Traveling on

Summer Adventures 2011

2011-07-27T16:23:00.000-07:00

My summer trip at the end of July took me to Julie's in Iowa for a few days (Thursday 21st July to Sunday 24th July), then on to meet up with Akiko in Denver for a day (24-25 July), on to Christopher's in Colorado Springs (Monday 25th-Friday 29th), and back north to Fort Collins for the weekend WOSA reunion (Friday 25th to Monday 1st August), with Jan picking me up on Monday (we might also see Bruche H) to take me to an afternoon flight from Denver to Charlottesville.

Beach 2011

2011-06-19T09:56:00.000-07:00

This year's trip to the North Carolina Outerbanks beach was the second week of June 2011. But it began with a day trip to the Duke University library to physically access and view their Collection of South Asia pamphlets on Friday the 10th June 2011. Then Saturday was a drive straight east, near the end through (surprise to us) the burning peat fire of Pains Bay in the Alligator River park, just before going over the bridge to Manteo and our rental house in South Nags Head.

Then the week at the beach, hanging out at the south Nags Head beach, Coquina beach, a beach near Pea Island, one near Frisco (Sandy Bay), and the beach nearest to the town of Ocracoke. Thursday we had a nice trip to see the Art Show at Avon's Hatteras Realty, with Stephanie Kiker, Scott Gibb, Nancy Costanza, and other artists.

We cooked great evening meals of fish and shrimp from Bill's, Austin, and Whalebone seafood markets, as well as dining out at Sooey's BBQ, Nags Head Pier, Thai Moon, and Sugar Creek restaurant.

The water was very cold in the north, but much warmer on the southern beaches; shells were almost nil. We had smoke in our area the first 3 days, but not later when it shift south or was dispersed by Friday morning rain. That was new - and Deej kept a watch on the smoke situation via the Internet.

Then the trip home Saturday the 18th June 2011, on very crowded, bumper to bumper Interstates (but it kept moving along most of the way).

A nice vacation.

The KhajuAgraYana epic - a further episode in the Ramayana

2010-12-10T11:47:00.000-08:00

An epic tale about joining Rama Robert in an month long exile from home (USA) to the distant wild and exotic forests, ashrams, mountains, cities, and cultural monuments of a far off land (north India)

The companions - Sita Suzanne (left at home), Sita Alice, Sita Anne, Sita Claudia, Sita Gail, Sita Jeanie, and Sita Kathy, with Laxman Abe, Laxman Llyn, and Laxman Philip.

Our Hunuman army of assistants and helpers- Uday agents, tour guides, drivers, cooks, hotel clerks, and luggage carriers.

Ravana - in many guises, with one of his ten faces for each of the ten of us personally - to tempt us through beggars, rug salesmen, hawkers; to offer us unclean succulant, tasty vegetables and sweats and drinks; to invade our bodies with colds, and sniffles, and germs, and diareaha; to make us too cold without space heaters, or too hot without air conditioning; to force us to pay extras, or too much, or carry on bargaining or haggling far too long and unbending; to make luggage carriers argue and argue without carrying the luggage; to randomly change wonderful smooth wide roads into bumpy, rough roads for mile after mile; to present us sights of poor, staving, and suffering humans and animals, un-cared for, ignored, left to themselves. These and many more things the evil Ravana presented to us or did to us. BUT we struggled and overcame all of his attempts through our individual and collective heroic efforts.

The places we went, and saw, the food we ate, the people we met, -

And what we did, and learned, and experienced, and thought, and

The exotic India trip - topics

2010-12-10T11:19:00.000-08:00

The exotic India trip - topics (thoughts in the weeks after the trip)

What are some of the topics, or themes through out the trip

Food

Lodging

Monuments

Shoes

Illnesses

Others

What's new, what's old

21 November 2010 Arrival home

2010-12-10T11:16:00.000-08:00

Sunday 21 November 2010

What a trip - long. 14.5 hours direct flight after some hour or more delay. Almost left my good camera, as my seat rows were called and I started to rush to the line - until someone spoke up and said, you left your camera on the floor. So went back and got it. Guy next to me zonked out right away, while aisle guy seemed to be restless. Then, after supper, I went off to sleep, waking and needing to go to the bathroom. The next seat guy was wide awake and stayed that way watching a television series on his laptop the rest of the way. It was dark, really dark almost the whole trip - couldn't see anything up near the pole.

In Newark I had a long wait, from about 5 am to 1 pm flight to Richmond. Long, long lines waiting to go through customs. About 1 hour further wait until my two suitcases came through, so I could pass them on for delivery to the Richmond flight. Sat around, and sat around, and sat around. Toe hurting badly. Did some Internet as I signed up for a day on Boing at $8. Checking in with Deej via living room webcam, as she took off for shopping at Short Pump around 10 am.

Flight to Richmond fine - but wonder why they always seem to go south, down along the coast almost to Norfolk, and then turn and head back up to the northwest to get to Richmond.

Arrived early so had my luggage already as Deej came through the door. Great to see her again. Nice ride home,dosing some. Stayed awake until about 11 pm.

A long, long trip, but good to be home.

20 November 2010. Delhi and fly

2010-12-03T09:42:00.000-08:00

Saturday 20 November 2010

Lunch with Crispin, Aya, and Dr. Datta at the International Center, as arranged by phone calls last night and this morning.

While doing Internet in the lobby, notice Ruth Lacy's sister! and she, Jessie, recognizes me! She's staying there with her two daughters, coming from their time at Woodstock in the last week with the Class of 1965. Photo somewhere.

I pack and take my stuff to the lobby and pay off any Internet and other expenses. Take a auto to Khan Market as the desk says there was no Metro to it. Walk around Khan Market and end up buying some bracelets from a hall way vendor. Walk over to International Center.

Very wonderful thali lunch with the three - good, interesting conversation on a variety of academic and non-academic topics.

A tuk tuk with Crispin and Aya to the Khan Market and then I search out and find the Metro station 3 bocks from the market. Get on the crowded Metro to the Central Secretariat station and then another very, very crowded one to Rajiv Chauk. Almost stampeded back into the train at Rajiv Chauk - wow, whew!

19 November 2010 Delhi

2010-12-03T09:28:00.000-08:00

Friday 19 November 2010 Shopping day

first to the Delhi Haat or Market, down by INA. Take metro or Rajiv Chauk and transfer to Gurgaon-headed train. Emerge not knowing where the Haat is, and finally ask a auto-rickshaw wallah, who says, right there, around that wall! Have a momo Sikkim lunch, but frustrated because the ATM doesn't work and I'm out of money. Buy some slippers and little things.

Metro back up to Rajiv Chauk around 2:30 pm and go down Janpath to the Cottage Emporium and shop for pillow cases, clothes, Diwali brass lamps, etc. On way back to Rajiv Chauk, buy a suitcase on Janpath. Back to Florence Inn.

