Mid-Morning On The Ghats

Time is irrelevant here. No watch. No clock. No phone checks. Rise when the body calls for it. Sleep when the body needs it.

There is no itinerary. No agenda. No meetings to attend or tours to follow.

There is a crowd though. Omnipresent, depending on where you are. Oppressive at times, mesmerizing at others. And noise. Oh my.

Early morning on the ghats is best. An hour before sunrise at least. Then mid-morning as the heat sets in.

I was out at 9:00, the beginning of the quiet time.

I hoped to walk as far south as Asi Ghat and its shade.

There were bathers of course,

and captains of boats.

I’ll meet Rahui early tomorrow for a one hour ride, maybe two.

I sat with Baba Ram for a bit.

Crazy perhaps, or maybe in an altered state. Is there a difference?

There were businessmen who’d come for teachings,

and those without the need.

Climbers,

and strollers,

fishermen,

more bathers.

Some content to rest,

and others to float.

Mr. Preem kindly offered me chai,

and hoped I’d visit his silk shop later.

The Naval Kayak Club receiving final instruction,

then finished for the day.

And then Asi,

just in time,

a different vibe.

I lingered a bit, sipped on fresh lime juice, then caught a tuk-tuk back to the Anand Kanan,

or so I thought,

informed there’d be a rickshaw transfer for the remainder of the way.

It was all good,

and soon I was back in the neighborhood.