Mountain trekking, Tibetan-Buddhist scenery

Monday, 28.June, Dharam Kot (McLeod Ganj)

Since the last post a lot of happen.
Well, Malte (24, GER) my very good friend form our common Erasmus time in Finland arrived. No we are complete. Since Yesteray we all to get here again in the same Hotel (Shivalay) in Dharam Kot (a part of McLeod Ganj, more up in the mountains).



Its a very cosy, relaxing place. You see and hear goats, see monkeys walking around, Tibetan school students and farmers with their goats are passing by this place.

Thursday i felt better, and we (claudina and angelo= very polite and interesting german couple) went to a nice hike to the waterfall. But they are rather pure fresh water pools.



They went back but i felt like i need more nature. So i headed the Triund (2850m) in the front of majestic Dhauladhar range (ca 5000m).
From Triund there is scenic beauty of the range that divides Dharamshala from Chamba district. In this range there is Indrahar pass through which we can go to other place. It is a tough trek approximately 12 kms from Triund through Snowline.
http://www.world66.com/asia/southasia/india/himachalpradesh/triund
http://www.himadventures.net/downreport/triund.htm

I took me fast 2:20h. It loved to run up the mountain. A divine feeling. The view, the landscape, the air. Oh my goooood, i was flash backed to the air i "breathed" in dehli. There is a statistic that one day breathing gin dehli is the equivalent to 40 cigarettes!!!!

View on the way to Triund, McLeod Ganj itself and its parts, left:Bagshu and Dharam Kot down right.


Arrived on Triund. The weather changed quickly

The weather changed fast, Suddenly strong rain, strom, hail. I found quick shelter in a bunch of stones covered with a thin plastic layer, supposed to be a tent.


Although the Dalai Lama at the moment is not here, he is in Japan, he is omnipresent.



Malte with some friiinds we met....

Pictures from my mountain-hike trip, the landscape, impression from here
and over all, thoughts, comments to the pics i've taken...:
--> now its our turn to enrich the blog with your thoughts, ideas!!! THX

McLeod Ganj-Mountains

Culture shock -- arrived

Wednesday, 23.06, Mcleod Ganj


I feel better! Fever is gone, headache is veeery slow.
I visited with Claudina and angelo the Dhalai Lama Temple and Main Residence and today a bit far away his ummer residence with beautiful garden and temple...

I give u news soon. I have a lot of ideas to tell, write...i already did in some personal mails...some i like to collect to general point of view to post it here...
as well the comments, desscribtions on the pics (webalbum) i will add, complete...


















Purple: by train Dehli-Hardiwar-Rishikesh (Laxman Julla)
Orange: by ""bus", Rishikesh to Dharamsala (McLeod Ganj)

Day number 13. sick again. mentally as well fiscally. Arrived in the middle of culture shock, now i am listening to my favorite austrian radio to cope :)
(http://fm4.orf.at/v2static/html/streaming/index.html?width=320&height=260)
hmmmm...where to start.
overall i feel shit. again. After the 15hours TORTURE bus ride!!! i am sick again.
The shaking bus caused me a concussion ( Gehirnerschuetterung). I have fever again. I hit my had so many times. U are thirsty but u cant drink because the "bus" does not stop. U cant sleep because its totally not comfortable, laud, shaking, smelling, need to go to toilet for hours...headache...but u cant do anything. nothing, just wait. fight against yourself. the crazy drivers stopped 3 times in 15 hours, 2 times for 7!!!minutes, i ordered a soup, but i had to leave before. so the gave me the half ready hot soup in a cup and i went back to shaking bus...u can imagine how much of it i ate...

well i better go to bed....i will continue maybe tomorrow. also pics.


In the following an excerpt of a definition, phases of culture shock (Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_shock#Phases_of_culture_shock):

The process of cultural adjustment, which is also known as the U-shaped curve of cultural adjustment, encompasses five distinct stages:

* Stage 1: The feeling of excitement and eagerness. This stage occurs before leaving to go to the new culture.
* Stage 2: The feeling that everything in the new culture is great. This stage occurs upon arrival to the new culture.
* Stage 3: The feeling of everything in the new culture is terrible.
* Stage 4: The feeling of adjustment. The stage where the visitor begins to feel comfortable and takes steps to become more familiar with the culture.
* Stage 5: The feeling that everything is fine. The stage where the visitor has adapted to the culture and in some ways is embracing it as their own.

