River Rafing in Rishikesh - Riding the Rapids of the Scared Ganga

Okay, Okay, Okay, I admit! Am a bad blogger. My last post was more than two months ago. I totally understand if any hot chicks out there wants to spank me. Though I have my reasons but why don't you spank me first and I'll explain why I have been away for so long. 

Honestly, I've been really caught up in my work lately and though I have promised,  not to get sucked into the corporate world but it seems the more I try, the more i get involved. Some of my wanna be neo- hippie buddies started calling me a corporate slut, but hey! I  have a job and it pays well and I don't smell like a bag of rotten 'you know what'.  

Coming back to the main topic: Rishikesh is and will always be one of my favorite holiday destinations in India. I know, you won't get alcohol or non-veg but still I'll list it in my top destinations in India. Most tourist destinations in India comes with just one theme, like Agra for Taj Mahal, Delhi for its Perverts and Jaipur for its forts and palaces, but Rishikesh is a blend of so many things; the mystical feel of the century old temples and the evening pooja's, the chaotic mix of sadhu baba's, tourists, pilgrims along the monkey infected somewhat scary Ram Jhula and ofcourse the river rafting, kayaking and the endless hiking and trekking trails. This unique blend is what makes Rishikesh so perfect.

Recently some really fortunate souls got to ride the rapids of the gorgeous Ganga River. Am sure the pictures will be enough to describe how awesome river rafting in Rishikesh is!. 

The Camping Area

I almost forgot to mention... Its freaking cheap to spend a weekend in Rishikesh, especially if you are visiting from Delhi.

Bus ride on a Volvo is  1000 Rupees one way
Camping + rafting + meal (Dinner and Breakfast) + insanely boring beach volley balls + Camp Fire is around 1600 Rupees per person.

Indian Railways: A Never Ending Joy Ride

There is seriously something wrong with me! No matter how many times I’ve promised myself I would never do it but just the thought of going somewhere new is enough for me to give up. Maybe it’s the rat race job I have, maybe it because of my desire for freedom or is it something chronic!

Some believe in saving up for the future, a home, a car or in some case, for their daughter’s dowry (hell yeah, dowry still is alive and kicking) but I’ve never been much of a saving guy. What is the use of working if you can’t enjoy what you earn. So, here I am, once again with my pack bag, an unconfirmed train ticket and just enough cash to last a week in the gorgeous South India and a small part of my head shouting ‘how the hell will you pay your rent’.

Traveling in the Indian railway is nothing less than a day out in an amusement park. It will take you from green fields to barren land, from poverty stricken slums to laid back villages, from cars and bikes waiting for the train crossing to kids collecting junk, the experience is overwhelming. Even the scenes inside the train are no less vibrant and contrast than the outside. Loud Bollywood music blasting from mobile phones, people sneaking a cigarettes near the door , hawkers selling everything from Chai, biscuits, soda and snacks to toys, towels, electronics, a trip in the Indian railways is an experience to be cherished.

For a newbie, a train journey in India is exactly like sitting in a roller coaster drunk, you will want to puke and the smell, the farts and the rush will add more to it. If you really wanna be a part of this chaotic joy ride, you need to be open-minded and always expect the unexpected.

Some old fort built on top of a barren Rocky Hill.

How I wish i could sit on top of the hill listening to Pink Floyd

Can you see those kids waving at the Camera

Found this dude studying under the light in the train station somewhere in Andhra Pradesh. Notice the Mobile Phone, if he had the money to buy a mobile phone, why can't he just buy a rechargeable light and study somewhere quite. 

 

South India has some of the most bewitching landscapes but the food, oh man... i can't take it.

 
BTW, I could not confirm my ticket so i had to travel 40 hours without a seat. Luckily, this guy from the pantry offered his seat for 200 bucks for a night, which was right next to the toilet.

My Seat for 40 hours

Pushkar Mela 2012 pictures

http://nomadthings.blogspot.in/2012/11/pushkar-mela-2012.html

Jaipur: The City of Palaces

I have been a bad blogger! Who the hell leaves a gap of over a month between posts? I deserve to be spanked, so ladies step up and spank this bad, naughty blogger. I deserve it. To make up for my long absences, I’ll be posting a series of travel pictures starting today.  

Today we will be starting with Jaipur, which I love to call the ‘City Of Palaces.’

Pictures & Review of Slayer in Bangalore

Finally I saw my gods playing live and I was just ten meters away from my gods I’ve worshiped more than any gods for ten years. Hell yeah! I am talking about Slayer, ‘the Gods of Thrash Metal.’ Can you remember the first time you heard Slayer, I do and it blew me away. My first Slayer album was God Hates Us All and listening to Tom Araya screaming God Hates Us All, God Hates Us All in the song Disciple was all it took to get me hooked. As a pissed of teenager searching for anything to flip off everyone, it was a big deal. I still remember my mom shouting at me and breaking my God Hates Us All CD into three pieces and calling me a Satan worshiper, and of course the treat of disowning me when I hanged a print out of New Faith lyrics ‘I won't be force fed prophecies, From a book of untruths for the weakest mind, I keep the bible in a pool of blood, So that none of its lies can affect me.

Slayer did confirm that they will be playing in Bangalore two months in advance but as a genuine asshole; I did not book my train tickets in advance. So, I boarded the train to Bangalore with an unconfirmed ticket. After more 40 hours in the train, I reached Bangalore, two in the morning. But the trouble of not having a seat to sit or sleep for 40 hours was totally worth.

Moments before reaching the venue. It kept on raining on and off the whole day and the night. By the time Slayer came to the stage, we were drenched to the skin.

The Ticket

 

Brahma, an old school thrash metal band from Mumbai opening for Slayer. They were great but most of the crowd did not feel the same. I've never seen that much middle fingers at the same time.

Brahma with Verhnon Ibrahim, from Millennium, India's best metal band. The dude still got it.

 

Here we are!

The Crowd

Kerry King, doing what he does the best! shredding

Oh Yeah, I've waited for this moment.

 

Another Somewhat blurry picture of Kerry King and The Gary Holt from Exodus.

 

Sorry for the blurry pictures but it was almost impossible getting a clear shoot with the moshpit in full swing behind you.

 

 
 

Tom Araya

P.s: Something really funny happened that night. I heard some guys shouting who is toughing my ass.