2015/2016 Three Continent Tour: February 12 Rishikesh: the holy city

Up 5 AM to warm up with a shower, then off to pre yoga meditation, wrapped in a blanket, and then the yoga class by Yogi Vishvaketu. Great class. I am starting to lose weight now, and gradually feel stronger. I realize my India plans should have all taken me to ashram life, because there were no other yoga classes worth doing. After breakfast ( dates always, fruit, porridge or cereal, herbal tea ) I went to find the Sixties Cafee ( the one the Beatles went to). I found it, and the view was excellent. I went onto the rooftop to take pics of the Ganga, which has some rapids as you can see in the pic. Then decided not to eat there but go over the monkey pedestrian bridge and walk along the Ganga banks with shops on each side. I bought a nice kurta sleepwear, which is great and cheap. Then walked right to Ram Juhla ( bridge). Didn't actually go over, but walked back to find the beach. There were people swimming, and actually has sand!! Then I walked back, had a carrot and lemon juice drink and went home. Yoga at 4PM was great...a Swedish lady, with excellent yoga teaching skills. After supper, I walked back over the bridge and went to the Zorba Cafee to hear fusion music. Lovely little restaurant and as the pics show three performers: vocals/guitar, tabla, clarinet. Lovely restful music. Most enjoyable . Then back home, and bed, ready for the early start on Saturday morning. Busy but great here, spiritually uplifting.

Above and below: pics of Ganga from the Beatles cafe

Below: the cow next to our hotel that moos all day. You can have a cow in your back yard here.Early every morning around 5 AM there seems like various herds of cows that go by before I do early yoga.