PICTURES:

Dharamsala

time in rishikesh::time of beeing sick

Thuesday, 22.06, Mcleod Ganj


First, the now complete pictures from rishikesh, time of sickness, bath in ganga, spiritual celebrations ("badcha")....

close to Himalaya

ADDITION::arriving

The missing pics and stories behind, of leaving home, the arrival, and first time...

tell me on the comment below what u feel/think/come to your mind by watching the pics/by reading my thought...i like to hear YOURS!!!

arriving

travelers diarrhea stucks us in Lamman julla(rishikesh)

Sunday, 20.06 better health --> bus to Dharamsala (to Dalai Lama)

Finally we are leaving this place Laxman Julla (Part of Rishikesh).
I sick of this place. Every day the same. Like in the shitty movie, "Taeglich gruesst das murmeltier" (Groundhog day). Healthy body in healthy mind. The bus goes at 4pm untill 6.am on Monday. To morning we had "Putcha", Praying, spiritual ceremony. I set together in Triloks flat. Dark. Candles, Inscences, colorful powders, orison in Hindi, spiritual scenery...
I need colder climate, nature, I like and need to hike... good mind in health mind

keep in touch

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dharamsala

Thursday, 17.06 guess.....jep still in Rishikesh

first, I/we went again to the clinic. The doc extended my "killing the amoeba parasite with antibiotic medicine" for 4 days more. Hannah stay in hospital for 24h for observation, but i think she also will recover soon. Today, after an other sleepless painful night the day started horrible with "abdominal cramping" (Bauchkraempfen) and as usual diarrhea followed with stomach pain BUT (seems the medicine starts to work or is it my positive motivation :)the day went mostly painless and i also could eat a huge veggi noddle plate. I "chomped them countless and timeless times", to state, i celebrated them rather than i ate them :)After bit of rice on Tue and bit of potato muse on Wed next step back to solid food :). I felt stronger this day.

As well I purchased a INDIAN MOBILE....
+917895168758
My austrian number SIM I will carry but only insert in the mobile seldom.
Also with this number its possible again to text, or short call...

I ll keep u updated. Keep in touch





Tuesday, 15.06 still in Rishikesh

Because of sickness we both are staying longer here.
Hannah felt sick on Sunday morning, diarrhea, stomach ache etc.
Monday, yesterday after preparing breakfast, i ate only a few spoons and i felt full. WIthout energy suddenly. I had a sleep. I woke up with fever. Also for me diarrhea started, but sill not that serious as hannah had. We went to a recommended doctor, clinic. After some "stool examination", hannah has a food poisoning (Lebensmittel vergifung) with "suspicion of amoeba (Amoeben). I had 40 degrees fever there and they assess/located for sure amoeba in my gut (Darm). Hannah got injection (Tropf) and got a injection in my ass :) to calm the fever and i also got antibiotic medicine to kill the amoebae. The last night was horrible. I could not sleep, i neede to go to toilet countless times, horrible pain, i drank water because i was thirsty but the water made me fell sick to my stomach (likely to vomit), my belly was bloated (aufgeblaeht) and painful. Anway. Doctor told us within 2, 3 days we should recover ourselfs. One strange thing by the way, according to the doctor it is not really possible do develop a parasite like amoebae that fast, he told me its possible that it stems from my time in nicaragua. Anyway. Also he recommend as we had planned to go to cooler plcae in the mountains such as Manali/Darhamsala/Mcleod Ganj...also i think the heat, the climate is still to much for my body.
Well we will cure our sickness here (clean room, good air, not that loud as in as in dehli etc) and then we will go on with traveling.

Don't worry i, we will recover soon. //felling that helpless sick, with pain i remembered even more good health//

keep in touch

to the north - close to himalaya

sunday, rishikesh at Ganges // Coordinates 30°07′N 78°19′E / 30.12°N 78.32°E







Its soo hot and humid...this internet cafe not even has a van...i am dieing of heat/humility...

