After the morning prayer at the ashram we drove almost all day to Manali even higher in the mountains. The drive was beautiful and people kept comparing it to mountain ranges back home. Because I grew up in the Green Mountains I couldn't say that these craggy, snow covered peaks reminded me of home but they did remind me of mountains I've visited in the western United States. Almost everyone slept most of the way but in the evening we were all awake we played truth or dare which really was just truth since we were on a bus. We got bored of truth and decided to play MASH which is a game I hadn't played for a long long time it was very entertaining.
The next day we got up in the morning and bundled up for a drive up into the snow. When we were almost there we had to stop and wait for the road to be cleared so we all got out and played in the snow on the side of the road. For some people it was their first time in years being in the snow and for others it was a chance to rejoice in something that is usually an integral part of our lives. Once the road was clear we proceeded up until we reached a resort area filled with people. It was the base for all sorts of commercial winter activities like tubing, skiing, snowmobiling, sledding, etc. all at extremely high prices. Several of us considered skiing but at the prices that were being charged compared to the quality and age of equipment provided we decided against it. We mostly played in the snow and sat enjoying the fresh, crisp air.
Our afternoon was spent in a natural hot-spring bathing area. The women's area was walled of and consisted of a main pool that drained into four spouts below for bathing in. We spent a while soaking in there and by the time we got out the temperature had dropped, the sun was gone, and it was starting to drizzle. We briefly visited a temple and monastery before hurrying back to the hotel, showering and snuggling under electric blankets (a new novelty for me).
The next day (the 10th) we spent all day on the bus driving to Rishekesh and stopped in Shimla on the way for dinner. We arrived in time for breakfast on the 11th after over 18 hours of driving. We stayed outside of the city in a base camp of tents built on a beach along the the Ganges and a tributary to it. When we arrived we changed into warm weather and water clothes and dipped our toes into the freezing water. We ended up having a photo shoot of sorts on the rocks and bridge. After lunch we set out on a two hour white water rafting trip on the Ganges which was a lot of fun. The water was freezing as a good portion of it is glacial melt but that didn't stop us from jumping in when the chance was provided. When we arrived at the end point we changed into dry and decent clothing before driving into town for and evening of prayer and shopping. We attended an arti at Parmarth Ashram where there were a lot of foreigners.
In my mind, there are three kinds of foreigners in India:
1) The "Spiritual Journey Travelers." They are the people for wear flowing clothing and baggy pants that they think are Indian while most Indians dress much like we do on a daily basis. Unfortunately when trying to be Indian or respectful these people tend to overlook important things, especially the women, like covering shoulders, chest, or stomach. When they're in prayers or visiting a place of worship someone on a spiritual journey will close their eyes and sway and tend to have a perfect, blissful smile on their face. A Spiritual Journey-ist tells you they are not a tourist, and will go on and on about how amazing India is without ever seeing what I call real India. They also travel from place to place with a backpack, never a suitcase. These are the most annoying type of tourist for me because they can often be self-righteous about being in India, they think it's very special and they're being different by coming here.
2) The "Westerner." While almost all foreigners in India are westerners there are some who are Western with a capital W. Westerners visit the famous and touristy places only. They can be picked out of a crowd not because of their fair hair and skin but by the group of Indian men following them. Westerners were short shorts, tank tops, and low cut shirts. I've seen many that are wearing something that I would never even think about wearing sightseeing in America of Europe let alone in India. There are two things I think of when I see people like this. The first is that they ought to be aware of the safety risk they're running and that they could be offending others. I also wonder if this is what Indians think of me and the rest of my exchange students friends, the image that these Westerners is creating doesn't help the native's vision of us as a whole. Sometimes it's no wonder Indians (men especially) expect us to be easy and expect us to respond to their comments and calls on the streets.
3) I can't think of a name for the last group. This group encompasses the foreigners who dress appropriately but also who respect India while recognizing the negative aspects of it. You'll that almost any foreigner who lives in India falls into this category. The tourists who fall into this category may stay on the beaten path and visit purely tourist destinations but they can also be found in place like Indore where there are very few white people and even fewer attractions of any kind. They may not be comfortable in their environment but they are aware of it and the pros and cons of their actions.
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| Manali. |
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