Manali, India

June 22, 2005

We are leaving Manali tonight on a 10hr bus ride to
Shimla, which is further south and about 6hrs from
Delhi. I am going to miss the view from our balcony
at the guesthouse. We rented the motorbike this week
and went exploring to the mountains, 4000m, and to the
valley. The roads are incredible and the scenery like
no other. The only bad things are the Indian drivers
and the toxic exhaust that EVERY car gives off, which are always

honking and trying to pass you even on the
curves or if they have to stop 500m ahead. They also
try to squeeze two cars thru a one lane area and then
get stuck and end up arguing about who is going to
back up. The exhaust fumes are overwhelming and it is
sad to be in this beautiful mountain area and have to
breathe toxic fumes.
The scenery here is amazing and we have been able to
really discover the area on the motorbike. We were
constantly driving next to the Beas River and there
are many hanging bridges and we even saw people doing
rafting. We drove thru pine tree forests and little
villages with their colourful houses. The women spread
the rice stalks across the roads so that when the cars
pass over the rice pops out, and there is always the ever
present mountains making for an incredible back drop.
We have also seen our fair share of animals, even
though I thought there were only monkeys and cows. In
the last few days we have seen many donkeys, horses
(wild or pony like), yak's, vultures, a rex rabbit,
dogs and surprisingly only one cat and even few snake charmer's

have come to our area of the town.
They usually have a few cobras and one big snake.
Although I didn't want to get to close I did see some
of the show from the restaurant terrace. I have also
seen some men walking around the market area with big
boas slung around their bodies. Another funny thing
we saw was the "double decker bus", not the one we are
used too but more like when the bus is full people
pile on the top of the bus with the luggage.
So tonight we will begin our journey south and stay
only a few days in Shimla and then hopefully catch an
overnight bus to Rishikesh, north east of Delhi in
Uttaranchal. In Rishikesh I am hoping to do about a
week long course in yoga. After we will be heading to
the Rajasthan region, even though everyone says "no,
don't go, it is to hot". We only have vacation in the
summer time so we will have to bare the heat.
So far everything is going really well and we have met
some really nice people. I cannot complain about the
Indian people they have been very nice and friendly.