(no subject)
The town of McLeod Ganj is not quiet or clean, but is far more peaceful than Delhi. Anywhere would be more peaceful than Delhi.
Getting here has been an adventure. In asia, tourists are herded around like cattle. I bough a bus ticket from a travel agent who puts me in an auto rickshaw to a 'bus stop' on the side of the road where the tourists gather and sit for three hours while waiting for the herders to tell us which bus to get on. While sitting on the side of the street I became friends with Gadi who was headed to Manali. My ticket was to Dhamsala. He convinced me to ditch my ticket to Dharmsala and go with him to Manali on the more expensive bus. There was some arguing with the herders and the bus driver to get me on the Manali bus, but in the end, money is a universal language.
On the bus Gadi and I became friends with a gentleman who owns a resort just outside of Manali. We decided to stay at his place which was very quiet and clean. It spoiled us. We had fun taking the local bus into town and walking around to see the sites. Gadi was not about to get on another overnight bus, so he hired us a private taxi to bring us to McLeod Ganj. That was the expericence of a life time!! I have never been so scared durring as car ride. The roads and drivers are far scarier than anything I experienced in Thailand or in Costa Rica. We had one small accident when the on-coming car who was trying to pass the motor bike swerved to miss us while we all slammed on our breaks, and the other car collided with the motor bike. No one was hurt, and minimal damage was done. because we were not hit, we inched past the other car and kept going. the worst part of the ride was the lack of working seat belts in the car. I think I will stick to the busses for now.
I will be here in McLeod Ganj for two days at least. I would like to do a trek, but need to find the right group to go with. If I don't find a trek to do, I will continue working my way up to Leh.
I am a little bit homesick. I miss talking to my friends. I am relaxed and enjoying the tea and naan, and even the monsoon rain.
Photos will come later.
Getting here has been an adventure. In asia, tourists are herded around like cattle. I bough a bus ticket from a travel agent who puts me in an auto rickshaw to a 'bus stop' on the side of the road where the tourists gather and sit for three hours while waiting for the herders to tell us which bus to get on. While sitting on the side of the street I became friends with Gadi who was headed to Manali. My ticket was to Dhamsala. He convinced me to ditch my ticket to Dharmsala and go with him to Manali on the more expensive bus. There was some arguing with the herders and the bus driver to get me on the Manali bus, but in the end, money is a universal language.
On the bus Gadi and I became friends with a gentleman who owns a resort just outside of Manali. We decided to stay at his place which was very quiet and clean. It spoiled us. We had fun taking the local bus into town and walking around to see the sites. Gadi was not about to get on another overnight bus, so he hired us a private taxi to bring us to McLeod Ganj. That was the expericence of a life time!! I have never been so scared durring as car ride. The roads and drivers are far scarier than anything I experienced in Thailand or in Costa Rica. We had one small accident when the on-coming car who was trying to pass the motor bike swerved to miss us while we all slammed on our breaks, and the other car collided with the motor bike. No one was hurt, and minimal damage was done. because we were not hit, we inched past the other car and kept going. the worst part of the ride was the lack of working seat belts in the car. I think I will stick to the busses for now.
I will be here in McLeod Ganj for two days at least. I would like to do a trek, but need to find the right group to go with. If I don't find a trek to do, I will continue working my way up to Leh.
I am a little bit homesick. I miss talking to my friends. I am relaxed and enjoying the tea and naan, and even the monsoon rain.
Photos will come later.