At Rishikesh Again

The strange thing about a writer’s block is that while there are a hundred ideas floating in one’s mind, penning them down suddenly becomes a thorny process. Coming up with ideas and structuring them is the easy part- but it’s the expression that becomes a problem. So in trying to overcome that handicap, I’m now going to write about my recent trip to Rishikesh.

I went to Rishikesh about three weeks ago, with a bunch of friends; and all-in-all, the trip was a bittersweet one. In terms of fun, it was a complete blast, including river rafting, long walks, great food, hiking and mountain biking. We were in Rishikesh for four days, and it was an action-packed trip, which really got the adrenaline flowing. We managed to fit in a lot of activities in those four days, and were actually left with time for dips in the river, ambling walks, quiet conversations and the odd wee tot in the evenings. We also managed to find a little multi-cuisine restaurant that served Israeli food, which was a first for all of us.

The Ganges, of course, was as glorious as ever, and the time spent in and around it was quite spectacular. There is something to be said about large swirling bodies of water. They inspire awe as well as thrill, their sheer power reminding us of our helplessness and dependence on them. This time, I jumped into the river no less than four times, and emerged refreshed and thrilled. This was quite unlike last year, when the water was so cold that I was too paralysed to move. We also floated diyas in the river, and quietly made our wishes, and prayed for them to come true. The trip also allowed for time for quiet introspection, whether on the banks of the river, or in little chai-shops, which ensured I came back feeling purged and freed of my burdens as I perceived them.

What marred the trip a little was the fact that all of us, while we got along famously in Delhi, didn’t do so well when made to live together. There were things we discovered about one another that we didn’t appreciate, and things we did that rubbed the others the wrong way. So yes, we did have our share of tiffs, arguments and disagreements, which served to dull the sheen a bit. However, none of those tiffs were large enough to permanently sever relationships, and that’s what’s important at the end of the day. I think we all realised that though we didn’t like ALL of someone, we did like the package- and that is certainly saying something :)