18 November 2010 Lucknow tour

2010-12-03T09:21:00.000-08:00

Thursday. Deepak gives me a great tour of the city of Lucknow.

Go to the Residency and walk around

Pick up Holly and Anushka and go to the big main masjid and mosque complex, the Imambara.

Back to the city, and get and eat some mithai mukan on the street with Holly near the old Lucknow bazaar gate - really wonderful taste and treat. Start walking into the main old bazaar lane, but most shops closed for BakrId, so go back to the gate and Holly buys some sweets at the sweet shop. One of the clerks says he recongnizes me (though I have not been in Lucknow since I was about 9 years old!).

Drive past Isabella Thoburn College, and to a really big, wonderful Mall - just like in the States in many ways - and have a McDonald's lunch. They point out the net above the first floor ceiling, to prevent suicide attempts for the upper 4th or 5th floor balconies.

A visit with Deepak's uncle and aunt - really interesting folks, with lots of questions to me.

Back to pick up my knapsack, and to the airport for the 2:30 pm flight; but get to wait for the one-hour delayed flight back to Delhi. Pleasant flight - smooth and not packed. First flight where one needs to pay for any food or drink.

Get picked up by Uday - and taken to the Florance Inn for my new single room. Looks nice, but no Interet access from it.

17 November 2010 to Lucknow

2010-12-03T09:07:00.000-08:00

Wednesday. 17 November 2010.

Fly to Lucknow on Go Air - delayed flight

Deepak picks me up, and goes and gets Holly

Buy Lucknow famous Chikan outfits, 2 for me, one purple one for Deej (largest size), and Deepak gets his, hers, and kids for his friends.

Spend night at the Singh's place

Metro, Library of Congress. Group flys off

2010-11-16T08:47:00.000-08:00

16 November 2010 Tuesday

Grab Metro with Robert, Janpath's Tibetan Market (mask), America Center Library of Congress with Lalita, as B and Mary are already there, Lunch at Rajdhani. Tour of LC. More Janpat - Ganesh's and suitcase. Supper with group at Spicy Restaurant. Chocolate for departing group - they fly off.

Street kids, Humayan's tomb, Kutab Minar, Rajdhani

2010-11-16T08:43:00.000-08:00

15 November 2010 Monday

Visit to slum area with guide about street children – fascinating, what a life! Lunch with Alice of quick puri and subzi for Rs 36. Humayan tomb, Kutab Minar and iron pillar, Rajdhani restaurant with Cate and Jack. Get bag left in storage and laundry.

Delhi tour Masjid, Rajghat, Baha'i temple, Dances

2010-11-16T08:38:00.000-08:00

14 November 2010 Sunday

Drive by booksellers lined the streets in old Delhi, on the way to the Jama Masjid (largest?) and visit it, Rajghat, Baha'i Temple, Dances of India, Anjlink thalli supper.

To Delhi - Memorial and dinner

2010-11-15T09:57:00.000-08:00

13 November 2010 Saturday

To Delhi by train, Florence Inn, Delhi Smriti, Crafts Museum, dinners.

Up at 5:30, pack, shower.

6 Breakfast

6:30 leave, rather 6:40 after all other open busses leave for R Park

7 at train station. Stand around until Shatabdi comes at 7:40 instead of 7:10.

Boring ride as window seat but next to post and a very dirty window. Use computer to do some work on copying off from Robert’s card and adding the tiger and other photos. More 10 Nov day photo selection and revision, combos

1:20 arrive – cursing speed around 70 mph

Collect bags and off to Florence Inn

Quick sandwich lunch and off to Gandhi Smriti – which I found disappointing and boring – lots of photos, illustrations, little essays, his bed, his last footsteps in stone. With bad English, over done . . . Over to Craft museum for a couple hours – Bengali baul singers, Madhya Pradesh painters, little knick knacks

Then to supper for the group and an interesting restaurant, as I head off to Kailash’s, phoning him, I’m sorry to be so late. But drunk or idiot cabby, taking me wrong place first for agreed Rs. 200, the to Kailash’s – fracas with cabby at Kailash’s door

Finally to very pleasant, and good Indian meal with Kailash and Abha around 9 to about 10:15 talking about hour family and friends. A pre-arranged Rs. 350 cab got me home around 11 pm.

Rs. 15 Kingfisher beer in the room as English Wine Shops closed at 10.

Half hour Internet, some with Deej off to DC visitor / seller Kay with Beth. Send of photo of us at supper to Walter and Deej. And put up on FB

Tiger in Ranthambhore

2010-11-15T09:53:00.000-08:00

12 November 2010 Friday

Ranthambhore all day – a morning 3.5 hour run through the jungle, and an afternoon run also. Then swim.

Up at 5:30 am for tea and cookies at 6, leaving at 6:30 am in an open bus. (fracas)

Pick up some 8 others from another hotel (Dev ??), people from Washington and California states on the Indo-Asian tour. Guide and driver very good. Into the park -- see deer, peacocks, langurs. Finally spot a tiger walking slowly from left to right through the jungle about 150 yards away and I take burst shots of it. Best photo of everyone’s’.

Then no more. Back by 11, breakfast and I leave to walk and get beer and walk on and on to a Rs. 60 per hour Internet place. Upload some stuff – Taj and Fatehpur photos and alert Bryson on ‘purchases.’ Back getting a bargained Rs. 150 elephant bag.

Leave at 2 and by 6 for our afternoon run, this time further up, on the right on the plateau on Sector 4, instead of sector 6 lower down and to the left where we went in the morning. The guards and entry stations seem a peculiar ritual – each guide jumping out to make sure they get the approval of their group’s forms. Then their jeeps or open buses can take off. There seem to be about 30 total jeeps and buses during each visiting times.

No tiger at all this time – see white spotted owl, 2 separate crocodiles, and a baby crock, more deer and peacocks and langurs, also birds. See sun setting on way back.

Still sniffles but maybe a little less, but toe is horrible.

Go for swim in the pool in the middle court yard and Robert takes photo after he’s had his afternoon tea there.

Supper at 730 pm – then try Internet without success. Write Deej to call Walter to call Kailash, etc about Saturday supper – since phone calls to Kailash from my phone just ring and ring

Fatehpur Sikri and into Rajasthan

2010-11-15T09:51:00.000-08:00

11 November 2010. Thursday

Fatehpur Sikri and travel to Ranthambhore.

Up and shower /shave, breakfast at 7:30 am, leave at 8 for Fatehpur Sikri on pretty good 4 lane road, arriving at 9:30 am. Gail sits with me

Tour Fatehpur for a couple hours – non-religious part and then religious part, amazing town. Photo of Emperor Shah Philbar with his 9 Jewels or Chiefs (fellow travellers in the group). Stub toe badly at the Chisti tomb with sock off. Back to vehicle and Park.

