Sometimes in India I get that special feeling where all anxieties wash away, where I feel connected to the people around me, and where the world can be truly a magical place. My adventure of the last week has brought me back to that point, which just so happens to be in one of the more beautiful places I've ever seen. Here in the
Paravati Valley the people are truly friendly and the nature leading into the valley presented some of the most unique ecosystems I've seen. Heading into Himalayan ice caps, I saw tropical birds dive from one palm tree to another on the white sandy shores of the
Paravati river. Snow caps loomed in the distance, yet evergreens, deciduous, and even some palms were all thriving, with small flowers dotting the cliffs and enjoying the endless water supplies and intense mountain sun. Until this point I had experienced Indian hospitality (and that of several other countries) but, wow, I didn't know what friendliness could be until I met the Himalayan people here. Smile wrinkles on the oldest and youngest, old men reaching for laughing young babies, women giggling, and the absolute hospitality is unreal.
I met two great Iranian friends in
Rishikesh who convinced me to travel with them to
Paravati rather than continue up the
Ganga to
Gangotri. Now I am staying with a family in a bright blue house in a small mountain village near the town of
Pulga (past the pilgrimage site of
Manikarna), and they have encouraged us to enjoy our time "100%, not 99%, but full enjoy!" So we have taken them up on the challenge and explored some of the waterfalls and terraced fields that surround our village. Last night we danced with the village in a large circle that seemed to be a celebration of some sort of combination of the end of election time and a successful cricket match for India. No matter what the reason, I can't imagine a more genuine and truly beautiful place to be. The 24 hour bus ride is still sitting in my bones and Delhi seems a million miles away from the peaceful and fruitful pace of the Himalayas, so I will enjoy it as much as I can before I have to leave.
Sometimes in India I get that special feeling where all anxieties wash away, where I feel connected to the people around me, and where the world can be truly a magical place. My adventure of the last week has brought me back to that point, which just so happens to be in one of the more beautiful places I've ever seen. Here in the Paravati Valley the people are truly friendly and the nature leading into the valley presented some of the most unique ecosystems I've seen. Heading into Himalayan ice caps, I saw tropical birds dive from one palm tree to another on the white sandy shores of the Paravati river. Snow caps loomed in the distance, yet evergreens, deciduous, and even some palms were all thriving, with small flowers dotting the cliffs and enjoying the endless water supplies and intense mountain sun. Until this point I had experienced Indian hospitality (and that of several other countries) but, wow, I didn't know what friendliness could be until I met the Himalayan people here. Smile wrinkles on the oldest and youngest, old men reaching for laughing young babies, women giggling, and the absolute hospitality is unreal.
I met two great Iranian friends in Rishikesh who convinced me to travel with them to Paravati rather than continue up the Ganga to Gangotri. Now I am staying with a family in a bright blue house in a small mountain village near the town of Pulga (past the pilgrimage site of Manikarna), and they have encouraged us to enjoy our time "100%, not 99%, but full enjoy!" So we have taken them up on the challenge and explored some of the waterfalls and terraced fields that surround our village. Last night we danced with the village in a large circle that seemed to be a celebration of some sort of combination of the end of election time and a successful cricket match for India. No matter what the reason, I can't imagine a more genuine and truly beautiful place to be. The 24 hour bus ride is still sitting in my bones and Delhi seems a million miles away from the peaceful and fruitful pace of the Himalayas, so I will enjoy it as much as I can before I have to leave.
Quite a contrast from the Ganges! What is in the tub in front of the boy in yr first shot? (Grubs? Tobacco? Herbs?) Laughing adventures are the best. x, Mal
ReplyDeletethank you mallory, i love you!
ReplyDeleteAren't you glad your Persian travel buddies convinced you to meander up to the Himalayas with them? Your stories and pictures, as always, make me happy.
ReplyDeleteI have NO idea what it was in that tub... and I looked, too. Bark? Salty something? And yes, Neysa, too glad to meet the Persians. There must be something right in the world if two Iranian men can travel with an American woman around India :)
ReplyDelete