It wasn't with too much regret that we left Delhi on the sleeper bus to Manali and the Himalayas. When I say sleeper, I mean a semi sleeper, the type that have reclining seats and little curtains on the windows. Except that mine was broken and that our curtain served more in the way to hide the fact that our window was badly cracked. Though, I have to say that the 14 hrs bus trip went great. The views in the early morning light were absolutely breathtaking. To actually see these magnificent mountains in the distance and to realise that we were headed in their direction was an amazing feeling. As we travelled higher and higher the views got better and better. I was so excited I completely forgot that I was supposed to be trying to get some rest. Didn't matter it was too good to miss.

On arriving in Manali, we were met off the bus by one of the local guides. He's a very funny guy and quickly put us at ease. After seeing his hotel we decided to stay at the absolute bargain of 5 euro per night. Amazing when you see the view! The hotel is kinda like a large lodge with each room having a balcony with mountain view. The village itself is a mostly a good mix of touristy and local handicraft shops. In old manali it's possible to see how life is for the 6000 or so that live here. Mostly a farming and textile related culture.

Tomorrow, we begin the first day of a 4 day trek to Malana. This is an isolated village deep in the mountains where a tribe lives. Their culture and language is completely different to the rest of the region, with some antropologists speculating that they decended from Alexander the Great. Cannot wait to get going. This is where the journey really begins.

Gerry at the waterfall

Isabelle at waterfall (reverse angle)

Old Manali dwelling

Lady with child

What a view!

Cela fait maintenant 3 jours que nous sommes a Manali. Le village se trouve au nord de l'Inde dans l'Himalaya. Les paysages y sont magnifique.
Manali est un village separe en 2: le vieux Manali et le jeune Manali. C'est un endroit tres touristique autant pour les Indiens que pour les voyageurs d'autre pays. Il y a beaucoup d'Israeliens, de Francais, de Hollandais, etc. Gerry et moi aimont beaucoup, mais je pense que le village a ete trop pris d'assaut par les jeunes europeens qui y viennent surtout pour la fume.

Les gens du coins sont tres acceuillant. Nous avons ete intercepte par un guide du coin a notre arrivee et somme maintenant dans son hotel. Il nous a aussi organise une randonnee de 4 jours pour aller voir une tribu dont la langue et la culture sont different du reste de la region.
Nous avons eu aussi la chance de rencontrer 2 Nepalais qui organisent des randonnees en Inde pendant la haute saison. Comme ils rentrent au pays vers la fin Septembre, cela nous fait 2 contacts pour notre arrivee au Nepal qui devrait se faire aussi vers la fin Septembre.
Voici pour le moment. Plus de nouvelles a notre retour de la randonnee.