Hippie Central

Last weekend I went to Rishikesh. Again the Lonely Planet guide is SPOT on in describing this hippie paradise. Very laid back holy town where one branch of the Ganges flows. Lots and lots of foreigners - most of them with dread locks. Apparently this is a place to get weed and meditate until your heart is content. There are many many many ashrams and yoga centers for those that wish to get in touch with inner peace.

I felt like I was walking around parts of Seattle just by the way people were dressed.

 Take those "world" stores from the malls in the US and put them all in ONE town and there you have Rishikesh. Which is actually quite frustrating because as I am shopping around I am looking for something "unique" something "Indian" and all I see is the same stuff they sell in the states AND it isn't that much cheaper. Tibetan jewelry sold here really is the same as Tibetan jewelry sold in the states. I always just assumed it was imported just for us dumb Americans - like you know how they say food in China tastes nothing like food in Chinese restaurants in the US...no such thing as General Taos chicken....that kind of deal. So, as I was looking I would get more and more irritated over the fact I couldn't find anything different. Just here you have the option to barter.

There was some cool colonial architechture  and some strange signs

And these were the guys I went with...Tp is on the left he is from that western part of India near Burma.  Then Chittu is in the middle and he is from Gharwal...so is the guy with the glasses but I don't know his name.