Yesterday, Saturday, 12/06
we both took the train yesteryear in dehli to haridwar. On the train we meet a German couple, claudina (is in india since January) and her visiting boyfriend angelo. Spontaneously we decided to accompany them because claudina already has been here hence she gave us some hints. It was a struggle/fight to find the public bus in haridwar towards rishikesh. The proclaimed "its in 100meters" were in reality almost 1,5km. Arrived there we needed to take a moto riskshaw to get to the lace to stay (up the mountain. It was a big effort again to get a proper one..in terms of an reasonable price. This takes time and energy. Her friend, Trilok, (Indian, 70+) welcomed us and organized a very beautiful and clean room for 250 rs (ca 5euros) a night for two. In Dehli we payed for a not so beautiful and totally not clean room 350rs. It was because of him. Nice!. Also necessary to mention, we have Ganges view from our balcony, our room. We went for tasty vegetarian dinner at "little Buddha cafe" (terrace with mountain and ganges view). In order to the food, its my third day out of 4 i ate only veggi food :) Its easy to do so, its not that heavy like meat and its sooo tasty and made in various variations...and overall to much meat had bad social, environmental etc impact! :) Well the night was okay, we even did not need3d the van in the room, open windows and the blowing wind was almost enough. Not to compare with dehli, one van and a "like to be air condition"-device impede us from sleep.


Today, Sunday,13.06
We were invited for breakfast at Triloks place. He is kind of "spiritual, clericalist, teacher".



Unfortunately Hannh felt sick, she went to bed. I hope she will recover herself soon. (diarrhea, stomach ache...he took some medicine).
We three went afterwards walking a long the river through "holy rishikesh". The streets are full mainly with indian "tourists" / pilgrim. Busy narrow hill streets, two breathtaking rope bridges. Well, sometimes overcrowded. But small monkey sitting on the steel cable and eating a mango while carrying its baby- doesn't disturb this "scary scenery" numbers of meter above the Ganges.

more pics:

close to Himalaya

Well lets see what the day(s) brings.
Our plan so far:
MO: Haridwar
MO: Manali/Darhamsala/Mcleod Ganj
??:Amritsar
23.06 back in Dehli to pick up Malte

have fun with the pics and do not hesitate to leave some comments... Kiitos :)

More about RISHIKESH (wikipedia)
Rishikesh is a holy city for Hindus located in the foothills of the Himalaya in northern India. The sacred river Ganga flows through Rishikesh. In fact, it is here that the river leaves the Shivalik mountains in the Himalayas and flows out into the plains of northern India. Several temples, ancient as well as new, can be found along the banks of the Ganges in Rishikesh. The city attracts thousands of pilgrims and tourists each year, from within India, as well as from other countries. Rishikesh, sometimes nicknamed "the world capital of Yoga", has numerous yoga centres that also attract tourists. It is believed that meditation in Rishikesh brings one closer to attainment of moksha, as does a dip in the holy river that flows through it. It is also becoming a popular spot for white water rafting enthusiasts, both from India and abroad, as it offers medium to rough rapids in the course of river Ganges.

step by step also mentally arrived in india

well, where to start to give all the overwhelming impressions words...
not that easy, because before you can put thoughts into words one/I need to have them kind of organized in my mind...

the very first day (tuesday but in fact wednesday at 3am here in dehli) started very surreal...to read, to hear, to see (movies, pics) a lot prepare u in a way but to feel it on your skin, see with own eyes and over all, to witness yourself affected by the "new circumstances" new-different reality...
this is boosted by "flashbacks" --> thought like "yesterday i still walked through fancy Munich, 2 days ago i ve been in afritz, with my parents, 3days ago i still hugged my brothers baby...2 weeks ago I ve been still in Erasmus life in tampere, Finland. surreal! Its like this different worlds/realities are blurring/overlapping... Sometimes I feel deeply, vivid remembered and I fill like I am back in my time in Nicaragua, Central America, in a way...of course its different, particular!
more and more i get used to it...and the picture i get here becomes more sharp...BUT, of course, the inherent "depth of field " (Tiefenschaefe" / comprehensive idea whats going on here....no to be realistic i also after my two months i will achieved to "have" it...but as long that i try, go for, gain, strive....it s the right attitude...

