mountains, hippies and crossiants!

So the gamble paid off! After an interesting and slightly nerve-racking bus journey to Manali, we arrived a bit late at 12 midday on saturday. We caught the bus, well waited inj the hotel to be picked up, 20mins late, then followed this man to the bus station, stopping at every hotel on the way. we were ushered to the back of the bus (we found out from another English girl that they send the foreigners to the back of the bus where its most bumpy and hot, so the locals can get the best seats!) then did a huge circle round the city to arrive at the same place as we had started becasue an Indian family had been late! so what should hve been a 30min journey to change buses, was 3 hours! we then got off the bus at this point, unsure whether to change bus, only to find we stayed on the bus, but had then lost our seats! we got seats right at the front which actually paid off becasue they were away from the crying baby and loud kids! We stopped for dinner, and breakfast the next day, and a few other stops in the middle of nowhere. The night driving was scary as it was endless hairpin bends that the driver went at full speed to turn the wheel at the last minute. Sleep seemed the better option, if only so i didnt have to watch! eventually morning came, and brought nice scenery, mountains and a river, and winding roads up to Manali. When we arrived at the bus station, we then got surrounded by tuk tuk drivers asking us where we wanted to go- Old Manali, New Manali? Old Manali is where the Westerners stay and its cheaper, so we got a tuk tuk up the very steep hill (Gareth got out and pushed the tuk tuk at one point!). We went down winding lanes until we found the cheapest hotel (about 1 pound 25 a night each) and met some crazy Israli guys who were staying there.
New Manali is where Indian tourists stay, where there are modern hotels, and a busy market. Old Manali is hippy central, with lots of shops selling crazy clothes and all the typical traveller bits. There are friendly cafes, and everyone is much more laid back than anywhere else we have been in India. you can walk down the street and not be asked to look at every shop as you pass, and tuk tuk drivers go past without asking you if you want a ride! Its very refreshing. The scenery is beautiful too- there are tree covered mountains and snow capped mountains in the distance. It feels slightly like Chamonix.
Yesterday, we went and explored a local climbing area that a guide told us about. Most of the climbing is part of a guided session here that you pay for, but this area was accessible after a bit of a walk. we did 2 routes until it started raining- yes raining!! both routes looked really easy until we got on them and all the jugs were slopers!
The bakeries here are amazing too- they have proper cakes and crossiants and nice bread- its hard to keep walking past them without buying anything!
The nights have been cold here- i slept in my down sleeping bag, even though its probably about the same as england, but im so used to the heat now!
A relaxing day today, then hopefully i will go para-gliding tomorrow if the weather is good.

mountains, hippies and crossiants!

Manali, India