Now a long, long road trip – mostly on good roads, 4-lane, some toll, with bus doing 40 mph, but 3 sections really bad dirt roads, bumpy, wash boards. Lunch stop about 2 a place in the middle of nowhere, in Rajasthan and now colorful skirts and turbans. We head west from Agra, but turn south just before Jaipur, for about 2 more hours in the dark, getting to Ranthambhore Regency around 7. I had bad sniffles all the way, and the toe is aching. Super at the Regency, try their Internet, but no good. To bed, sick, tired, frustrated.

What started out as a good day – fantastic Mughal city and architecture, and watching the Rajasthani countryside go by – turned sometimes into a bumpy road as sniffles and pain engulfed me.

Taj Mahal, front and back

2010-11-15T09:49:00.000-08:00

10 Nov 2010 Agra

A wonderful day seeing the Taj, going to a marble inlay shop, lunch at Only Restaurant, over to see the Baby Taj, then around to view the Agra fort from the outside, and across the bridge to see the Taj from the back side – and watch the sun set from that garden. Supper and go to Kohinoor jewelers, so others could buy some . Back for a swim. Wow, those Mughals were amazing – culture, architecture, flowers, gardens, designs and designs.

A boring list of when, what

7:15 am up and off to walk, getting 2 water bottles and 1 coke

745 Shower

8 breakfast

840 shave

930 bus to Taj, battery taxis, tour with Vivek

11:30 to a marble inlay house, see activity and look at objects; didn’t get the $25,000 2-foot high inlay elephant.

1 Lunch at the Only Restaurant – bamboo walls and ceiling, Rajasthan boy and player greet us

2 To baby Taj – more inlay wonders and designs

4 to back side – to view the Taj from across the Jamuna in a garden

5:30 back to hotel

6 swim by myself in the Mansingh hotel pool in the back - large, swim one end to other

6:30 to jewelers – boring to me

7:30 supper at Multi-Cuisine restaurant

9 back to hotel

Getting bad sniffles –feel rotten.

The splendors of Khajuraho and Orcha

2010-11-09T10:28:00.000-08:00

6 and 7 November 2010 Khajuraho and Orcha, Saturday and Sunday

Our Friday visit to the temple, getting blessed by the priest and given Prasad was the real thing – of present-day Khajuraho. Saturday, then, was the real thing of Khajuraho past – the Chandelas and their architecture. Then on to Orcha on our bus for 5 hours – and the real thing of Orcha past – the Bundelas and their architecture. And of course our group, the 10 of us.

Off after breakfast to the main temple site – and our guide who was both very knowledgeable and patient. He gave us a full background on the Chandela rulers, their ideas of Hindu architecture, the levels of grounded in earth, common human beings, the erotic between earth and the gods, sometimes striving to bliss, sometimes grounded in lust. He showed us all sorts of panels, what they depicted and meant – humorous some, soldiers young unafraid as they marched to war, older men anxious, or fearful, or even turning back and away from war. The 5 stages of the lower to upper spire and inner sanctuary. Women in various poses. And on. And then he let us loose after about 1.5 hours to look at the similar other temples, not as intact as the first, but with similar styles, depictions and meanings. All very impressive, huge buildings, put together without mortar or glue of any kind.

Then we were off to the smaller number of Western temples, Hindu temples which had been taken over and reconfigured somewhat for Jain purposes and Jain temples. A nice long explanation of the rise of Jainism and its great popularity, and even continuing today in Gujarat, home of Gandhi and his Jain mother, and Karnataka, home of the Outsources, The wealthy Jains of Indian, harming no living creature and involved with money and investments, etc. Our guide showed us more unique sculptures, of the three body curved pose, and the woman putting on mascara – just the thing for Jeanie. We sat outside one of the temples as others of our group took off both shoes and socks (harm no living thing) and went in for a few minutes. And we saw the 5 colored Jain flag.

Back to our hotel Ramada for lunch, Robert and I sharing a pulau, dal, rice, and naan. Others were trying Western meat dishes. A rest period – I rested for a few minutes – but went to sleep, mainly from about 3 to 4:30 pm when the cleaning crew knocked on the door and I grabbed my stuff and left.

The Ramada was a very nice modern place – huge reception hall, nice large dining room with a good menu, not too over prices. Sometimes difficult to find our rooms through long corridors twisting every 10 rooms or so, but we soon learned to follow some of the Warli large paintings, and the ping pong table. The staff was most accommodating, even chamber men speaking good English intoned greetings (where did they learn and practice that?). The one bad time, irritating was Sunday morning very early, someone’s kid running around the hall way yelling, laughter and waking all of us. The other irritant, new Internet until the very last minutes before we left.

I had taken a bicycle rickshaw in the early morning to try to connect to the Internet at Shiva’s near the temples, across from the lake, but got there too late to do anything, plus he had no wifi or way to connect my computer. So, I waited for the bus to pick me up on the way to the temples, but our guide Pravan arrived on his motor bike, so I jumped on his back seat and went to the parking bus. Another type of transportation besides car, train, airplane, rickshaws. At 4:45 pm I hired the same bicycle rickshaw driver to take me to Shiva’s but there were Divali barriers and activities, so I stopped, before getting to Shivas, at the advertised WiFi, and connected on the café’s second story roof overlooking the lake and I did my Internet while drinking a coke. Was able to speak to Deej briefly at the end of my hour there as she had just gotten up Sat morning in Charlottesville. Then quickly back to the Hotel on the rickshaw, on a ride much easier (for the driver coasting) downhill and through the darkening sky, cooling air, and quieting Divali crowds.

The bus took us about 5 blocks from the Sound and Light show, which was to start at 6:30 pm – and we walked in waiting a few minutes for our on chairs – the show of voices, sounds, music boomed from 4 or 5 locations as spotlights showed freezes or the Khajuraho temples – the narration about the origin of the Candela dynasty, their architects speaking, the British discovery of it after 7 or so centuries, etc.

Back through the gate at 7:30 pm, and joining Warren outside. Robert wasn’t feeling well so stayed back in the Hotel and we all decided on the bus to limit our time with Warren and his Indian family if possible. We apologized for Robert’s absence as wall as asking that the visit to the house be kept short. He agreed and we walked allies for several blocks to his friends family’s house. We talked to other family members and passed around the youngest to hold him for a few minutes. The daughter prepared glasses of water for us, but Warren said we should not drink it - rather prepare tea. More talking with the family, how old kids, how long been in Khajuraho, education system, daughter wanting to get married? Etc. The tea came and was fine. The youngest baby was passed around with glee. We were able to go into all the rooms of the first floor. And see some into the life of an urban family. We walked back to the bus and bade farewell to Warren and Sapna. Everyone felt the visit went well – Pravan said – bus will pick you up at 9. I told Robert and he said fine.

