How do I describe Rishikesh? Everyone is connected here. You meet people once and bond with them over dinner, only to see them the next morning at breakfast. You see Indians trying to explain the story of Ram and Ravana to a white person, even though there is no common language. You sit in a cafe and listen to these deep conversations shared between two virtual strangers about life, its meaning, and why we're here. As Heidi, the Canadian we met on the bus and continued to see around says, "We are all little dots being connected". People let down their guard and just let it be. A guy was telling another man that we are never alone, that there are too many people on this earth to ever truly be alone. We have to find peace and solitude in the middle of New York City, but when we need it, we've never alone.
That us the way that I can describe this place and traveling in general. While sometimes it's nice to just sit with a book and watch people, drinking chai and eating homemade bread, I know that I can always sit down at a table and strike up a conversation. While I may be under the illusion that I am alone, all I have to do is say hello and I am once again connected. And letting down that guard is hoe I met so many amazing people on this journey. People that I thought would only be in my life for a week, I see a month later in the north, and in a month I get to see my friends from Australia. I'm meeting all of these incredible people in the six months that I decided to take to be alone. While I have time to find myself and what is important to me, I am connecting myself with people the world over. While I miss my friends and family like crazy, there is no place I'd rather be.
And being in Rishikesh is like the gasp of air after you've been under the water for too long. You can feel the ari in your lungs- clean air unhindered by the bustle and traffic of Delhi. Your head clears and you can think and feel and let go. The stares are less common and you can let your manner and shoulders free. There is no rush here, but you can sit for hours writing and watching and never feel bored.
That us the way that I can describe this place and traveling in general. While sometimes it's nice to just sit with a book and watch people, drinking chai and eating homemade bread, I know that I can always sit down at a table and strike up a conversation. While I may be under the illusion that I am alone, all I have to do is say hello and I am once again connected. And letting down that guard is hoe I met so many amazing people on this journey. People that I thought would only be in my life for a week, I see a month later in the north, and in a month I get to see my friends from Australia. I'm meeting all of these incredible people in the six months that I decided to take to be alone. While I have time to find myself and what is important to me, I am connecting myself with people the world over. While I miss my friends and family like crazy, there is no place I'd rather be.
And being in Rishikesh is like the gasp of air after you've been under the water for too long. You can feel the ari in your lungs- clean air unhindered by the bustle and traffic of Delhi. Your head clears and you can think and feel and let go. The stares are less common and you can let your manner and shoulders free. There is no rush here, but you can sit for hours writing and watching and never feel bored.
The Durga Puja as seen from our balcony overlooking the Ganga.
Dusshera, the burning of Ravana. This represents the final battle of good over evil.