Rajjan

There's joy in traveling, not to mention the people you meet along the way. It would be more interesting talking to the old lady who sells scarfs at the Eiffel Tower than in seeing the monument itself. There's nothing wrong with the monument; all I'm trying to say is people (by virtue of being humans) are far more interesting than inanimate objects. And as I understand, the grand sum total of people with their beliefs and practices in a region is culture.

Rajjan is a rafting instructor. 6 of us sat in the raft that was under his guidance. At the command of 'Forward All' we started paddling on our sides and set the raft in motion, heading straight towards a Grade 2 rapid. Rafting is fabulous. A 12 km downstream trip in the River Ganga (near Rishikesh) can cost about Rs 300 to 400 per person. Usually there are 6 persons in a raft and an instructor. Along the course, you learn how to navigate the raft through rapids, turn it, slow it etc. The exercise is very safe if it's done correctly under proper supervision. Adrenalin is not half the word to describe the feeling.

As we entered calm waters downstream, dusk was setting in slowly and we had another three kilometers to row. There was 1 raft in front and 4 behind ours. I chatted up with Rajjan asking where he came from. Rajjan is 28 and is a native of Nepal. He isn't married. At the age of 24, he left his country and journeyed his way through to India before moving on to travel through Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Philippines and many other places in the east. His love for adventure found him a variety of occupations in all the places he went. Since he sans any family commitments, he has been able to move around freely. As he says : “Money does not really matter to me. I want to travel and see many places.” I could sense the free spirit in him. I had finally met a man who not only wanted to travel, but also did it. A month from now, he will be rafting in the Indus river in Ladakh before moving to Sikkim.

As we passed under the Ram Jhulla, I saw the temple lights burning in the semi darkness. We got off the raft. I shook hands with Rajjan and almost asked for his card; and then I remembered that the world was his home. He might not understand the meaning of 'permanent residence'. I climbed up the temple stairs and went to the chai wala for a hot cuppa.