Everest Here We Come

As we drove up into the mountains just out of Rishikesh  I remember telling Tarun that I felt like I was on the top of the world... little did I know just how far away the top of the world was, and I'm still not there yet!

These mountains are huge! The landscape in many places is a bit similar to what we'd find in parts of New Zealand but scaled up 100 or more times. Now it really does feel like I'm on top of the world but I know just how wrong I am as we haven't even seen any glimpse of snow yet... not even in the distance.

When I had a last minute change of plans and Tarun asked me where I wanted to go I said something like 'you choose as I don't have any real preference' and I also told him I was happy to go somewhere he hadn't been before. He chose well. These are places that I'm very lucky to be seeing and very far off the usual tourist route. It's now about three days since I've seen another white face and I don't anticipate seeing another for a while yet. However I still feel perfectly comfortable in this area but also realise how much easier it is having him with me. I told him I wanted to see 'the real India' and that's what I'm getting. His honest commentary on life in this country is also revealing and very interesting. Thanks again Tarun, it's a great way to travel.

Last night after dinner ( less than $2 a dish) we walked up the hill in the dark to watch the  Diwali fireworks in the nearby town. It sounded a bit like a war zone with the bangs echoing among the mountains and the lights were pretty. Unfortunately the walk lost a little of it's appeal when Tarun said  ' I hope there won't be any leopards around this part.' Given that earlier in the day, quite soon after an 'in the bushes toilet stop' we saw a fairly large snake slither across the road in front of us, I wasn't quite so keen to walk all that much further in the dark. 

At the moment I am sitting watching the sun come up over the mountains. I can hear birds and the occasional vehicle. This is  a very beautiful part of India that I'm enjoying very much ... And each day is getting better.