Thank you time.  It is now Friday morning (got home Wednesday night), and I am  rested enough to write my final post.

Yesterday, Thursday, I went grocery shopping.  I had to drive my own car!!! Lakhu, where are you?

I want to thank those that make it possible for me to go away, comfortable in the knowlede that things are being taken care of at home.

Thank you Kam for taking the major responsibility.  Thanks to Shirley and Aysel (neighbours) who keep a watchful eye on a day to day basis.  Thank you to the gentleman who kindly blew out my driveway after significant snowfalls (Kam is very thankful).

In India, many thanks to Tarun and Mr. Sharma of Adventure Holiday Tours. After telling them the places I wanted to visit, they set out a route which I was free to alter as we went along (and did several times).  Their choice of Lakhu as my driver was excellent.

Your driver can make or break your trip.  Lakhu made mine extraordinary.  Thank you so very much Lakhu. You are a true gem.

Thank you to the wonderful people of India I met along the way, in hotels and villages.  You truly made my journey all the more incredible.

A special thank you to Inder and Bira Kabli, Kabli Hotel, New Delhi, for giving me a home away from home.

Thank you to the many friends who shared my journey with me through this blog.  I truly appreciate your comments and emails.

Until next time........

I guess I have truly been accepted by the Afghan ladies here.  Right now Said's mom, another woman, her daughter and five month old granddaughter are in my room.

A son has just returned with food for Said's mom, and once again she wants to share with me.  It looks so good.  I love Afghan bread and the potatoes and pea veggies look and smell delicious.  I try to get her to understand that I am going out to eat shortly and thank her for her kindness.  Everyone is now back in his/her own place having lunch (2 p.m.).  It is 35C.....a little warm!!!!

How lucky am I?  I have now had three family village stays.  These have been special because not everyone has a chance to have one, much less three.  In addition, before I traded Lakhu for Tarun and he traded me for Lauren, we had breakfast at  Tarun's home.

A little bit of the real India that will remain in my heart forever.

It is my last day here and Lakhu called me earlier. We decided that he pick me up at 4 p.m. so that we can do some last minute errands (especially the elusive REAL Mysore Sandalwood Soap).  Little does he know, but I have planned to take him out to BBQ Nation for dinner.  I sure hope he has not been there before.  If so, I will change the venue. Will take some photos.

  He will then drop me back at Kabli where I will sleep until my wake up call.  Lakhu will take me to the airport about 3 a.m.



This is bittersweet.  I am sooo tired after seven weeks travelling, but very sad to be leaving.

Market in the town near the village.

One of these is going inside to the butcher.

Jyoti and Tarun preparing the fire (outdoors)

for the chicken curry Tarun is going to prepare.

Their mother, Tarun's aunt.  She is cleaning wheat.  We took a 10 kg bag back to Delhi where Tarun's family will have flour made.

Their father, Tarun's uncle.

Mani's older sister, Jyoti, on the left.

Tarun's cousin, Mani, on the left.  We brought him back to Delhi with us.

On this leg of our trip we first stopped at the village of Tarun's father.  It was wonderful. The family was so warm and inviting, but so were the mosquitoes.  I had difficulty getting to sleep and finally at about 3 a.m. went to the car to sleep and escape them.  The next day we headed to Rishikesh for two nights.  While we were away Tarun's uncle got a mosquito coil and a net for me.  I slept outdoors, under the net, and it was heavenly.

The Aarti in Rishikesh

As in Varanasi, there is a sunset aarti.  This one was much smaller and therefore more intimate.  We sat within feet of the "altar" and priests sat surrounding us.

Welcome to Glass House

The Ganges or Ganga

River terrace

Down at the river.

Lower garden path to the river terrace.

Going down to the lower garden.

Where we had lunch.

The Glass House

Named such because there is a huge wall of glass and a delightful large sitting room for viewing during the colder months.

This is a lovely hotel just outside of Rishikesh. The grounds are lush with trees and flowers etc.  The architecture and furnishings nod to British Colonial.  The food is very good and they make a perfect  sweet lime water/lime squash.

There are excellent views of the Ganges from everywhere, and even their own private terrace and walk to the river.

Although we didn't stay here, we did enjoy a lovely lunch on the porch.

Rafting on the Ganges is very popular.  There are many adventure companies offering everything from a few hours to overnight stays in tents.  This was on a stretch of the river between Rishikesh and the Vashishta Cave.

I will do captions later and post the photos of the village and the aarti.  Right now my heart needs a break.  Said and his mom just returned from the hospital. They showed me scans/xrays of her cancer.  When her son left I hugged her and she cried.  Another young man came with a story about his mom's condition.  My heart is troubled right now......later.

Thanks for the prayers for her, Brenda.

Bathing ghats at Rishikesh.

Sitting inside the modern Cafe Coffee Day was like watching a

movie outside.

Getting my feet wet in he crystal clear Ganges a few kms outside of Rishikesh.

One of two swinging bridges in Rishikesh.

Tarun

The Ganges as close to its source as I got.

Om sign on the gate to the temple Tarun's mom's family went to.

Outside the temple.

These two fellows posed, and soon

two more joined the photo shoot.

Rishikesh

We left Delhi and travelled a short distance (?200 kms) to the village.  All the family were awaiting us.  It is a different type of village from Lakhu's.....I would say more modern?

After some time and food all were ready for sleep.  Ohhhhhhh what a night.  The mosquitoes just loved the new flavour in the village, ME.  I couldn't take it anymore and when Tarun woke (about 3 a.m.) I  asked him to open the car.  I slept in the car for the rest of the night.  In the morning my eyes were swollen with bites.  I could barely open my eyes.  Although we were going to spend two nights there, I said that we should go on to Rishikesh immediately and we did.

Rishikesh is the world yoga capital and full of Indian and non-Indians.  It is the easiest place to feel at home.  The food is geared to non-Indians in a lot of restaurants and the shopkeepers do not overwhelm with come-ons.  I liked it there.

There were still those stairs......everywhere, but I guess I am becoming more used to them.  There are two swinging suspension bridges which are a little daunting at first.  The monkeys also lay in wait on the bridge!

Our guest house was very conveniently located, but not so easy to climb to.  Right next door there was a fab Italian restaurant at the guest house.  The cook/chef was truly good. He had worked in Italy and knew what good Italian meant.  We enjoyed breakfasts and dinners there.

Rishikesh was the only place that shopping was enjoyable because they did not call out things like "special prices for you".  I only bought three items, but it was painless.

We looked around and then spent time at the Vasishta Cave and then went for lunch at the Glass House. a highly recommended hotel.

Tarun went for a bathe in the Ganges.  I went in only to my calves because I did not have a swimsuit.  The water was crystal clear and clean.

We attended the aarti that evening.  It was smaller and much more intimate than that at Varanasi.  A wonderful evening of prayer.

Some photos.

Ok, I just had a little nap.  I feel somewhat bettter, but a shower and ten hours sleep is welcomed.

As you know, I exchanged Lakhu for Tarun on this last leg of my journey.  Tarun because we were to spend time in the family village of his father, as well as visiting Rishiskesh.  Some of you may remember Rishikesh from the Beatles.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Beatles_in_Rishikesh

H A P P Y   E A S T E R  !!!!  Enjoy your celebration.
Brenda emailed that they were having prime rib.....OH??????


I am finally back here at Kabli and sooooo happy.  The last five days have been gruelling, but wonderful.

I have not had internet since I left here, but will update in a few hours.