India's beauty

Traveling from Delhi to Agra and Varanassi, my journal entries soon had a common theme. The people here are tough. They are brought to their thinnest because some are living only on what they absolutely need. Their occupation defines them and they become a part of what they do everyday. Some are musicans and start learning an instrument like the sitar when they are child, grow up learning techniques under a teacher and end up playing professionally or owning a music shop and giving lessons. Some only see thier life by waking up every morning at 4 am to open their store on the side of the street until 10 at night. When you walk into their doors, you take off your shoes and drink their chai and chat for a while before getting down to business and buying some silk. Some beg-whether it's because they are missing an arm and a leg or if they just decide it's the best option. Some drive rigshaws every single day. It's all they do because the rigshaw drivers in India are the scariest but safest drivers I have ever met-that takes skill to mix the two. Taking a rigshaw reminds me of riding a rollar coaster, without a seatbelt. The workers at the hotels we have been to only do things related to the hotel. They sleep, eat, and hang out at the hotel. It's their life. The impressive strength these Indians have to continue living their lives with a smile on their face blows my mind. It's real life here and India's beauty is really being known to me more and more every day. So to leave Varanassi we were suppose to take a train to Delhi leaving at 3:30 pm. But alas, the train was delayed. While waiting, we became surrounded by a circle of around 75-150 Indians starring at us and our mountain of luggage in the train station. Needing a break, we went to a bar for a couple hours and came back where we saw the train to Delhi starting to roll out of the station. Needless to say, 16 people jumped onto a moving train and with this adrenaline we found out we were on the wrong train, going to the same destination with different tickets. We got off at the next stop and took 5 rigshaws back to Varanassi train station, praying that our train hadn't come and gone while we were on our other adventure. Racing back really wasn't needed though, because we didn't board our train till 2 am. We finally arrived in Rishikesh at 5:15 am on Tuesday, only about 17 hours later than planned. Word for the day-patience. But now to the amazing part! Rishikesh! Aaaaahhhhhhh, the most amazing place ever! Dr. Maher planned this trip perfectly because he knew we would need a break for a while. It's quite a contrast from the previous paragraphs. Yesterday we went on a waterfall trek. Everything is so lush and green and tropical here. Water flowing and birds chirping! None of us were expecting this. The hike up to the waterfall was intense and the water was freezing but refreshing. Dinner was served at a huge hut restraunt by the water and it seems like the scene was taken right from a movie. The shops here are the best yet, I can't wait to buy stuff that would be triple the price in America. This morning we had a yoga class out on the lawn. Wowwwww. What a workout-everyone should try it at least once. We also went rafting through the himalayas! It was basically an all day adventure, and we went through one or two class 4 rapids. All I have to say is, if you want to take a vacation and arn't sure where to go, just think about Rishikesh. This place is wonderful, and I wish we had more than just one day left here. Until nex time!