I miss you all at home! Mom and dad, check your email instead of freaking out and calling my professor; love y'all though. 

Lovin' Life

I absolutely love Rishikesh! It has been nice to get out of the hustle and bustle of bigger cities and come to this nice town in the mountains! It is so beautiful and serene. The rooftop of our hotel over looks the Ganges River and provides a magnificent view of the mountains. Waking up and doing yoga every morning stretches my body and relaxes my mind. Our yoga instructor is the real deal! The markets are filled with beautiful jewelry and the people are once again very congenial and vibrant!

The Beatles ashram that we journeyed to was once a place The Beatles used to come when they visited India, particularly George Harrison. The ashram is dilapidated but is still very beautiful because it has graffiti of Beatles quotes on the walls. There are also awesome murals painted on the walls. Ahhh, so cooool!

The best part of Rishikesh was our river rafting adventure on the Ganga. We had a quick briefing of how to maneuver the raft and stay safe and then headed down the mighty river. It was so exhilarating! Every new rapid we encountered was a new adventure. I was thrown off the raft a few times and got to cruise down the chilly, refreshing water. Being surrounded by mountains and feeling the energy of the river was amazing! We made a pit stop for lunch. The lunch was made with fresh ingredients and our guides provided us with copious amounts of scrumptious food! It was the best food I've had here! After our lunch break we stopped at a spot on the river where we could jump into the icy water. This was also very exhilarating! Ahhh, I'm seriously going to miss Rishikesh!

Turn off your mind, relax, and float downstream...

It's only been a few days and I already can't remember all the things we have done. Varanassi was beyond words. I love it there so much and I'm kind of sad we left. But I'm thrilled to be back in my element, the mountains, surrounded by nature and a calm pace of life. Rishikesh has been nothing short of mystical. I warned everyone about me nerding out on the outcrops but I don't think they understood what I was saying. Right when we got off the bus, I rushed to an outcrop and started examining the rocks there. I found a perfect sample of green schist that I'm especially proud about. I'm in the Himalayas! Every geologists personal dream, and I'm here! It's all too surreal.

Yesterday we hiked our way to the Beatles Ashram. I was beyond speechless to be in the same place that the Beatles stayed while writing the white album and experiencing India. I wonder if this country effected them they same way it has effected me. I've grown into such a strong person. And I'm beyond proud that I can say that I adapted so comfortably to a lifestyle I have never known before. I wanted to hide out in the Beatles Cathedral and never come back. But I would eventually begin to miss my family and friends. I wish that they were here with me.

Today we went river rafting on the Ganga and all I can say is WOW. Even minute was an adrenaline rush that I couldn't get enough of. At one spot we went cliff jumping which was beyond amazing. I couldn't stop. I had jumped off four times and every time the guide saw me swimming back he would just smile and laugh at the complete joy I was clearly showing.

I honestly don't want to leave. Every moment here has been nothing short of blissful and I want to continue experiencing this country more and more. I'm addicted to India.

Namaste,
Lindsay Pugh

Loving Rishikesh

I have found my new favorite place. Rishikesh is absolutely amazing. Yesterday we hiked down the mountain and cleansed our sins in the Ganges. The water was chilly but so worth it. We went to dinner at a restaurant that was dimly lit and we all sat on the floor. There were some men in there that had tablas and had a jam session. There were surprisingly really good. Out the window of the restaurant we could see the Ganges. Bonus- we could see the stars on the walk back to our hotel. It has been way too long since I've been able to see the beautiful stars in the night sky. Life doesn't get much better than that.
 This morning we woke up early and had a relaxing yoga session. It was so cool to have a real yogi instruct us. Later on in the afternoon we hiked up to the Beatles ashram. I've been trying to think of the words to describe this place but it seems impossible. There were a bunch of run-down buildings with amazing graffiti as well as little stone huts which were used for meditation. We walked into one building where artists had come in and technically illegally painted all over the walls. As soon as I walked in, I almost started to cry. It was an incredible tribute to the band that changed music and the world. It was so cool to be in the same place where they had been years ago. I would do anything to see all the people that spent time in this ashram meditating and just chilling out. I could've stayed exploring this area for days but since our time was limited we had to move on.
Rishikesh is such an amazing town, I'm falling in love very quickly.

Ah the refreshing cool of the mountains. Not really though because it is still hot. I don't think I'll ever complain about North Carolina heat again. We have arrived in Rishikesh located in the lower Himalayas. After a long 12 hour train ride and a 6 hour bus ride it is nice to finally be settled down. The town is located on the banks of the Ganges river. After looking at this river for five days in Varanasi it is nice to finally be able to swim in it. With long hot days there is nothing like jumping in the ice cold river. Also around is plenty of hiking and rafting opportunities. This morning we visited the Beatles Ashram, where they lived for several months and wrote a couple of albums. The place is now completely abandoned and the jungle is slowly taking the place back over. It is still a cool place to visit and imagine what the place was like 50 years ago.

Being in India really does make you appreciate the comforts of home. It is also amazing how much religion plays a role in the daily lives of Indians. All over the cities are shrines and temples dedicated to the various gods and goddesses, for Hinduism. We have also visited the Jains, who's main leaders do not believe in clothes. We have also visited a Buddhist monastery, but will soon be immersed in that culture. 

There are many stories that are too long to post on this blog but will be told later on. Though the trip is starting to wind down, there are still several cities to visit and plenty of fun to be had.