We had supper and went off to bed.

Sunday was a travel day from Khajuraho to Orcha and Orcha sightseeing. We grabbed the bus after breakfast around 9 and went the 90 or so miles mostly on pretty good roads – some four lane, most wide tar roads, with only one place narrow one lane when each direction of traffic had to negotiated who would get off the road more than the next – generally the heavily loaded trucks ruled, and tuk-tuks and motor bikes had to find their way. The area had low scrub and lots of fields, mostly looking barren without crops yet, though recently plowed. It was a sort of West Texas area with lots of cows, buffalo, goat herds, and even some lambs – an amazing large number of pasture animals for the area.

Halfway we stopped at a Hotel in the middle of nowhere – we sat and had chai, after some of the group bought different Indian wares. Off again for the second half of the journey, with a 20 minute stop at the Orcha railway crossing as a passenger train went through. Then the chaos and slow traffic as cars, buses, tuk-tuks, etc confronted each other filling up all the lanes going in both directions, butting heads. Went through the town and on to the very modern Orcha Resort, with a flutist playing for us and a black uniformed Rajasthan security guard saluting all of us as we entered.

The rooms were back through a winding corridor. Robert and my room was 124, and located after making 12 right, left, right, left turns. We freshened up a bit, and then lunch at 2, off on the bus to the Palaces and Forts of Orcha around 3:15 pm. Got of the parked bus and walked through the town and across the street. Our guide, David Williams, paid for our entrances, while I paid Rs 50 for two still cameras. Up to the Jahangir Mahal, the largest and highest overlooking Orcha and surrounding wall and out buildings. Guide David gave the usual stories and history, as well as describing how this architecture was Indo-Muslim, with plants and birds (Hindu) and geometric designs. Must about the Mughals coming in, and eventually moving the Bundela capital even further south away from Mughal armies. Gates, blue tiles, domed rooms, multi-stories. Explaining the Diwan-I Khas (vip audience) and the Diwan-I Am (common people’s audience) and showing where they were and where the ladies sat. Then the frescos on the ceilings in the Mahal down below, depicting scenes for the Hindu epics. Finally the spikes in the tall door of the fort’s entrance – put there against elephants butting their heads to break down the door. Also a purposeful sharp turn into the gate, preventing a runway for charging elephants.

Took photos of a mendicant on the bridge and gave him Rs 10. Others looked at brass items as I bought water and cokes. On to the shops for 20 minutes, Anne finding her perfect 4 pairs of shoes at competing shoe shops, each for around Rs. 500, compared to the Khajuraho pair for Rs. 1100. Robert bought some beautiful elephant hangings. I tried to bargain for a beautiful turquoise hanging from 750 to 350, but with no success, and then went in to find a plain shoulder bag, but none to be had. So finally settled on a bright orange one, selling for Rs 425, I asked 250, and got it for Rs 325. And put it on Facebook that night and Deej wrote back almost immediately – get one just like it for me – which, of course, I was unable to do. Then the ride back.

We rested and got ready for our 8 pm supper or did Internet stuff with the lobby’s wifi. But there was music

at the pool, so rushed out and Kathy was already there, joined soon by Alice and Claudia. A young (13/14 year old) girl sang coarsely and loudly in provocative way, as 3 male musicians played behind her – one with a cymbals clapper, one with drums, and the other with a harmonium. The sang out to her and she often repeated their verses while dancing back and forth across the stage, or gyrating, or spinning and spinning. Into their third song, she came down the steps and tried to invite all of us up there, and the women pushed me up and I grabbed Kathy to join me, went on stage and did some sort of line dancing with the girl – while Claudia and Alice laughed and giggled at us, meanwhile clicking their cameras away. A nice Bundela dance. The musicians bowed and thanked us as we went off to supper. With no audience, we heard no more music.

Super and getting ready for bed and off to bed.

What a day – the drive through the north Madhya Pradesh rural country side, the Bundela palaces, shopping and dancing.

From the cold Mussoorie mountain resort to hot erotic Khajuraho

2010-11-07T08:52:00.000-08:00

4 and 5 November 2010 Thursday and Friday

These two days were mainly traveling days, from Mussoorie to Dehra Dun by bus, to Delhi by overnight sleeper train, and flying to Khajuraho via Varanasi. So, most people had their first train experience, and that too an overnight sleeper, and the first experience flying in India.

Robert got up early and got tea and two fried eggs quickly around 7:20 am, and off walking for working with Woodstock students all day until the end of school at 2:30 pm. I joined the group around 7:40 am and ordered my usual omelet and chapatis, while most ordered their usual omelet and tea or coffee – some insisting and get black coffee. The concept of a ‘cup’ of tea or coffee is perhaps different in the States and India. In India, they bring you only one cup at a time, though very rarely you can convince the cooks or waiters to bring a pot (three cups) of tea or coffee. And it seems like forever for our orders to come – and the whoosh, they come all together or not. Like the black coffee, you sometimes have to order that twice or thrice – at least at the Himalayan Castle.

Then a respite until 10, when most of the shops start opening, so I worked on photos and blog stuff. Going down at 10, most of us trotted off, after I explained to some where the Four Season restaurant was, where we would meet at 12:30 pm for lunch. I got Alice and Gail positioned at the bottom of the hill to see the Kashmir Emporium, after Gail checked and found out that the Bengali sweet shop had no jalebis. Then off Anne, Abe, and I were to find maps at the Tourist office – which we walked to at a much faster pace than with Alice and Gail. Abe bought one map; I got another, both of us got Garhwal maps, and a free Mussoorie pamphlet with a nice map in the back. Then I asked the lady, after the required signing of the register, for 8 more maps – she said no, not that many, but then brought 3 more and eventually 3 more, for a total of 7, so someone is going to have to do without.

Since the trolley, or lift to the top of Camel’s Back, was right next to the Tourist office, we decided to pay the Rs. 50 each to go up and back to the top. Unlike last year when Deej and I were scrunched in with many other people in the car – we were by ourselves, as we slowly went up, noticing interesting signs of hotels, of monkeys, and other things. At the top, we went around and saw the snows which were not very visible through the haze, but good enough to see most. Photos, photos, photos of the snows again. We strolled around the top, fending off hawkers, such as those who wanted us to dress up in traditional Indian dress for photos. Very few people were up there – again compared to the shoving crowds of last year. Back down and off to going back to the middle of Mussoorie. Abe and Anne looked into some ‘antique’ shops, and the bought Kashmiri bags at one street vendor. Further along two more ‘antique’ shops, and I bought a small brass Ganesh for Rs. 80. Some more shopping since it was only 11:30 am – at the Bata store – nope no slip on shoes Anne had her heart set on getting, and then across the street to Kashmir Emporium. We had passed Gail and Alice at the top of the hill as Gail was buying a net like sweater. Anne and Abe looked at many elephant tea covers, deciding one one – and then some bobbles. I asked about Kashmir knives but they only had sets of 3.

