Been to quite a few places in the past six years, Singapore, Cambodia, Frankston,Laos, Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia, North Dandenong, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, and now India. Amritsar is a stand-out place.
In a frantic theatrical way, it is a very spiritual place, obviously with the Sikh Holiest place the Golden Temple, being the highlight. There have not been too many sights that we have been back to three times, in three days. Even the free feeds didn't sway the decision.
An apparent hang over from British rule, is the paperwork required every time anything needs doing....being guests of the Indian government it would be churlish to be grumpy about the time spent, however after a long day of travel, and a his and hers registration forms...etc etc. .oiyvey...
Whilst we pride ourselves on being independent travellers the trip so far has been astounding for the warmth and hospitality of our hosts, as arranged by our yogi Suyra.
The train journey from Amritsar, six hours, was un eventful and relatively stress fre, as we acclimatise to India Rail. The Sikh conductors on this line wear brown turbans.....just to confuse me.
Now brave enough to jump off the train at a two minute stop to get breakfast snacks...Some advice if you ever visit India...don't lie on the railway tracks in India..especially when a train is crossing over you...the toilets dump onto the tracks.
We were met at the Haridwar Railway station by Surya's dad, Ajay a distinguished gentleman, in local garb, bundled us into taxi, out of the heat and through the town. Haridwar is a very holy place for the Hindu, is situated on the mid upper reaches of the Ganga, or as we know it, the Ganges. We think we have seen big rivers in Australia......nothing like this, it is, in several tributaries, huge.
We were taken to the Dev Sanskriti University where Surya did his Health and Yoga science degree. This is also where Suyra's dad donated much time as a civil engineer, to the building program, that he has a residence on site, and we are guests of the Pro VIce Chancellor, and given a suite, in the Chanellors guest house. It is very impressive in a basic way. Way better than we would have chosen for ourselves and are very thankful.
After registering with all the paperwork at the Pro Vice Chancellor's office we were given refreshments and then after a tour of the campus, we were welcomed by Dr Chimay Pandya, who was a very engaging and impressive man he also gave us a brief run down on the history of both the All world Gayatri Pariwar and the University that rose from it. The former organisation nas ninety million followers world wide and the basis is a moral spiritual ethos, irregardless of ones faith ethnicity etc. it also supplies free medical and social assistance, including disaster relief, when required anywhere in India. The University is based on the theory that science without spirituality is destined for trouble, so every student of the university undertakes to provide three months of free service to the community at the conclusion of their course. Whilst there is a fee structure, it is heavily subsidised by the former organisation, and will provide for free if required....look it up on the internetty thing
A tour of both campus of 600 acres, was clean tidy, quiet peaceful and amazingly respectful of the teachers and Ajay seemed to know everybody. The campus is self sufficient in dairy, vegetables, water, some paper supplies, has a what is presumed to be a "disabled industries", as well as teaching trades such as dairy farming, weaving, clothes making and other cottage industries.
There is also a large industry in at-cost Auvedic medicines(herbal medicines of the Hindu/ Indian ilk) a large acupressure walk.....large sumat best described as a very big sundial. It has up to three thousand students over the two campus.
We then had tea at the canteen, and to bed
Bandwidth is pretty light on here, so I have not added any pictures.
The next blog will include our next day 5 am Yagev service, a meeting with the Chancellor, and several other important people on campus, two breakfasts, visit to Monsoorie( and a public swim in a waterfall ) Risakesh (supposed to be the world headquarters of yoga) on the bank of the Ganges. And plans to travel to a place called Monseri, three villages short of the Chinese border, near Nepal....stay tuned....
BTW. There was a listener question as to why the border guards hats were orange.. Apparently it is just because it is one of the colours on the Indian Flag.
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