India - Himalayas 2007

If everything checks out, we're heading to the hills (i.e. himalayas) on tuesday morning. the bike is a 2004 Enfield Thunderbird 350cc, large, well endowed, solid. we're renting for two months, and we got a damn good deal. 150 rupees per day, is a litte less than $4per day, or $120/month. thats not too much more than what my cell phone costs in new york, which i just remembered i need to disconnect. so im in new delhi now.

Day 9

Woke up in Nainital, overcast day, though the view from the guesthouse balcony was mesmirising.

Ok this keyboard sucks major ass.

We left and rode to Almora, about 120 Kilometers away, also in the hills, though a bit lower. Nainital is 1900 meters, adn Almora is 1700. The ride was awesome, full of beautiful scenic vistas and jaw-dropping mountain ranges. We also saw baboons, monkeys, cows, goats and rabied dogs.

Day 15 cont.

After we arrived in the fabulous town called Rishikish, we found ourselves at a lovely complex of guesthouses, one of which is the Swiss Cottage.

We ate dinner at the local restaurant, and, exhausted, went to sleep very early.

Day 16

Yesterday. I'm finally bringing my blog up-to-date.

Ok.

so where do i start? ive been wanting to write but its just been so damned hectic that i forgot or got sidetracked or traveled or anything and everything else. about five days have passed since my first post and ive experienced and seen enuff things to fill a book, or more. ill make it simple for myself by just doing a day by day thing.

day 2 (may 9):

Day 6

Right so that was Sunday. First I have to add a strange experience. On my way to Hunuman's tomb on day 4 or 5? I was at a stop light with four slum kids trying to sell me crayons and batteries, for what purpose im not sure, when this old decrepit man with a cane and a shawl from bibilical days came round and started whacking them with his stick. Weird.

Anyways india is full of such bizarre sightings, especially Delhi.

Day 14

Ok so we left Kasar Devi around 12pm after fixing the back sprocket which has at least four broken teeth. The bike was causing us some problems at this point, and we were hoping this would solve the problems. It solved some of the problems, but as will become apparent, did not solve all of them. I asked the mechanic if the back brakes were ok, as they were screeching, and he said they were fine, and that the bike was in top shape. With this, we took off for Rishikish.

Day 8

Tuesday. We left delhi at six in the morning, our luggage tied precariously to the motorcycle. Left in searing heat, passed thru lots of traffic, exhaust fumes, and poor people. After a few hours we stopped at Moradabad, a hindu city with no tourists whatsoever. We were hot and dirty, and I ate some street food, some kind of rice on nan thing with questionable stew type substance. Not bad. Boys took lewd pics of Michal, and then we were surrounded by 30 townsfolk who just stood and stared at us. Cool. We left.