Naughty Cow!!

Yesterday I went paragliding! I had arranged it the day before and I went with five other people in a car on the bumpiest hour-long car journey ever! We were basically driving on rocks, that's the only way I can describe it. We went higher and higher and eventually had to get out and climb until we reached the launching place. We hadn't been told anything about what was going to happen or what we had to do and once we'd climbed high enough some men unpacked the giant parachutes and then strapped me into one with the instructor behind me. They were talking away in their language to each other and I asked, "What do I need to do??", and one of them simply said, "You run", and with that the instructor immediately started running off the cliff with me attached and so I ran like a crazy person and then suddenly we were in the air! Much like the sky dive I did in the UK a few months ago it was the initial launch that was the best bit and then after that it was calm and peaceful and so I guess I was hoping it was going to be a bit more scary! It was brilliant though and the views of the mountains, valley and sunny sky were amazing! 

View from launch area.

Paragliding selfie!!!!

The view!!

We flew through clouds!! And there were massive eagles soaring beside us at one point. 

After being dropped off I went exploring the area and walked through a forest.

The village I am staying in is a 50p rickshaw journey away from the main town but I have found that I can walk it in thirty minutes and save money. I have to walk along a road for a while however (I have discovered that Indian drivers think they can drive as wildly as they like as long as they honk their horns one million times a minute) and the way back is very steep uphill although I do get to walk past a waterfall where there are absolutely loads of massive lizards hanging out in the sun!

This lizard was about 4ft long.

While I was in the village last night a massive cow walked past and sniffed my toe and then licked it; it's owner came along and told it off and then dragged it across the square saying angry things to it whilst everyone was watching and laughing!

Naughty cow!!!

The village I am staying in is called Vashisht and it is famous for its temple that houses public baths. There are separate areas for men and women and they consist of a massive stone bath with really hot water inside surrounded by stone walls with no ceiling so it is open to the sun and you have a great view of the pine tree-covered mountain above. I went there last night as well as this morning as they also have hot running water taps and the guesthouses don't always guarantee hot water.

There is strictly no photography in here so I had to wait until no one was looking or standing naked in shot!!

I took the opportunity to relax in the baths as much as possible because tomorrow morning, after three nights in Vachisht, I will take a ten hour bus journey across India to Dharumsala which is where the Dalai Lama lives.