on my secound day, Thursday, 10.06 picked up Hannah (21, UK) from airport. Well we met in finland, studied together, had the same idea with traveling to India, so we travel together...lets see how s going... also because i am pretty convinced that to absorb, to organize everything u experience challenges your mind and you need time and to be lonely in a way to achieve this...
and on the 23rd of june we both will collect Malte (GER,24)from Gandhi dehli international airport...

some thoughts...
loud, overcrowded (opposite of finland:), whole personal life is on the street, daily life works although there is sometime no "rational" reason (e.g. electricity. traffic, market, buses....) soo many faces, colorful...I fell like picked up in my daily life in austria, finland, europe and drooped into here...also when u leave the busy scenery of the street to a small side street....suddenly it so calm....unrealistic silent...sometimes not that hot...anyway, back on the street its like dropped into again... people are that hard working on the street, bazaars...you see people begging...for sure there are begging people also at "home" but they are in a very very bad ""shape/condition""... you see "cows" on the street, the skin covers the pones... even though the life is busy, chaotic on the streets, there is some "calm, patience" in the peoples eyes...kind of waiting of/for somethings....yes, it seems timeless... since i am withe, blond i cant be "inconspicuous" hence i am a potential client for everything, ie. rickshaw, goods, food, everything... sometimes like today (Fr, 11.06) at "red fort" sarah, women from Mumbai(here in dehli for few days accompanying her husband since he`s a businessman) with her small niece Narah started to speak to us in a very trustful, symphatic way...she is muslim but she do not carry a hijab neither a headscarf...-"i dont need it to live/follow my religion"- we keept speaking, we went around, she shew us the place next to the Jama Masjid mosque and the surrounding bazar... she offered us juice and wow...was very pleasant to met her...

well, tomorrow, saturday 12.06 we taking a train heading to Haridwar -("Haridwar is regarded as one of the seven holiest places to Hindus", Wikipedia)- to the north..to the river Ganges. We like to make a kind of round trip by bus, train, hiking (at least i like to do so...:) also to Rishikesch
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rishikesh
Manali (Mountain landscape)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manali
Dharamsala/Mcleod Ganj (Home of Dalai Lama,etc)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mcleodganj
Amritsar (on Pakistan border and home of golden temple, religious center of Sikh)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amritsar

i am very eager to read your comments, ideas, thoughts...
(ps i also add descriptions to the pictures on picasa (link is in the "arriving" post... keep in touch

Arriving in dehli

Still the blog is under construction.
In order to provide u with a comprehensive inside view about my time her in india and to match with the approach to "interact and to give you incentives to give feedback and ideas" i also will establish a "comment" tool..

first i let pictures speak...

new dehli/arriving

hasta entonces, keep in touch, see you soon...

why a blog

Hello, hallo, servus, namaste, coucou, terve, ciao....

so the first post of this blog...
this blog is dedicated especially for my closest friends, for sure my lovely girlfriend, family and interested friends/ and friends of friends...
the goal of this blog is NOT to "put myself in the spotlight" nor to show how cool I am to travel the world. NO!
Its to reflect my impressions written and in pictures-of what I experience in my time here in India.
This as well should not be monotonic nor "a one way comunication". For sure its a kind response of you tobe interested BUT as well i like to get ideas, inspirations etc of you. To discover, depict, scrutinize,to challange me, my stay here even more.
Its about to gain a wider picture of the reality, of daily-life of here in india as well back "home" and at you places of life. To understand "others" life-reality here and elsewhere foster/promotes to understand my own oven more.
Recently i red in the book "An den inneren Ufern Indiens" [Along the ganges](http://www.perlentaucher.de/buch/14963.html)a proverb i like a lot: " to border/restrict other means to restrict/narrow/margin yourself..."

Last, but not less worth, I ll write in english, thus my english spokenfriends and my girlfriend can read/follow/participate it... Thanks for comprehension
well, the close now the internet cafe...

People i love, you are here with me in my mind... :=)

hasta entonces...keep in touch