Cleaning the mountains of India

Yes I’ve been back for a while, yes it’s been a while since I’ve written anything. It’s been a busy busy summer, but that doesn’t mean memories and stories stop buzzing around in my head. I found this experience one of the best ones in my year and a half away. Such an inspired way of being, the founder of Mountain Cleaners, Jodie Underhill came to India and saw what was wrong. Litter everywhere. But instead of just taking it in and letting it be, she’s actively doing something about it, and succeeding!

Video Flashback On a moped in India

Dharamsala Dreams

Alright, alright, really I was in McLeod Ganj, a small village half an hour away from Dharamsala, as most travellers are when they say they’re staying in Dharamsala. It’s difficult for me to write about this last part of the journey. I don’t know why, maybe it’s got something to do with closing it off. Although it will never be closed in my heart.

After Bundi

Oh beautiful Bundi, what a nice place to calm down after all the hecticness and adventures. It was time to go, though. More to see, more to experience. The train tickets got booked, next stop…

Beautiful Bundi

Well, if you read the story last week, you know me and (especially) Tom had a bit of bad luck that cut our motorcycle adventure short. Getting “stuck” in Bundi was very nice. In Dutch there’s a saying that applies well in this situation: “Getting stuck here was good luck that came with the bad luck”.

The Motorcycle Diaries

Delhi was never a place I wanted to stay for long. Another big city in India. I went there to get the motorbikes. After lots of contemplation me and Tom had decided to rent them, as the whole buying and then selling scheme could be such a hassle and we might lose what we’re renting them for quite easily.

50 hours on a train

After that gorgeous holiday in Varkala, it’s time for the next part of the journey. Travelling some of the north on motorbikes. I’ve arranged to rent bikes from a seemingly trustworthy company in Delhi so that’s where I’m heading. But the far south is quite far from Delhi. In fact, it’s 50 hours on a single train (if there’s no delays). I decided that it would be best to keep a diary for all the special memories that might pop up whilst on the train. This is it.

Lazing in Varkala

The days flew by here. Fishermen on the beach, untangling their nets after setting out early in the morning, together with babas, people devoted to a God. They’re blessing people on the beach. Indian tourists mixed with foreign tourists. Aah, it’s good to be back on the beach.

What… What’s that lurking in the bush?

After the days in the ashram, the day I left turned out to be great. Next to the ashram is a lake, and me, Tom and new found partners in crime Jay, Devin and Natalie (we skipped Satsang and hid in the bush, they came looking for us with torches!) swam across and walked along the fence of the Neyyar Dam Safari Park. Just to go for a walk, do something fun. Jay and Natalie were just a little bit ahead, and then…

An Ashram Experience

I was right there. Trivandrum, only an hour away from Neyyar Dam where a highly recommended ashram is. And I was going to go. Really. But then, the night before, me and Tom got talking about motorbikes and decided to change our plans completely. I still can’t believe we were RIGHT THERE…