Down to the Four Seasons for lunch – Jeanie and Claudia were sitting at the top of the stairs – the 4 Seasons was closed for the Winter, so we went across the street to the Tavern, trying to keep an eye out of Kathy, but she never showed up. The group loved the food and even a glass of wine – I was out of money so had to borrow, and also couldn’t repay a couple people their full change.At the end of the meal I opened up three custard apples or Sita Phuls, which I had just bought from my favorite Mussoorie corner fruit vendor, and we all delighted in the unique taste, spitting out the black seeds.

After lunch, I went up to pack and others went back to shopping or going around Mussoorie.

Early in the morning, after Robert had left, the driver for our cars down to Dehra Dun, had come by around 9:30 am and suggested we leave at 5 instead of 3:30 pm which Robert had set up – I told him fine, and I’d call him if we needed instead to leave at 3:30 pm. Robert returned around 3 and said 5 was fine.

I ran off around 4 to jostle with the crowds around the old Clock Tower, intent on taking a photo of where the old Tower stood. And eventually got a decent shot.

We were all ready at 5 with our suitcases, etc But one came. Then the first car came around 5:20 with Raja, and others came in the next 20 minutes. Diwali delays, you know. The trip down was mainly, unfortunately, in the dark. We wanted to go to the new Buddhist stupa in Dehra Dun, but ended up in some Buddhist monastery with a huge temple in Rajpur. I tried to answer questions, like why did Buddhism die out in India. Off we went for supper at, no not McDonalds, but the Hotel President next door. Most people liked the offerings and food there, though that is where we started to order 6 items and share them. Some people grumbled though.

Off to the Station around 9:30 pm, finding and sitting in the Waiting Room. I finally went with Raja to find the train around 10:15 pm and found it, but no seating list slapped on the side of the Second Class Sleeper, A1 and A2. Unfortunately our berths were not all in the same compartments or locations with each other, and even Jeanie was in a different boggie. But we went to check on her and she seemed fine talking to some friendly guys. Anne, Abe, and I had upper bunks close to each other, and I locked my suitcase under the seat on a cable in front of Anne’s. The guy in the bottom bunk was not friendly but chained his own suitcase under his lower bunk. The train pulled out a few minutes early and we all tried to sleep – I got some fairly good sleep, so did Anne, but Abe was mad at my loud snoring, until he realized it was the lower bunk guy making all the noise. He did not have a good night.

We were awaken at 4:45 am to hand over our blankets and stuff to the porter, as we’d be arriving soon. Ha! It wasn’t until 5:25 am we pulled into Delhi. Jumped off with our luggage, meeting Rahul of Uday Tours waiting for us. But where was Jeanie – nowhere to be found, Robert went through her boggie and looked all around. Finally about 15 minutes later, she arrived pulling her luggage. Rahul hired coolies to take our heavy luggage and we climbed the steps, went across the bridge, outside, and waited 15 minutes for our bus to come.

Off to the Florence Inn where everyone had spent their first night in India, but I hadn’t been there. They boots polished. I also arranged for a few things to be left in my shoulder bag in storage at FI – mainly hot sweat pants and shirt, and some papers.

The drive to the airport through the haze was interesting – up over by passes or fly-overs to the India Indian airport (not International).

Security checks in India are similar and not similar to the ones in the States – few of the security personnel know English week – lots of pointing and shuffling things in the bins going through, but we got through and off to the toilets to expel the lots of water we drank before giving up our water bottles at the check point. I search out to find an USB cable so I could work my external drive as one of its connectors has broken – no luck.

Finally we could go to our Gate 9 and jump on the bus for the long ride out to our Jet airplane. I luckily got an F seat by the window. But the haze was so bad, I hardly saw anything and the photos turned out pretty bad. We did see a US big cargo plane on the runway and then taking off, in preparation for Omaha’ s arrival in few days. We had Belgian and other European seat mates as we had a veg or non-veg lunch to Varanasi, leaving around 10:30 am and getting into Varanasi around 12:15 pm. Jeanie started to try to get off with the others leaving, thinking it was Khajuraho. More people replaced the Belgiums, this time Spanish people next to me. We landed after a unidentified sandwich snack around 1:15 pm.

Warren and his 12-year old girl, Sapna (dream) greeting us at the airport and garlanded us. Off to our hotel, the Ramada, outside Khajuraho by about 2 miles. What a nice place, modern and helpful BUT NO INTERNET! We were all exhausted and took naps. We learned more of Warren, a Woodstockite (Class of 1951) who has taken up residence here, 6 months of the year in the past several years, and then in Seattle for the other half year. I went into the bazaar with Robert for a few minutes by cycle rickshaw, wandering around the bazaar for a ½ hour before returning to the Hotel. I also quickly put on my swimming suit and ran down and slipped in with timed photo shot – it was cold as I swam from one end to the other in the shallow pool about 40 yards distant.

Off to Khajuraho, first to go with Warren to the active Khajuraho Shivite temple, to climb the steps (after taking off our shoes), join the Diwali crowd, to the top of the steps, to perambulate around the huge lingam, and crowds stood by chanting, accepting our tika mark from the priest and his Prasad, and then exiting. Warren wanted us to take and eat the ‘sacred’ Prasad. Off for fantastic performances of Indian dance – Gujarati, folk dances, classical India, Maharashtra, etc. and local tribal dances, plus a couple very nationalistic dances at a cultural center. We exited the theater, and Warren was absolutely furious with our guide, Pravan for not allowing our group to be influenced and captivated by local vendor boys. Quite a fracas in the street about that. After that we were off for supper at a restaurant, where Warren gave us his ‘story’ – a mystery why he was attracted back by some force back to India.

We had a supper and rode the bus home. I tried getting connected on the Internet. No way, the server was down. Diwali, you know. Come back and get it tomorrow morning.

Whew – the long car, train, air, car trip from Mussoorie to Khajuraho.

Woodstock School Day

2010-11-06T05:04:00.000-07:00

3 November 2010 Wednesday

Woodstock School day. Assembly at 8:30, tour of gym, walk to the top at Sisters bazaar, down the back side and Fairy Glen, lunch, then out to Flag Hill and climb it for dim views of the snows, back to Hanifl center for tea and talk about the environment, supper at Woodstock, and walk back to H Castle, buying a few things on the way.

