Have you seen Jonathan Spollen? Missing in Rishikesh since February 3rd, 2012

In this day & age of instant communication, it is becoming increasingly rare to have a loved one, friend, family member not 'check in' within a reasonable period of time. Thus we can give families the benefit of the doubt & believe them when a situation has been deemed serious enough for public/professional help to be summoned.

However there are instances/places in the world, especially in India, where communications are still more than an issue & also various spiritual/mental states where it's advantageous/therapeutic to block all 'external noise/influence' for extended periods of time.

I don't think Ananda was meaning to sound as harsh as he has here...

I would also be happy to hear from the parent why they are concerned, is it a uncharacteristically long gap between contact.

Are there other reasons for concern...

I do think it's a good idea for those away on long travels to have something set up at home, whereby they are in regular contact, even if its just a mail once a week.
However not all do this and it's really quite common for people just to get caught up in something harmless yet consuming and just forget folks back home. Not something I agree with, as it's quite insensitive. But you're on holiday, the sun is shinning, you're with a great group people and you feel timeless and comfortably adrift in your "time"....

Because of the distances and the unknown fears involved, parents will fret, it's only natural.

But sometimes their fears are not realised, thankfully. Let us hope this is the case here.

I'm in Delhi next week so feel free to drop me a line if I can help.

Take your magnifying glass and deerstalker with you and head up to Rishikesh.

<cross-posted with a few>

Well, yes. Can only concur that it must not be forgotten that, under some circumstances and in some parts of the world, it is quite possible for a person to not "phone home" all the time. (One of my pleasures in travel is actually not to hang around in web cafes and stuff all the time. And then in parts of India, this may indeed be tricky if not impossible. Then three weeks may indeed fly by, perhaps you thinking all the time "Oh I'll go to that next town to take care of it tomorrow." Then again I'll surely keep my loved ones up-to-date, but, that's just me.)

So it's something to take into consideration. However, I'd be surprised if it hadn't been, and I'd so far just go by what mom & dad have told us, and if dad is now ready to take a flight there, I'm sure they didn't come up with that overnight.

Can only say David & Lynda, good luck with it again. David, you did get your visa to there in order, right? (At such short notice, I mean. Daft remark perhaps, but it would be another painful hindrance if it were overlooked. People sometimes don't realize a visa is needed at all to visit there.)

Can't New Zealanders get a visa on arrival? Oh hold on, perhaps he's not native there.

Ah, good thought. Yes, apparently they can; but would depend on nationality/residency, indeed, I guess. http://www.immigrationindia.nic.in/visa_on_arrival2.htm.

Sorry that some people think I was insensitive not helpful! All I read was that he hasn't written in 3 weeks and he was supposed to go trekking? Where's the worry?

Unless someone has got more info then me, then please do tell.

And like I said, hope all turns out well!

I agree 3wks isn't a long time especially if trekking,he could be huddled up in some small village in the hills with no internet connection,it's still possible in this day & age. I hope this is the case,but i'm a parent myself,so understand dad's concern.

It says may have gone trekking:

The only other clue in this context might be that:

could indicate family communications being not all that, however it's not for us to analyze, nor am I sure that's what his parents are looking for right now, nor do I think they deserve that. Besides, it may as well simply be a just and heartfelt general call by them: One does meet folks out there who are a little (or down to terribly) lax about the homefront.

I'm sure they've given it their due thought, and their own analysis. (And if something were amiss, how many more weeks would any of us suggest they give it?) David & Lynda: Once more, good luck.

Did I really sound harsh!

I really thought that I was the only one speaking rationally, considering the few facts that we know.

And 3 weeks isn't long for me to keep contact if I'm traveling for a long period

I mean bringing up the Ryan Chambers story should really make them feel better!

Others perception Ananda but I can see where they might have thought your post harsh.
I didn't really and see your logic, after all it's only a matter of a week or so since we had a similar story that ended up a communication problem.

To offer good advice or indeed consolation I would like to know a little more too.

Man... did mom & dad ask if the IndiaMike psychological or cross-examination team would step in, please?

Sure, it's good to offer them various angles to look at this. Beyond that, I'm sure they're adults who have given this good thought (not to mention plenty a worry) and come up with their own conclusions. Would you hop on a plane to Rishikesh just like that, presumably having lots of better things to do?

This is hardly the thread for you to start an argument Mach. I for one would find it comforting if experienced travellers were telling me there may not be need for concern & it's fairly normal for people to go AWOL for 2 or 3wks while travelling in the Himalaya's.KK

Lets stick to practical advice for David folks please!

Lots of valid points have been made but if this thread turns into too much of a discussion amongst ourselves then David is possibly less likely to come back with further information or questions for us.

I hope the Indiamike trekkers and people with contacts in the Rishikesh area are getting this out on Facebook and via whatever other channels too.

David, don't pay attention to the fencing & 'thinking out loud' that goes on here at times. It's fairly commonplace in any thread where the community really cares about the issue at hand. And We do care!

Just take notes of the information/points you find useful & ignore the rest. The really good news is that the more posts, the more views, & the more views - the faster the 'word of mouth' gets around.