Monsoon

The monsoon has finally come. There were a few hints that it was on its way last week, with the raindrops from a few isolated showers glistening in the sun. Today though it rained and rained. The drops here are huge and you are drenched almost immediately, its great. It is cooler now a well-we are actually getting some breezes to stir up the air somewhat.

Ventured across the river to Old Roorkee at the weekend. It was much more like the India everyone expects-narrow packed streets, traditional goods and sacks of strange food and spices. I returned later in the evening , and with the guys from Uzbekistan and a couple of French girls we visited the Muslim quarter in Old Roorkee to sample the ‘nuclear chicken’ in a dark backstreet next to the mosque. Taking bikes was almost lethal -you can see and hear the motorbikes coming, but the rickshaws in the dark unlit streets were impossible to see until you had to swerve to avoid them! It was the first time I had meat in two weeks, and it was seriously good, watching the world passing by and listening to the call to prayer. Lack of protein was starting to have adverse affects on me :p

On the cycle back I got talking to four random guys on a motorbike-everyone is so friendly and easy going. We also passed a Hindu wedding-huge tents, horses in drag, trumpets and flatbed trucks full of drummers. They don’t do anything by halves here!

Been to Rishakesh recently too-updates and photos are to follow…..