Ganga News

Part of the derelict 'Beatles' Ashram, Rishikesh.

The Ganga.

Me, in The Ganga.

Other people, in The Ganga.

Well, after 2 weeks, I finally left Rishikesh. It's a place thats very easy to spend time in. Also got into a routine for the first time. Yoga, Eat, Chill out, Yoga, Eat, Sleep. Anyways, in the end I got the motivation to leave after Christmas.

Now in the capital of Uttar Pradesh- Lucknow, a Muslim city, famous for the Indian Mutiny/Uprising/War of Independence (depending on your political point of view) in 1857. The mutineers/freedom fighters surrounded the British Residency after we got rid of the local prince. 3000 soldiers women and children were then under siege for 8 months. The residency was reduced to rumble and only 1000 odd people survived. And so it goes. Lucknow is the most organised and cosmopolitan city I've visited so far. Lots of posh shops, not many poor people and a Marks&Spencer.

Going to spend New Year here, then head off to Varanasi, the Holiest of Hindu city.

Happy New Year everyone!!

Ganga Bike News

Hope everyone has had a nice crimbo. First off I,m going to start off with some bike news. After 4000km on Indian roads, I thought the bike was deserving of a major service . In the end it did turn out to be pretty MAJOR. In the end I had a new piston and cylinder block, valves re-ground, new clutch plates, fork seals and a general overhall. Ended up costing me just under 60 quid. Man, I love this country!


My first river crossing. Also the first time I've ridden bare foot, with rolled up trousers. The water came above the footpegs!!

Poor old knackered piston. Don't worry, you did your job well:)

Got the paintbrushes out and did a bit of bike customisation. Had to fly the flag for the Empire!

Merry Christmas and all that crap.

Merry Chrismas one and all. Thank god I'm in a predominantly Hindu country, because I've not seen one fairy light, inflatable santa or Christmas tree. In the future I'm definitely holidaying in a non-Christian country over the Christmas period! Bahhhhhhh humbug.
First of all, apologies folks, no pictures. Curse of the crap internet connection has struck again. For the past couple of weeks I've been hanging around in Rishikesh, chilling out. Its one of the more peaceful parts of India I've visited so far. Its a small town in the foothills of the Himalaya, on the River Ganges (Ganga) Famous for its temples, Yoga Ashrams (Schools) and home to the Beatles in the late 60's. The old Ashram where the Fab Four stayed is now deserted and slowly being consumed by the undergrowth. Kind of a spooky, interesting place to trespass in, as long as you bribe/avoid the guards and hold a big stick to fight of the monkeys with!
Pretty much everyday I've been going to Yoga classes, so for 3 hours a day, 6 days a week have been slowly getting more and more bendy. Can now pull off some pretty extreme moves- my best being- The Crow. Hopefully by the time I get back to the UK I'll be able to levitate.
Today I went for a Aruvedic massage. It was a penis out, leave your modesty at the door kind of affair, and not the sort of thing an Englishman abroad should partake in. Never the less, after a hour and a half off having the crap beaten out of me, i'm feeling alot better.
Did only intend staying here for 3 or 4 days, but its such a chilled out place I'm sticking around till boxing day, then heading East to Lucknow and Varanasi.

Happy Christmas Everyone

Himalaya!!

Hello everyone. For the past week or so I've been in the foothills of Himachal Pradesh, a state sandwiched in between Pakistan and Nepal. First up was on old British hill station called McCloud Ganj, that now serves as the base for the Tibetan Government in exile. It definately felt more Tibetan than Indian, lots of red robed monks walking around in Nike trainers. Unfortunately the Dali Lama wasn't at home, off around the world trying to represent his lost country no doubt, very inconsiderate:)

On the road to Manali.

Next up was a ride out to Manali, the Indian equivilent of Chamonix, but with open sewerers. In the summer it has whitewater rafting, paragliding etc. In the winter, snowboarding. The ride up there was fantastic, though I realise now, riding in the Himalaya in winter, I probablly should of packed some warm clothes:) The road continues out of Manali and up to Leh in Kashmir, bit off a motorbike classic, but with passes at 5000m, a bit snowed up at the minute. If anyone fancies doing it one summer, give me a shout.

Monkey contemplates life, above Shimla.

For the last couple of nights I stayed in Shimla, another British hill station. This one served as the summer capital of the British Raj in the summer months when it got too hot on the plains in Delhi and Calcutta. It did feel a bit like a little part of England. Grey sky, lots of police, lots of signs prohibiting smoking, littering, spitting etc. Luckily the rest of India has shaken off all that crap. Stayed in a REALLY posh hotel (it had its own libary, although how you could read a book during a two night stay is beyond me) It was very nice being waitered on hand and foot, although they did give me a funny look when I walked in, in biker gear, covered in dust and engine oil.

Sector22, Chandigarh. The whole city looks like this.

Came out of the mountains today and arrived in Chandigarh, new Capital of the Punjab. The old one was Lahore, but that happens to be in Pakistan now. After partition in in 1947, the Indians took the insane decision to commission the modernist achitect Le Cobusier (inspiration behind the lovely Parkhill Flats in Sheffield) to design a new capital. As a consequnce an entire city off 1 million, looks like.............Parkhill Flats. There arn't any neigbourhoods either. My hotel is in Sector 22! Anyway, had to come and have a look, and it is just as horrible as I thought it would be.

Off to Rishekesh tomorrow (where the Beatles hung out in the 60's) to do lots of Yoga, Meditation and all that other hippy shit:)