Drank our chai and some breakfast of omelets and chapatis at 7:30 am, and I suggested all of us Woodstockites (Gail, Alice, Robert, and me) take a car rather than walk, since it would take some time to walk and then to register at the school. If we walked at 8 we might not make it. Left by car at 8:08, got there at 8:25, and ran up to Assembly in Parker Hall, as it was starting - A 7-minute homily on not complaining with a short scripture verse, then announcements and Merit awards, and admonition to stop spamming email (Happy Halloween, smell my feet) or else would be blocked for a week. Photos and tour of the Arts, English, and Performance center. Then down to the Office, with Abe and Anne having made their way on their own to the school, and a little bit of Internet in the Alum lounge, also later for a few minutes after lunch. There was some talk with staff and others about what were the results of the US election – no surprises as such. We also learned Obama is visiting India on the 8^th Nov, while we are here!

Emu (Alumni Office assistant) gave us a tour up to the Studio 59, where Robert had finished his first class and had an hour free. And he joined us to go up and see the new gym, which Alice especially found interesting. From there we went down to the gate for Gail, Alice, and Robert to jump in a car to Sisters bazaar, while Abe, Anne, and I started our slow steady trek up, straight up the hill. Past Redwood cottage, Victor Banerjee’s house, up the dirt path, sometimes steps. Greeted Robert as he was coming down, as we were almost at the top. Then to Prakash’s and chocolates, and hair conditioner. Gail and Alice showed up too.

We all walked east along the chakar to find the back side decent. Lo, and behold, there was Leon reading the paper, and he helped us find the right path after I had led them down a house path. Near the bottom we veered off to Fairy Glen, though Alice waited behind. Gail, Abe, and Anne liked Glen and the short hike to and from it. Down through Jabbarkhet’s back houses to Terhi road. Now the walk back to Woodstock for lunch at 12:30 pm. We all 10 sat at a table together. The students were all having their lunch on the other side of the Kashmir screens in the dining room.

Since there was no one it the office, Gail and Alice decided to walk down to College by themselves and see what they could see. Anne L helped a couple people get on spare or un-used computer, and I used my laptop. Until 1:30 pm when we went off to climb Flag Hill – Kathy, Claudia, Jeanie, Abe, Anne, and me. We took our time and got to the bottom of Flag Hill around 2:15, I took them down two false paths, but Anne finally found the real path up, and we followed that, resting ever now and then. They thought they were at the top with the first set of flags, but I pushed them on passed the flat camping area and up the ridge to the back side and the real top of Flag Hill – disappointment as the clouds over the snow peaks partly obscured their views. But we took photos of each other and flags. Now the way down on the real path, to Tehri road, and to the Hanifl Center where there was juice, peanut butter cookies, and curry puffs waiting for us around 3:45 pm. Alice and Gail turned up at the same time we got there, and then Robert came around 4:05 pm. Our substitute environmentalist speaker (Kutty was in the States), Darab Nagarwala showed up by 4:15 and we all sat in a circle asking him questions and enjoying the discussion. At one point Robert asked me to make sure the kitchen knew 10 more people were coming to Woodstock super, but I could not get the land or cell phone to call properly, so we asked Darab, and he did it quickly and then came back for 15 minutes more conversation.

Left to walk for supper around 5:40, since Robert needed to get back for the 6 pm supper and the workshop he was giving that night. Supper was rice with three types of curry and apple. I met Dan L and he gave me my backpack with my computer in it which Anne had nicely arranged so I would not have to carry it up and down Flag Hill.

We tried to arrange a taxi for Alice and Gail who were quite tired from the climb down and up from College, but the taxi said first it’d be 10 minutes and then 25 minutes, so they decided to walk also. Our walk back was in separate groups with Kathy leading my group with a flashlight which included Jeanie and Claudia. They didn’t like the climb up Tehri road to the Landour Hospital. Then they got excited by an “antiques” shop in upper Mullingar, and Jeanie and Claudia bought some stuff after about 20 minutes of looking, and Abe and Anne popped in, looking, liking, and buying some old lovely cigar box label. The bazaar was very, very busy and crowded with the pre-Diwali wares and firecrackers, pushing some of their displays out into the street. Random firecrackers boomed at us from nowhere, some close, some distant crackles. Jeanie especially wanted some chocolates so we stopped at Harisingh’s shop. Then further along I got a large bottle of beer (Fosters at Rs 80 = $w) as Jeanie checked out the red and white wine from Australia at about Rs 1200 (= $30) a pop. Jeanie decided no. Past the blank foundation of the clock tower for a last time, and up the wrong path for a moment to the Himalayan Castle. And to our rooms which our purchases and our tired bodies.

Robert returned round 8:20 pm having walked by with Llyn who had watched Robert at his workshop. I was very tired and went right to sleep after drinking my beer – and slept all the way to 5 am! = 9 hours. Today was also the first day that I took Malarone, and will be taking it for the next 14 days, since I will enter malaria country in two days.

What a day, Woodstock, climb to the top, Fairy Glen, Woodstock lunch, Flag Hill, environmental talk at the Hanifl Center, Woodstock supper, and through the bazaar.

From Rishikesh to Mussoorie with KHEL students

2010-11-06T05:02:00.000-07:00

2 November 2010 Tuesday

From Rishikesh to Dehra Dun to Mussoorie. Now starts a new part of this India trip – going from one place to another, and spending only one or two nights in any place, days filled with traveling as well as sightseeing.

Not only photos, but two video clips at India 2010 #12 To Mussoorie

Today we left Rishikesh about 10 am, arrived in Dehradun around 11:30 am, visited a school mainly for children shunned because their parents were lepers, went to see the leper colony around 2 pm, had lunch at 2:30 pm, an hour later taking the bus up the hill to Mussoorie, arriving at around 5 pm, climbing the steep 7 or so blocks straight up to our Himalayan Castle Hotel.

The day started out abnormal around 6 am but no walk with Alice or anyone. Worked on modifying some photos of Sunday’s Ramana Garden and Ram Jula Arti ceremonies to be added later on Picasa. I heard Robert talking on the phone around 2 – it was a happy birthday to a niece ? back home. Took my usual shower and shave around 7 to go to normal breakfast at 7:30, sitting with 3 strangers at a table, I think they were Swedish. Parathas today with some vegetables mixed in and cilantro sauce, banana, and chai. Around 8 rushed back to pack – how am I going to add my jacket, 3 new Indian shirts or kurtas, 2 Indian pants, and a new pair of sandals to my already full suitcase. Somehow I did, putting some clothing in my knapsack, but it was tight. Pulled my suitcase up to the office by 9:30 planned departure as all others were there and Robert was finalizing paying the bill.

