Twenty days, six cities and it’s already time to pack up for the next destination. I can’t believe I have already been in India for 20 days! Time is flying by.
I mentioned in my last post about how traveling a small distance leads to what looks like an entirely different world. This week was no different.
The first week, in Dehradun, I was dropped in a fast paced big city with crammed streets, high pollution and lots-o-garbage. Week two I traveled to the middle of nowhere, deep into the beautiful Himalayan Mountains. This week, week three I was assigned to work in Rishikesh; word on the street it is the yoga capital of the world. Score!
I spent my week in a naturopathy center, staying in an onsite guesthouse. This facility gives naturopathic treatment for a variety of disorders. People travel from all over the world to get healed by the doctors of the Parmarth Nature Cure and Yoga center. Patients stay for a minimum of 1 week, and a maximum of 1 month. Three meals, room and board and treatment is all included in one package deal. It is affordable and open to the general public.
The center is located in the middle of a valley. I am surrounded by mountains, and live next to the Ganga River. Rishikesh has busy pedestrian traffic, and although it is dirty and full of garbage too, I enjoy the atmosphere. To be politically correct, unlike other areas there is a larger diversity of people. People are not fazed by the color of our skin anymore (except for when individuals find out we are American). We don’t get stared at nearly as often. It is a nice change.
After chatting with some locals we discovered that Rishikesh used to be a diamond in the rough that few people knew about, but then when yoga became famous so did Rishikesh.
It has become a tourist town, but its natural beauty is still vividly apparent. Taylor and I decided it is the Oregon of India; it has a large range of people and nature. The Ganga River runs right through the middle of town. Only two pedestrian bridges connect the two sides, so you must either walk several kilometers or take a ferry.
Of course with all of the positives of being a tourist town…
SHOPPING… so much jewelry and lovely stuff. I have to keep reminding myself I have 7 more weeks left. I can only carry so much.
…but there is always negative parts too
Beggars… Unfortunately when there is a city with cash flow it is a perfect place for the less fortunate to ask for money. They are everywhere, but the longer I am in India, the easier it has become to say no, or pay no attention to their rattling money cup.
It is not necessarily a negative, but I appreciate the attempt to provide English signs. Whenever there is a spelling error it is usually due to phonetics.It keeps our spirits hihg. Thank you for trying India!
(keep in mind this is 30 second compilation, there has been at least 50+)
Actual spelling versus how it sounds:
Bread= bred
Feel=fill
Look=lick
Tortilla-torteeya
Hello= yes, please (every shop keepers greeting… All. The. Time.)
Also not entirely negative, but noticeable nonetheless
So many monkeys! I have decided they are the squirrels and raccoons of India! Love them to death, and they are so interesting to watch but not when they enter your room. Yes, you read it right…monkeys decided to make an unannounced visit into our room. They also were nice enough to destroy our breakfast and garbage can. We didn’t even know they were in the room until it was too late. I can officially mark “getting raided by monkeys” off my bucket list.
The monkeys seem so human-esque at times. Just hanging out on the wall watching the day pass by.
There are an exceptional amount of cows here. Way more than any other city I have been too thus far. This can also be blamed on the tourism. Monkeys and cows spread the word to all of their monkey and cow friends that there is food, and lots of it. They gather in huge numbers.
Back to the main topic:
October 15-16, 2011
The first two days of being in Rishikesh the whole CFHI crew was here. Elliot, Morgan, Sadie, Taylor and I had the weekend to do some exploring. We found a restaurant called the Little Buddha café. It was the first place that served Italian, Mexican, Middle Eastern, and Indian food. It was a nice change. They had wonderful tea too.
Although all five of us signed up for the same program, Taylor and I chose different “sub programs”. Weekends are free and we all travel together, but then Monday-Friday we part ways and do our own clinical rotations in different cities.
October 17-20, 2011
Since we lived on an onsite guesthouse, all of our duties were within a 5-minute walk. A normal day consisted of yoga 8-9, breakfast delivered to our room by 9:30, lectures with Doctor Hemlata 11-12. After lecture, lunch was at 1, meditation was at 5, and dinner was served at 7. Some of the topics included in lecture were hydro therapy, sun therapy, mud therapy, color therapy, massage therapy, yoga therapy and acupressure. While some of these healthcare techniques are very abstract for me to grasp, I am glad I had the opportunity to work with someone who has dedicated their entire life to the practice.
The facility:
Similar to last week, this open schedule provided me with more down time than usual. We have a beautiful view off a near balcony, and it was a wonderful place to enjoy the sunset while reading a book. Indian sunsets are amazing, and are like no other. The sun is a bright red glowing circle, a deep, deep red fading into bright orange as it sets beneath the horizon. When I capture a picture of it, I will be sure to share it with you all.
Additionally,
We met a wonderful woman who we dubbed our Indian mother. Her name is Sharda (close resemblance to Shelda… shout out to mom!) She helped us find ATMS, took us out to lunch, brought us to the market and helped us heckle down prices. She told us the best places to buy fruit and vegetables, and how to clean and properly eat them. She is also currently looking into travel plans and contacting her friends for suggestions on how to spend our free weekends. With her help, we will undoubtedly know the best places to go ahead of time. Once again Indian hospitality takes a situation from great to wonderful. She has been a guest/patient at the naturopathy center many times prior; she didn’t have to help us, but did anyway. To give an example of her kindness, on our last night she invited us to come stay at her house in Toronto Canada anytime we pleased. She was born and raised in India but has lived in Canada since she was 20-ish (she is over 40 now). She speaks very good English and is very North Americanized. (Canadianized?). A fantastic woman.
To comment on the fruits of vegetables… Mmmm fresh off the fruit and vegetable carts! Not found in Albertsons: papayas, mustamelons, mangos and guavas galore.
Indians are very hardworking. There is so much competition for jobs that only the best of the best are chosen. For a single policeman position 1700 males applied. The jobs are not necessarily joyful, but somehow people are still happy. Someone has to scoop all of the cow dung. Someone has to sweep the streets. Someone has to be the cook, cleaner, and owner all at once, and someone has to fix and make the clothes
The more I learn about Hinduism the more I am mystified. There are so many gods for every topic or situation possible, literally. Pregnancy, water, fire, truth, luck, fulfillment, sadness, winter, fall, summer, spring, earth, life… and the list goes on. Each story is entwined within another by a very intricate story web. I wish I could write them all down because it would be a wonderful record of history, but I don’t think it is possible. I can’t keep track, but If I begin to understand and maintain which story goes with which I will be sure to share with you all.
I mention this, because the river that runs through Rishikesh is named the Ganga, after the goddess Ganga (pronounced Gong-ga). Every night the people of Rishikesh have a small ceremony next to the river thanking her for her continual water supply that supports the city. There are beautiful monuments and statues all over town.
Fun facts of the day:
Even with all of the variety of produce, out side of green, colored bell peppers do NOT grow in India. Our coordinator was shocked to find out red, orange and yellow peppers grow in America.
There are 60-65 states in India. The number is undefined, because it continually changes.
Strangely beautiful nature, reminds me of the Ferngully tree.
For now, that’s all folks!
Xoxo,
India and Shelane
