Up north in Risikesh...

We ventured up to the foothills of the Himalaya, although only up to 2500 meters high. This picture was made in a small village up high where we came to the conclusion that Himalaya is still a bit cold to visit. So for now we did some lung exercise and headed down to Haridwar to the Kumba Mela 2010.













Sir I have the best quality silver goods in town. As they say around here: "Cheap and best." (now how can u argue such claim)













Gadget-land in Risikesh.













You look funny with your camera...










A palace of a Raj from back in the days.











Bathing in the holy Ganga is surely a special experience that cleans the body and soul. After all has been washed off, nothing is better than a little jamming with friends.













First crunch the tirst of your holy companion and than refresh thy own self. A good Hindu :-)












Some followers of Shiva the destroyer hangin' out by the side of the road. Which is gonna prevail for the passage of time, the holy trident or the "S.b.i. internet banking"?!












This is us, hanging out with some friends after consuming a double portion of rice and curry with a liter of curd and honey.













A lovely offering of a handful of lotus flowers.

















A dried out river bed quickly gets inhabited by dalits, families from the lowest cast of India.












A classic barber shop in Risikesh. This one is quite established. The more basic ones consist of a chair, a par of scissors, and a bucket of water on the side of the road.












There are some huge ashrams all over Risikesh. Some modest ones and some quite over the top with 13 floors. This one is a statue of a deity on the bottom floor.













This here is laughing yoga in practice. Contrary my previous assumptions it is not only laughing, but also involves some asanas.
Well we surely had a laugh or two.











So we took the train in Chennai and dashed trough the whole country just to find ourselves in Risikesh. This holy town at the foothills of the Himalaya claims to be the yoga capitol of India.