The bus was larger (24 passenger) than our previous large van (15 passenger?), but smaller than the normal larger busses (40?). They placed our luggage In the back and I got one of the font seats, though it was not good seeing out the front since the sideman or guide was obscuring the front view with his head, but I still enjoyed the 1.5 hour ride through the Swaliks, the town of Daiwala, past the Dehradun airport (where Vance will fly into on the 8^th of November), and into Ddn.

Our morning visit was to the KHEL school (Kindness, Health Education, and Laughter) of low or untouchable caste children – Robert had been here before and others he knew supported the school financially. Light and dark blue uniformed kids running around at recess as we arrived around 11:30 or so. After they ran off to their classes the director told us some about the school, and then we went and visited classroom – Kindergarten up to 5^th Class (elementary level/?). We were greeted by the students, walked into the class room, found out the subject and asked a couple questions. I asked one 10-year old boy his name – Amin, and then wrote my name Filip or Feeleep in Nagri for him to read. Last class was a Music one in a large auditorium room, and I read off some of the notes on the board from Nagri. Soon we were seated in front of the stage, some speeches, including remarks by Robert, then garlanded and tea and cookies were brought as we watched performances of boys and girls, traditional dance, local mountain dance, little kids singing Twinkle Twinkle, and an athletic demonstration of poses to a really, really loud booming drum. Then photos before we walked back through the lanes to the bus – most with their garlands still on, and greeting lots of uniformed girls coming from another school as classes were out for the day. They loved greeting us in English and trying out their hellos and giggling. It was a nice visit to the school.

Off to the leper colony, which Robert, again, had previously visited. Again a walk through the wide streets, after the bus parked about 3 blocks away from the colony. But, we found that the residents had gone off to in invited free lunch and were on there. Except for one older man, who said, no photos, no wandering around without the residents there. A disappointment.

Lunch at a modern looking vegetarian Ananadam restaurant – the food was finally much spicier and better than the Ashram, and included South Indian dosas, ras gullas, etc.

About 3:30 pm we headed up the hill to Mussoorie, the driver evidently worried about his return trip down in the dark. Kathy joined me in the double front seat, and I tried to answer her questions about India and the hillside as we climbed up and up – having to close the windows as it got quite cold. We noticed the very different trees.

The bus dropped us off at the bus stand, about 3 blocks from Picture Palace. I warned folks of the 3 blocks, and then the 5 other blocks climb straight up to Himalayan Castle. Coolies tried to carry luggage for Rs 50 a piece, and about half did. Robert, Alice, and I started pulling our luggage up the steep hill. I gave up about a block up to a pestering coolie who I had gotten down to Rs 30. Alice gave up next another block up, but Robert persisted and carried his all the way. We then fanned out to our rooms on the second floor as our hotel manager greeted us (name Prithab Vaish?), saying if you had contacted me we would have had cars to bring you up from the bus stand. Robert and I settled into room 12. It was like the others – two huge rooms, each with a huge double bed with 2 quilts (but no top sheet), a bathroom in the back and a view along a narrow hall to the back side to see Dehra Dun, a TV, closets, etc. I found out our shower hot water facet didn’t work well – only a trickle – so we ended up having to fill a large bucket by the lower hot faucet and cup bathe ourselves. Well, always adjustments to living and traveling in India.

We decided to eat supper at the hotel and ordered right away, various Indian dishes from their menu, including meat dishes like tandoori chicken, curry chicken, and then several naan breads and rices, etc. Surprisingly the opened up the dining room (across from the office) which we had never used on our previous stay. And then everyone retired early. But not before the manager had gotten small heaters for each of our rooms. I did not use it the first night but ran it all night long the second night, though it does not seem to have made much difference in the huge, high ceiling room.

Lost my combination lock today, I had not closed the lock on my suitcase and it likely fell off in the back bus luggage compartment. I didn’t check about it as we got the luggage out of the bus, but it is likely sitting there at the bottom of the compartment. Too back and unlikely to find a replacement in India.

Lunch at an orphanage and Arti religious ceremonies as the sun set on the Ganga

2010-11-01T08:57:00.000-07:00

31 October 2010 Sunday (and 1 November 2010 at the very end mentioned with photos link)

Today consisted mainly of a trip to two events – lunch at the orphanage / school of Ramana Garden and then an evening’s religious ceremony and ritual on the banks of the Ganga.

More photos at India 2010 #10 Garden and Ganga Arti

But first our usual one-hour morning walk – this time joined by both Abe and Anne, as well as Kathy and Gail. We went left (south) again toward the Virbhadra temple, not making a good choice of narrow lanes to follow as some were dead ends. We thought we’d go to the Ganges and head down river if we could. We first reached to archeological digs of the Virbadhra temple and stood around looking at it, discovering indeed there was a black lingam, though obviously of recent insertion. Abe read the English far inside which said there were three stages or brick and structure – 1^st century AD, 4^th century AD and 8^th century AD.

Meanwhile a woman passed by on her way home and said this was a good site to look at. We then asked her about the singing. All night long there had been pretty loud singing from loud speakers near the Ashram, which kept some people irritatingly awake. She said – oh, yes, that happens every Saturday night – in praise of Bhagavata Mata. By then, the keeper of the archeological site had arrived, unlocked the gate, and set out some chairs for us. Which we didn’t use. He told us in his rustic English – “no photos” – of course we had already taken lots through the close iron bars of the fence before he came. We went on down to the river – it did not have a path down river, so we could not go in that direction. It was 7:35 by then and time for me to turn back, but the others, except Gail, went on to the barrage again. Gail and I winded our way back noticing a well-kept for cow at one place – a two large bowls of grain food for her, and a nice burlap cover on her back.

Showered and shaved and off to a very austere breakfast of dal, chai, and puris (not chapattis).

Our 9:30 am class was again taught by Jelle at the Knowledge Center on “Science of Breath” I though t it was very good – details about the lungs, nostrils, and lots of theories about yoga – Shankara and advaitiya philosophies. Jeanie kept being skeptical – I asked if Jelle has found his teacher or guru (yes), what chakra he had obtained (the lowest of 6), and if he was conscious of his previous births (I will not discuss that). Well, an interesting and stimulating talk and discussion. Anne asking Jelle what he did for fun – in this world and in the inner world?

Off to get on the bus (changing out of my Indian white kurta and payjamas and into my American clothes) and a ride through downtown Rishikesh and the forest again up to Laxman suburb of Dehra Dun, and a walk into back allies in that hilly town to the Ramana Garden café, situated at the school there. An American woman, now known as Prabhavati, started this orphanage and school many years ago after a boy came up to her and she said she’d give him food if he’d go to school. One of Robert’s Maryville students, who had been on one of his India trips, was working at the school also, Malinda. We all settled into the soft floor seats behind tables in the café as Malinda told us her story, then we had lunch followed by Prabhavati’s story, and the auctioning off of 4 scarfs and the buying of some jewelry. A delicious lunch of a creamy carrot soup, followed by either an Italian vegetable ravioli dish, or Himalayan red rice, both with a ‘safe’ salad – and a piece of chocolate cake. She’s visiting Yogaville in May 2011, so I gave her my card.

