Mcleod Ganj, you gotta go there to believe it - Pt 4

What a stunning place !!!

I managed to find my own room with 2 beds in it and a balcony that looked down in to the valley that was the rest of India, I was high high up, even though it was peak summer it still felt cool at night up here. I was paying around $4 per night for this picturesque location. magic.

I could also look up into the hills that were covered in pines draped in prayer flags with the peaks of snow covered mountains framing the picture nicely.

Did I also mention there are monkeys EVERYWHERE !!!

Here's some bits and pieces I want to share from the days I spent here. Each day was wonderful with a great sense of bewilderment and love for life. I visited the Dalai Lama Ashram, ate dumplings from cute old lades on the side of the road, bought handmade silver jewellery and traditional kashmiri woven blankets. I wandered through the forests, was shit scared of being attacked by monkeys, sat in cafes for hours on end just thinking and sometimes crying... I read books, I listened to music and sometimes I just sat in my room, silent, ...

Next stop... Dharamkot, another 2km up the hill, sleepy little village where I went to stay at the 

Vipassana ashram... the most unforgettable experience yet.

Namaste xx

Madz

Venturing out on my own - Pt 3

My time with Chris and Rishikesh had come to an end and it was time to venture out into the wilderness solo. I was heading up north to Dharamsala to explore the beauty of the mountain villages and take part in a vipassana meditation course. Chris had walked me over to the mainland and I was searching for a Tuk Tuk to take me down to the train station... by this i mean an hour long journey down the main highways in a tuk tuk packed with 2 indian families and a lovely American girl I met as I was bartering with tuk tuk drivers searching for the best price.

This was only the beginning of a 24 hour journey across India... lucky I wasn't alone. Ive found that something special happens when your travelling. Your never alone, things always happen at the right time when you least expect it, if theres a way, theres a will...

I got chatting with this girl and she just s happened to be catching the same over night train with me to Amritsar and then venturing on up north all the way to Mcleod Ganj where we would find ourselves staying in hostels right next to each other... Is that luck or are some things just meant to be...?

Your never quite alone... This family literally sat on top of us while we waited for our train.

The Golden Temple (Amritsar)

This place is absolutely huge with hundreds and thousands of punjabis praying everyday, apparently you can stay in the temple in exchange for help with cleaning and cooking etc... If you are a foreigner they have a few rooms set aside for you and you can stay there for 3 days free of charge with basic vegetarian meals included. Help and giving back to the temple is common courtesy. What a beautiful place, we only had time to have a mad dash in a tuk tuk through the busy streets of Amritsar 

(even at 7.00 in the morning)... We washed our feet in the holy water, ran in, took in the beauty a few photos and we were off again, onto the next leg of the journey... The indian passenger train... (you'll never understand unless you do it for yourself.

So after a 12 hour overnight train journey to Amritsar we had to get another 3 hour passenger train up north to Pathankot and then another 5 hour bus journey up into the mountains to the first town of Dharamsala and then a further half hour bus ride up to Mcleod Ganj which didn't even make it to the town and stopped 2km down the windy hill and told us we all had to get out a walk... oh the adventures of carrying your backpack up a steep 2km hill after an epic 24 hour journey across India with the only other western tourist you met along the whole journey. But... Id do it all again. It was the best thing I've ever done, definitely taught me to be a lot stronger and realise that nothing is permanent and good comes out of everything.

This was the result...

Bliss xx

Madz

Eyes Wide Open - Pt 2

Chris had come down to get me from Delhi and then we headed back up to the Spiritual opening to the Ganges.. The beautiful Rishikesh. River side village with hundreds of cafes sprawled along its edges. The only way across is by bridge that is not only for pedestrians but for motorbikes and cows who just chill out in the middle causing gigantic traffic jams where you can literally see the bridge bending in the middle.

We spent endless days lapping up the culture, spirituality and relaxation of Rishikesh. Cafe after cafe, fresh mint tea and freshly squeezed tropical juices, another delicious vegetarian meal after another... endless goodness in its purest form. Risihkesh is completely vegetarian and alchohol free.
Its where the westerners come to learn the art of yoga and meditation, find their inner self and purify their bodies and mind.
EveryoneI met was so completely relaxed and chilled out it was incredible. Everyone just mooching around together bouncing stories and vibes off of one another, learning of new adventures to be had and stories of incredible experiences. All part of the Rishikesh experience... so easy to get lost in this world...

Theres one more secret to Rishikesh... If you follow the path down stream you will come to another little village that you meander through, The river widens and the people get less... Now all you can find is openess with bubbas and cows zoning out and a vast jungle on the hills. You never know whats out there.. Charging elephants and viscious tigers and amillion different species of monkeys that watch you as you explore...
Now you come to an enormous ashram that has been left for dead, locked up and overgrown...
This ashram was where The Beatles lived and wrote their "White album" some years ago...

So we jumped the fence and started exploring... treading ever so lightly so as not to waken the inevitable life that lay beneath the blankets of overgrown shrubs and moss... tip toeing around this beautiful sanctury that sat high up on the hill amongst this never ending jungle we spotted little huts everywhere, there must of been hudreds dotted through the woods.

 It blew my mind and scared the shit out of me all at the same time. I was petrified of what we might find or what may find us...

The Beatles Hut - No 9

What an experience.. so many strange vibes blowing around in the air up there... a feeling I will never forget...

Peace xx

Madz

It all started in India... - Pt 1

It was the 19th May 2011 and I left my life behind to discover the wonders of India... With only 12kg on my back and a heavy heart I set off into the unknown.

First stop New Delhi - tuk tuks, dust, a sort of quite chaos, overwhelmingly understandable, this place was so out of my depth but i felt so completely absorbed and connected.

Me and Chris on my first adventure through this crazy city. Tiny little alley ways, food stalls everywhere, huge temples and maddness. I think i may have fell in love that day...

Madz x