Kiwi fruit Mousse by the Ganges

I Back to Rishikesh today. This was a place I really enjoyed in the early days of my trip and I was keen to come back and spend longer here. This time we are staying in a different part of town with a view of the mountains ... I never get tired of them!

India has many sides and today we had a taste of a side we haven't seen very much of... the luxury side! We splurged out on a buffet lunch at one of the luxury hotels up-river from Rishikesh . It was wonderful sitting under the verandah overlooking the Ganges .... one of the nicest parts of the river before it arrives at the towns where the pollution and rubbish spoil it. The food was beautiful and it was especially nice to be able to start with a salad. When I told Tarun that was probably all I'd have for lunch at home he looked at me in horror and I could imagine him thinking that he'd best not visit NZ because he'd probably starve. To my surprise there was kiwifruit mousse for dessert.... hmmmm.... it looked like kiwifruit but it tasted like something entirely different. 

After lunch we wandered through the hotel grounds to the river where we watched a few rafters. There are many camps along the river where people can stay in tents. Some are in small groups in beautiful spots but a couple looked like some sort of military camp with the tents in rows. 

We left 5* India , probably for the rest of the trip, and explored some lesser known roads, but first there was a return to a particularly lovely spot in the Ganges where Tarun swam last time we were there. I would have been in too but stripping off isn't the done thing here, especially in the Ganges, and I had nothing to wear. 

As we walked back up the track from the river Tarun pointed out some particularly pretty large yellow spiders. A man walking past told us they were very poisonous. What with poisonous spiders and  leopards India seems a dangerous place but I'm still most scared of slipping on the bathroom floors which seem to get very wet every time the shower is used.

The road we explored next was pretty scary but absolutely beautiful. I think it could just about compete with Skippers near Queenstown. I reckon that if you went over the side you'd never ever be seen again. However the roller coaster road was well worth it and we had the added bonus of watching yet another sunset from up very high. Every one of them has been spectacular but this one would have been the best so far. I am so going to miss them when I go home.

Back to the hotel where Tarun and I did what we do so well... nothing!  But then tomorrow is always another day.