The Ganga is the artery of India obviously

I am in Rishikesh and am blissed out, it is the melting pot of Indian spirituality and beauty. If India is the land of the heart, and I believe it is, then The Ganga is the artery. Here I realise how India has infilitrated my blood after all this time. My pace is slower, more mindful, physically and mentally, I am more shanti in my totality. Equanimous in my being.
Travelling alone again, I like it very much but I have been thinking about how travelling is for a woman on her own. I think it is the way to travel actually, its so easy, everyone is so willing to help at every step, because the assumption is that I am more vulnerable as a woman on my own, however this is a double edged sword of course, as sometimes the help is more than is wanted, and my independence is incroached upon.
I am aware that I am more defensive when I am on my own, not to such an extent that I am not forming connections with people, but for example I have learnt that I cannot let any Indian man touch me, even to shake hands, because there is much sexual repression here seemingly. I do not let men take photos with me any more as they just use it as an excuse to touch me, and although in my culture in the west this is no issue, it is here. Innocence prevails here and men do not think that a woman may be scared of them, they always look very surprised and apologetic when reminded.
I feel like a potential problem here in Rishikesh is that I will feel like I should be doing lots of things however the peaceful atmosphere counteracts as does my shanti presence that and I feel very happy to quietly remain open to soaking up the array of delights that are in abundance here.

Seeing things as they really are

Just out of vipassana retreat, my second experience and much more powerful than the first, my medtation has come on lots and I worked really hard. Concentrating one's mind for 10 hours a day is no mean feat, from 4.30 am till 9pm we are working on our meditation. Sitting in a meditation posture for all this time is an amazing experience, my body is so toned and fit now which is bizarre after not doing any conventional exercise for 12 days! And the pain that one experiences is undescribable, and not relieved by adjusting posture even. I was able to enjoy the experience this tme immensely and met yet more sisters of course who I went on a fantastic expedition to a mountain 10km walk away and spent the night in a cave under the full moon...... Divineness...
I realised that I suddenly was pining for my friends and family for the 1st time achingly.
I have decided to return for the job with The banyan next summer probably.
Eagles and vultures, kites and crows circle the wind currents above the city continuously reminding one of freedom and simplicity. Dharamsala is a gorgeous place but it is tinged with saddness, as there are many Tibetans here living in exile hoping that Tibet will be one day free from the human rights violations of the Chinese authorities when they will be able to return.