Buses, Walking and Flying

So, aching sub siding very slowly, a couple of days feeding up in McLeod Ganj, we were ready to hit the road limping. Us and our new companion Jamey J, log is in the links below. We took the 10 hour night state bus to Manali. although everywhere you go, it says we sell tickets on deluxe bus to Manali, what they actually mean is that they all sell tickets to the same bus, which will only leave on the day that everybody wants to leave (Which wasn't for a week). so state buses, can really give you a bit of an experience. The beaten up 1950's school buses, are very cheap, and have storage room for bags on the roof. a very strong man took all three bags (with all of our lives in it) straight up the ladder and put them on top, of course then you follow him up and chain the thing to the side, not even for thieves, but just cause you learn how nicely they drive.

You’re on the bus, reserved tickets can help, but you can pay the conductor on the bus, who also acts as the 'just stopping' whistle, or the 'reversing' beep, and generally likes whistling just as you think you might get around two seconds of sleep on the old man’s head next to you . The bus swings around the mountains, anybody can jump or off, mostly without paying, sometimes it stops to pick up packages, and drops them lower down, all part of the service. Once he stopped to go and talk to someone for 10mins, think it might be his mums house, who knows. the lights go on and off, depending what mood the driver is in. most places in India, bus included you are pounded with lovely smells, but with the good there is all ways the inevitable bad ones, VERY BAD. this is especially true on the trains when they stop, the general rule, especially for kate, is not to many liquids.

Anyway, the man two seats in front of me, has a common Indian condition, it is called 'hacking from the back of the throat as loudly and as often as you can' and spitting it out the window in this case. This noise is a 100 times a day occurrence, but even as person with low personal hygiene, it can become very disgusting.

Anyway every hour or 2 the bus stops in some remote place for between 15 and 45 mins, where a commotion happens for the seats that are available, this always wakes you straight up. Once they found out where we were getting off, there was a furious discussion for our seats, the good news was that then I knew we would not miss our stop. After a few hours into the journey, you stop at a little place for some food, there was some special hand shakes going on between the driver and the owner. All in all. You feel over whelmed at times, giggling at others, and huddling in the corner by the end.

When told by the whole bus, that we were in Manali (4am), we jumped on the roof, and chucked the bags off, and then you are in a deserted town at 4am, tired, and very confused. we took a rickshaw to a village called Vashisht (which none of us can say, lots of pointing), to the hotel we had seen in the book. Unfortunately everything seems closed. we get our wearily and look forward to the cold morning ahead. but, danny's scouting and banging on doors has brought us a room, and we crash onto the bed. yyeeeeessssssssssss! Not to mention when I wake up west ham are playing (and winning on the tv), but the shower is cold, much more of a problem when the weather is cold too.

The next day we quickly learn that we are massively out of season, and half the place is closed (bolocks), so yesterday we did a small (14km) hike up to the Solang valley. it was fairly easy going, and only a half day (thank god), on the way up we see maybe 50 of these women carrying these huge bundles of bedding for the cows, see pics, amazing strength. The views as we walk though little quaint villages, level with the Kullu valley floor, were different to McLeod Ganj, and perhaps more spectacular. once we had checked into a hotel, the exciting and expensive part of the day began.

In Vashisht we had seen signs for paragliding and thought it sounded a great idea even to Jamie who is afraid of heights! When we arrive at the Solang valley we see people jumping down the hill learning to paraglide as well as massive silver 'Zorb' balls which you can roll down the hill in - great! The crazy paragliding man finds us after our mini trek and says we can paraglide that day instead of tomorrow so we dump our stuff and start heading up to the mountain to 4000 meters.

Once we were strapped to a guy and really high up a mountain we have no choice but to do it and we were all thinking shit who's ideas was this?! We were called one by one to come and be strapped to a man and Danny was up first (Jamie and I thought phewww as he got the craziest guy there!) We watched as all the colour drained from his face as he legged it down the hill and then suddenly he was off swinging above the trees! Next was me which left Jamie standing alone again with the white face.

I was strapped in and looking at the paraglide thing to see if it looked strong - it looked kinda small and I was not convinced! The next minute I'm told to run down the mountain so off we go and I was sure we were gonna keep running down smack into the trees but suddenly feet were not running on the land anymore and we were heading above the trees - it was amazing!! All the flying dreams I had a kid came true! We were all up for about 20-35 mins but I managed to catch good thermals (whatever that means) and go really high and over the mountain to a different landing place than Danny and Jamie. It was all fantastic apart from being blood freezing. When we were above the landing area we started turning and dropping really fast which sends your head and stomach churning but fun once used to it.

As the ground got closer and closer I realize he hasn't told me what I'm supposed to do so I casually ask as we are about 10m from the ground um what do I do now??? He says 'right lift lift lift' so we land very gracefully skidding along on our bums! The three of us meet up again all grinning manically and still shaking from the cold - excellent!

That night the paragliding guy asks if we want drinks so after putting on as many clothes as possible and buying whisky (only for the warming properties) we meet up and go to a empty restaurant and rink far too much whisky and rum while our Indian friends sing and try and get us to do the same - thankfully managed not too! Also had my first go on a motorbike that night which was one of the most stupid things I could have done - luckily back in one piece with Danny furious and half the town awake - sorry mum promise to never do it again!

The next day head back to Manali and book bus trip to Shimla, we decided to treat ourselves to the Deluxe bus and at least its only an 8 hour trip - this country is massive!!

Hope you all are good, thinking of you all and I had my first tearful I miss people moment; maybe I'm not as tough as I thought, but at least I lasted longer that Danny!