Rishikesh

Wednesday August 31^st

I am happy to report that traveling from Pune to Rishikesh was smooth and easy and quite organized much to mysurprise. So you see that’s the beauty of India – NEVER, EVER assume. I was very concerned about my 45 minute transfer in Delhi. As going through security again in Delhi in 20 minutes was not going to be easy, but I was ready to give it my best, relaxed shot!

As soon as we landed they announced that passengers transferring to Dehradun and some other city please see attendant upon exiting plane. I announced I was going to Dehradun and I was asked to wait on the bridge. Five minutes later we are escorted out of the bridge to a side staircase and onto a bus. The bus weaves around the parked planes and viola there we are to step off the bus and ont our next flight. Very VIP I thought. As soon as I exit the bus the airlines representative confirms I have 2 pieces of luggage to be transferred - I enthusiastically agree, full of surprise at this level of organization and attention. Love Kingfisher Airlines ! I am one of the first to board the plane and feeling like some special attaché or diplomat I sit and wait for the rest of the passengers to arrive. Love it!

As always I am greeted by Pankaj upon arrival with flowers, Limca and mung dal snacks. We arrive in Rishikesh and the fun continues. This year Govind and Sunil, my dear friends, have graciously offered me my own apartment which happens to be vacant in the building where they all live. Greeted by the entire family I receive my apartment orientation and am made feel very welcome. I know I am in for quite the experience living with an entire Indian family. Maybe this time I will finally learn how to puton my own sari and the secret ways of Indian cooking!

Photos of my Apartment :

Excursions in Pune

This was my first visit to Pune and it was surprisingly cool as I was prepared for lots of heat. With three days to go until Ganesha Chaturdashi festival, the city was brimming with excitement and preparation. There were stages, banners and light being erected every 25 steps. Everywhere you turn you see Ganesha. Ganesha chants just spontaneously were coming through me.

The monsoon hit Pune hard my first two days which made sightseeing impossible but nonetheless I ventured out to visit Dr Lad’s clinic. We met at 6 pm as the his private clinic is only open from 6 to 9 pm. It was a sweet reunion for me but most importantly to see the very place where he can practice freely and authentically was a magical experience for me. To see his patients in the waiting room arriving one by one and not by appointment but simply by just showing up and waiting for the proper turn. It was such luxury to have so much of his time to ask my questions and discuss future projects not like his hectic and fast paced schedule in the US. There I also met Vitala, a student of 8 years from the Ukraine, who offered to take me book shopping and show me around the area.

So the following day we met at 1 pm in front of the clinic which was bustling with people running to and fro as it was the first day of no rain in a long time. We made our way to our first book shop which was basically a very small shack with a counter and hundreds of books piled, stacked and lining the walls. I was thankful for my list as the smiling Indian lady behind the counter did not know English but she knew enough to read my list and miraculously know exactly where each book was placed. This is a perfect example of disordered order. I could have stayed there forever as she allowed to come behind the counter and randomly select the books that seemed of interest to me. This is what I considered Ayurvedic heaven – every book on Ayurveda you could possibly ever want right here. I had to control myself as I might just bring down the entire plane with the weight of my future luggage. The saving point – lunch time. She had to go to lunch. Literally closing the door behind she sent us off.

When it comes to shopping for specialized books in Pune there isn’t a one stop shop. Of course not. You have to be in the know to find these obscure books shops where the shopkeeper retrieves the books for you – it’s very much like going to the Library of Congress where you are not allowed to get a book of the shelf – you have to have your book list ready and a librarian retrieves it for you. The beauty is that if one book shop does not have the book you are looking for then they send you somewhere else. And so that is how are day proceeded being led from one shop to another in search of each and very book. I report a nearly successful mission and the two books not available I knew I would be able to find in Rikshikesh! Vitala returned to the clinic and I took the opportunity to go sari shopping. Pune was my chance to acquire some nice sari’s and Kurtas that I knew I would not find in the North. Luckily my expert shopping skills and ability to find just the right stores has not boundaries across the planet. I found the perfect shop where I could just sit and have dozens and I am not joking dozens of saris and kurtas brought to me for my liking and perusal. With 3 saris and 5 kurtas in hand (they were having a sale !), I was festival ready to head up North to my favorite place in the whole world Rishikesh !!!