Escape to Bali
The place for an authentic
Panchakarma experience in Balihttp://www.oneworldayurveda.comBali’s best retreat centre since 2003
offering over 50 retreats every yearhttp://www.oneworldretreats.comPHOTOS: TODOR TSVETKOV/ISTOCKPHOTO.COM;ANNABELLE DELA CRUZ-BUCHANAN
restaurants like the German Bakery and Little Buddha. Both of
these are a real treat with a plethora of Indian and fusion
offerings and open views of the Ganaga River. Try the veggie
burgers at either and you’ll be a happy hippie.
Away from the tourist areas, the locals eat at the aptly named
Rajasthani Restaurant in Rishikesh town. This place has the
most gluttonous and amazing food in true North India style. The
food is cheap, filling and quick with the dessert window filling
your desire for something sweet. Not the healthiest choice, but by
far the most authentic – and in my opinion, the most delicious.
The yoga tourist favourite is A Tavola Con Te, often referred
to as the Italian Pizza Place. A little out of the way, this gem was
opened by an Italian lady who trained her staff to cook proper
Italian style Pizza. It’s a bit more expensive, but some of the best
pizza you’ll ever eat.
Thali Ashram is a travellers’ favourite and boasts some of the
best Thali you’ll ever eat, for less that $1.50. For the western touch
head to Pure Soul - it could have been transported from hippie
hubs Ubud or Byron Bay. It’s a little more expensive and little less
generous with it’s portions but is the familiar, clean, organic food
every yogi craves.RISHIKESH TIPS
Getting around in Rishikesh is easy. Walk between popular spots
if you have time or consider hiring a scooter to make these trips
quick and exciting. Don’t forget to utilise shared rickshaws going
from one bridge to the other (the biggest walk). Jump in with a
group or with one that’s taking multiple passengers and pay only
10 to 20 cents per ride.Choosing a teacher training to do in Rishikesh is
a challenging task. Rumour has it there are now over 122
to choose from with quality varying vastly!Some tips to find the right one for you:
- Practice with a few different teachers and styles before
signing up - Pick a school with a lead teacher who runs the training -
not a business that is cashing in on the yoga boom - Talk to people there about their experience
The best way to do Rishikesh is to go, get your hands dirty and
make some new friends. There are always amazing things
happening below the surface that you’ll only find when you
immerse yourself in the community.
Leaving Rishikesh is always bittersweet. For me, there’s a
sense of relief as the sanity of the west lays on the horizon, as well
as sadness as I leave the chaos of my yoga home. It’s a place
people often come back to again and again to experience more of
its offerings and that sense of community and (inner) calm.
Coming back to Rishikesh is like coming home—and in fact for
many of us, it is.Stefan Camilleri is a yoga teacher trainer with
experience teaching specialist workshops, retreats,
trainings and master classes around the world.
Between facilitating trainings, Stefan travels the
world in search of new adventure and inspiration,
studying in the US and India in modern and classical
Iyengar Yoga. http://www.stefancamilleriyoga.com