Mussoorie 2 - The Trek

On our second week end Thomasso, Adam, Lauren and 2x Anna decided to go on a trek to Nagtipah - snake mountain. Brave and adventurous as we are we decided against taking a guide and got lost after 30 minutes. Who would know that what looked like a riverbed was actually the path that led straight up to the top? We took the hard way, through the forest and across stony terrain but eventually found a nice place to camp at. Here some impressions.

The valley we passed by jeep on the way to the mountain.
Adam, sunbathing. Thomasso, carrying one of the tents.
... and then it got steep. But a great view from up there!
We found a deserted rice field where we put up our tents. These guys had some fields further up, but slept in a hut down the hill. We had a nice conversation in Hinglish and they helped us to find wood and lit the fire with one (!) match.
The next morning. I think we all felt much dirtier than we look like.
Devalsari, the village on the foot of the mountain where we took a jeep back to Mussoorie.
Aaaaand I got another chance to sit on the rooftop. Great experience, good pictures!
My roommate Thomasso and me.

Mussoorie

For the past 2 weeks I've been here in Mussorie, studying Hindi at the Landoor Language School. Many student from Europe and America come here to learn Hindi, Urdu, Punjabi or Sanskrit, it's a very international atmosphere. The town itself is in the mountains, on about 2200 meters, during the day it gets quite hot and at night a bit chilly. This part of India is simply beautiful, being surrounded by hills for the first time in my life a learn to appreciate it a lot. But see for yourself.

This is the view I get every morning when walking up the steep path that leads from my house (I stay with an Indian family) to school.

I then go around the corner and - when the weather is clear - see this. The white peaks are the Himalayas.

A painting on a rock, just off a path close to school. I thought first it was an Indian goddess but it turned out to be from Hawaii. How it got there - no clue ;-)
Sunset over Mussoorie, seen five minutes away from my house. And it's like that every evening!
Finishing with one of these pictures that symbolise India for me - where else would you get a shop that specialises in dry cleaning and video repair?

Delhi and Rishikesh

Back to India again! As you might know I'm in beautiful Mussoorie at the moment but here are some pictures from Delhi and Rishikesh. On my first day, in the blazing sun of Delhi, Rashtrapati Bhavan, where the president of India lives (?) and works, one of those gazillion pictures of "old" and "new" India in one.

As a hard working student of South Asia I could not miss Teen Murthi Bhavan, where Nehru used to live. A HUGE mansion as you can see, very quite with a nice and lush garden. There was a little exhibition with quotes and pictures and you could see the rooms, furniture and books looked like they were originals ... You could see that his family had money and Nehru's Western influences, at the same time I found it quite down to earth, considering his powers and influence. A very interesting visit.
Nehru's study. Unfortunately you couldnt enter the room, they were sealed off, you had to look through windows.
And a puppeteer in Delhi, on my last evening there before hitting the road to Mussoorie. I had an interesting discussion with him after the show, he's been around the world, especially in Europe, on invitation of the Augsburger Puppenkiste. (Here a link for the non-Germans)

Flags on a temple roof, on the way to Rishikesh.

Rishikesh. Friends from the language school chilling on a rock in the Ganges. The water was surprisingly cold, we had a few nice dips (dual use: cool down and be forgiven your sins) and enjoyed the afternoon here.