Rishikesh

We had most of the day Thursday (September 3rd) to spend in Rishikesh. At this point we were feeling like we'd been racing around, so it was nice to slow it down and just take it easy in a spot that caters to tourists. We still spent time in the car this day but we didn't leave until 3 pm.There are many popular mandirs and temples in Rishikesh this is the view of one of them from the outside. We didn't end up going in any of them as we spent most of our day eating, wandering around and getting on the internet for the first time in almost a week (we each had over 50 new emails).

I liked how these Gods are depicted playing the shakers. I bet some people believe you can attain divinity through percussion.

This monkey jumped out at me in an aggressive manner just before i got this shot. I think he thought I was going to mess with him, then he realized I just wanted a close up so he posed for me.
One of the beatific "Jhula's" or temples in Rishikesh with the Ganges and Sita in the foreground.

This bridge is busy all day with foot traffic two-wheelers and monkeys.


Dipping in the Ganges

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Based on a description we received of the location, we thought one of these two places (pictured in the next three photos) was where the Beatles stayed when they came to Rishikesh, but we couldn't confirm this with anyone. Now that I've done an internet search I don't think these are the place, but they're certainly of that era.



The view from the spot where we ate breakfast.






Food that caters to tourists is awesome. We were ready for a change from paranthas, pakoras and other fried food for breakfast. This meal only cost us a few bucks.

This is the place where we ate lunch. It's right along the Ganges and we saw kayakers and rafters while we were eating. We had just been wandering around and getting soaked in the rain that's why we appear wet.


I ordered "onion rings" and I got this. They're basically pakoras with just onions on the inside. In this picture you can also see the "Guacamole" in the upper left. It was basically smashed avocado with masala in it.

Food

Whereas most of this blog is in chronological order, I'm taking a break from the Bolivia posts and making this post about some of the food we had on this trip.

Featured here is one of the most popular foods in Chile, empanadas. These are smaller fried empanadas de queso (cheese empanadas). For the North American audience you can think of empanadas like hot pockets, only some are oven baked and some are fried. Pretty much every country in South America has it's own version of empanadas. Also shown here is freshly made cantaloupe and watermelon juice.

Here is something that is purely Chilean: Mote con Huesillo! It's a sweet drink/dessert made from sun-dried peaches that have been reconstituted in water with sugar and had mote (husked wheat) added. These are served chilled in the summer time and are so good.


Kuchen, which is a German word for cake is hugely popular in Chile especially in the south where large populations of Germans immigrated. This one was home made by the people who rented us the cabin in Pucón, and stuffed with local grown blackberries.
Ah umitas! For those of you from New Mexico I can most closely relate these to tamales, but they are different. They seem to be made from corn meal and freshly mashed corn along with various other ingredients, most commonly including zucchini. All of this is wrapped in the corn husks and then tied together by strings.
Porotos Granados con Pebre, or Select Beans with Pebre sauce, is the name given to this dish. As far as I know any soup made with porotos (common beans) as it's main ingredient can be called porotos granados, it also commonly uses a squash like winter squash or pumpkin. Pebre is a sauce made from oil, vinegar, water, onion, cilantro, jalapeño and ground aji pepper.


Salsa that was served with fried empanadas de queso.
More empanadas de queso, any one hungry yet?


Some deserts we picked up from a sweet shop in downtown Santiago. These are like cookies sandwiched together with manjar (similar to dulce de leche or caramel) and sprinkled with shredded coconut.
More sweets.
Freshly picked Almonds from our portion of an old Almond farm in Pirque just outside Santiago.

I've already made comments about how expensive things were in San Pedro de Atacama. While the cost of food is expensive you do get quite exquisite food. This is a pesto pulenta topped with cheese and served with vegetables.


The desert they served with the above meal. Since I don't partake of caffeine, hence no chocolate, Sita enjoyed this to herself.

Santiago Market

The day after returning from Pucón we went to a food market in Santiago that is kind of like farmers markets in the US. It sets itself up once or twice a week on a busy street near Sita's parents house and in other locations the rest of the week. One of the lanes of the street in each direction is informally turned into parking for the market. Also, as usual in Santiago, there is someone there to help you park and, supposedly, make sure your car is not broken into. You are required to tip this person at the end of your stay, as this is how they make their money. I say that they supposedly secure your car because sometimes these are the people that break into your car and paying them just ensures that they themselves don't break into your car the next time you park there. In this particular case the parking helper also had an additional service, he was carrying around large pieces of cardboard which he would put over the windshield of vehicles that didn't have sunvisors. This also may have been a way for him to identify which vehicles he helped park, or have people call on him, so that he could then return to collect money when they left. Unfortunately, I didn't get a picture of this scene this time, but I thought this would be a good time to introduce this concept to those unfamiliar with it. Those who have been to Mexico City would already be familiar with this routine as it's the same there. You always need coins in your car in Mexico City and Santiago, because there is a risk involved in not paying these people.

Us arriving at the market.
Sita giving me a look like, "you're already taking pictures?".
Some of the choices at the market and their prices.
Sita and Slyvia checking out the giant zucchinis at 5 for 500 pesos this is a pretty good deal (this is just under $1 USD).
Hari checking out the variety.
Sita looking around while Slyvia is searching for someone to ask about the bell peppers.
These cantaloupes were huge and you could get four for 1000 pesos (less than $2).
Another view of the market.
Some people took advantage of this venue to sell things other than food. There were cheap toys and other household items, but there was also black market media. Rather than having the DVDs and other media sitting on a cloth right there for you to buy as they do in NYC, they instead have a list for you to choose from. I presume that they fetch the DVD for you right then once you've made your selection, but it could also be that they burn it right then and there.
A little fancier than a text list is the cover art of DVDs and CDs.
Homer Simpson is a popular icon here as well, in fact maybe even more popular, I've seen more shirts and images of the Simpsons here in Chile than I usually do in the US. It reminds me of the early 90s when everybody in the US had some kind of Simpsons related article of clothing.
One last glimpse of the market as we were leaving.