Christmas in Rishikesh

Over the Christmas week we were in Rishikesh with my Aunt, Adrienne.  She spends about four months a year there at her Ashram, and we thought it would be good to spend Christmas with some family. The people at Adrienne’s ashram are very friendly and it was so nice to find such a welcoming community to spend Christmas with, even if the dinner was served in buckets (see photo to the right).



The town was also a little haven from the usual hassle you find throughout India.  The week certainly recharged our batteries!  Mark managed to get some white water rafting in (though it wasn’t very good) and some hiking to boot.  I found a nice yoga place and helped out in building the Ashram’s new garden.  As this town is basically Adrienne's second home, she was able to take us to all of the good restaurants.  I think that was our best food week in a long time!!!

Adrienne also introduced us to a fantastic school orphanage called Ramana's Seva Samiti, run by an American lady.  She started up a school for the untouchables in the town, and it ended up developing into an orphanage.  The orphanage houses children from about 5 to 15, and includes children where both parents have died.  Staggerinly some of the young girls were former prostitutes that she managed to help.  We were incredibly impressed and inspired with what she manages to do on a shoe string budget.   She also had a little restaurant attached where we ate one of the best salads I’ve had in my life. 

If you're interested in more information on the orphanage or are heading to Rishikesh and want a really good  salad, this is the website www.sayyesnow.org