Ok, we caved. Our stomachs leading the way, we found ourselves through no fault of our own in our hostel restaurant, where they make excellent Italian food, and I ordered a pizza... So it only took two weeks for the "I am going to fully immerse myself in the culture and eat Indian food forever and ever (until we get to Thailand)" mask to drop. To be honest, I've also been eating vegetarian chow mein as well as curries. It's not that I don't like Indian food, I really do, I just don't like eating the same kind of food day after day after day, no matter how nice it is. Pizza was a lazy choice but, much as I want to regret it, it was too delicious. Back to Indian food tomorrow.
We have had a pretty quiet time in Rishikesh. I went on a solo expedition yesterday, a lone ranger stepping forth fearlessly across the void etc.etc. (I took a stroll by myself down by the river for an hour or so). We have been listening to a LOT of Taylor Swift but I made up for it by seeing in the sunset today with a bit of Johnny Cash which was hauntingly atmospheric. I have been meaning to do a proper clothes wash but never got round to it. Basically, we have thoroughly enjoyed our time here, nosing round the little town at our leisure, eating good food and drinking good (cheap) tea and admiring the Ganges from all angles. Last night as we were wandering back across the rickety, precarious footbridge with cows and monkeys hanging off it, we passed a hippy couple dressed up as pirates (with fake swords and everything) having what looked like a wedding ceremony but to be honest who the hell knows. There are a lot of people dressed like pirates here - people keep asking us if we are new in town, presumably because we are not dressed like pirates. We have also met a shopkeeper who speaks only in the language of that old "Mr Bombastic" song by Shaggy. This is a sample of his attempts to sell us his wares: "This is bombastic, this one fantastic, this Mr. Lover Lover. Have a bombastic day, fantastic, see you later alligator, in a while crocodile". Charlotte and I have to steel ourselves to face his endless onslaught of song lyrics but it is well worth it for the comedy value. He also uttered the immortal phrase when a man asked him for a discount that sums up our entire Indian experience perfectly: "Everything is possible... but this is not possible". India in a nutshell.
Tomorrow afternoon we move on to Dharamsala, arriving at the highly sociable hour of 4am - lovely. I am going to keep my beady eyes peeled for a sight of the Dalai Lama (though God knows what I would do if I actually saw him?! "I'm loving your work" doesn't quite cut it). I am just going to googleimage him now so I will recognise him if we see him in the street.
Miss you all, as always. Loads of love xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <3
Well, from my living room in a sodden St. Andrews, that was a wonderfully welcomed break into a foreign clime. Whilst you look out onto the Ganges and pontificate over what you will say to the Dalai Lama, I am watching a series of Freshers dance past my window to the top 'club' of this little seaside town, waiting, rain-drenched, in line, in the desperate bid to partake in 'Boozeday Tuesday'. That, or they're getting in the last 40 minutes of alcohol before giving it up for Lent... I hope you got pancakes, or the Indian equivalent, though it seems that pizza may have served that purpose!
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to the next instalment, Much, much love EBMxxxx