Back to the bus (with a bathroom break) and up to a Western grocery store for chocolates and shampoos around 2 or 3 pm.

And driving back toward Rishikesh, being dropped off at Ram Jula to go to the 4:30 to 6:30 pm Arti ceremonies. Down the 91 steps to cross over a foot (only) bridge to the other side (actually there was motorbike, bicycle, and other traffic besides pedestrians). Then downstream on a market road, toward the Beatles ashram (but never got there), to the Ram Jula ghat, for an evening of ceremonies, singing, chanting, fire, and worship, sitting on the ghat’s steps, as sun set. There were young boys dressed in priestly garb, tourists, western and Indian, as well as local people, families, and pilgrims. All quite enchanting.

sacred feet in the Ganga

The walk back to the bridge around 6:45 pm was through the dark market street, along the dark bridge, and up the dark 91 steps. Going through the market, we were continually harassed by young (12 year old) kids with their ‘art’ work, and other merchants calling out to us to stop by. Kathy kept repeating again and again – we’ll be back tomorrow, tomorrow! Robert called the driver of the bus from the foot of the steps. Saying we’d see him in 10 minutes. We waited on the side of the road at the top of the steps, maybe for 15 minutes, but the bus came and we headed back.

Since we arrived at supper late, around 7:15 pm, we had to be patient and wait for the second sitting which came in about 20 minutes. An uninspiring supper of chapatis, rise, dal, subzi (vegetables), hot milk (with two tablespoons sugar for me), and an apple. Abe, Anne, and Kathy were in cahoots, planning for tomorrow’s 5 hour trek form the Ramana Garden area up a mountain and down tomorrow early.

At 8 pm Vishnu gave an hour talk on “Emotional Purification” which started after 10 minutes of guided meditation. Vishnu listed and described all the bad things one had to purify against, most as a result of uncontrolled desire. My desire was to stay awake Sunday night, in a way that I had not the night before. And I succeeded. Gail also said she had to struggle staying awake. Abe, Anne, Jennie, and Llyn were absent from that lecture.

Back to room #14 to write this and yesterday’s blog. Another very different and full day – a great meal at an orphanage / school, and the wonderful Arti or ceremonies on the bank of the Ganga at sunset.

One would hardly suspect that today was Halloween - too much inner life here for that outer fun and frolicing.

1 November 2010. Monday. A day of Meditation, laundry, Indian food, dress, and music.

See photos and a music video clip at India 2010 #11 Meditation

Swami Rama's hospital and rural development

2010-11-01T08:26:00.000-07:00

30 October 2010 Saturday

This was another day that turned out different than I expected. It was mainly a trip to the hospital which Swami Rama had founded, but it was not just a trip to a hospital, but sort of a pilgrimage to another place Swami Rama was involved with during his life, and a ‘worship’ of him.

See photo album India 2010 #9 Hospital and Rural Development

The day started out as usual – a walk from 7 to 8. Abe joined Alice, Llyn, and me, and we went right (north?) out of the gate, toward the barrage or bridge, instead of left (south?) as we had done the first day. We walked up the main road, again seeing people rising, kids going to school, milkmen with huge metal containers or white plastic ones, cows and dogs wondering about or sleeping, some tea shops opened, a carders shop getting ready, crows squawking about, hovels and pakka or real houses. Finally we found a side road to the right (east?) which went through to the Ganga river. Got to his banks and could see the barrage not too far further upstream. We walked along the wide road to the barrage, and I started taking photos of the bridge and the traffic, until a guard pointe out “Photo keechna mana hai” sign – “Pulling or taking photos is forbidden” Most substantial infrastructure like this barrage have similar signs and prohibitions.

I didn’t cross the bridge with the others since it was already 7:35 and I wanted to get back for a shower and shave before 8:30 breakfast. Same sights, sounds, and smells on the main road back as I returned.

Breakfast was normal with similar food as the day before – dal, cooked vegetables, chapatis, and cha, I rushed back to my room to collect my clothes to be washed – stuff them in a plastic bag with my #14 room number on it and a list of my cloths. Then went up to the Office and gave them the bag, as well as did some work and made connections on the Internet – I asked other selectors to order some history books as well as a religious studies requested book. In the evening when I again had an Internet connection – Deej mentioned that Obama had paid a surprise visit Friday night to Charlottesville, though Deej had not gone to see the President, and that she was headed to Richmond with a friend for shopping Saturday morning.

With the bus leaving at 10, I rushed back with my laptop and left it there and then rushed back to get on a small 14 person bus, which was to take us around, through Rishikesh, up through a wooded area, and to a medical hospital campus, whose address is Dehra Dun, even though it is about 20 miles from the core of that city. We arrived at the Arya Veda clinic around 10:45 and sat at a long table, headed by an Arya Veda woman doctor who explained the purpose, patients, and the ailments that were treated at the clinic. Jeanie had some skepticism about it as usual. We saw the treatment rooms where there were soft mattress massage tables and a box for herbal steam treatment – as well as patient recovery rooms. They assured us that serious aliments were treated by Western medical procedures in the hospital. We saw, but did not go into, the training hospital. Rather we went to the Rural Development Institute, where a young woman with very good English told us about their programs in the hill areas with health, water, and craft programs in Uttarkhand state.

Next we went for lunch, which was unique in that it was self-serving, buffet style – all our meals are served to us at the Ashram. I avoided the nice cucumber salad and onions, and the watery raita, but some others loved the raita. Inconsistently, I took and ate some fresh cayennes. Otherwise it was the usual vegetarian meal.

Finally we visited the book store and gift shop and some of the women bought a few clothes, and Gail bought the little comic book Ruskin Bond had written. Right next door was a meditation center and photo gallery – with walls of 7 rooms devoted to photos of Swami Rama, playing tennis, traveling abroad, etc. It cracked up our young couple, while Joanne sat in devout meditation. Then off to a trip home around 3 pm.

Free time with Internet and other things until supper at 7 pm.

The “Yoga for Daily Life” session followed at 8 pm. A young Indian with pretty good English, Vishnu, taught the class, and I took notes, but embarrassingly drifted off to sleep about 8:35 pm for about 5 minutes – Kathy kicked me awake and I was able to pretend to list the rest of the lecture. We learned about the 5 parts of Yama (non-violence, etc celibacy). But Vishnu got confusingly tongue tied trying to explain how Krishna’s killing 1 million people was not a sin for him, a topic and other ideas he could have easily avoided and made the class still quite productive.

Coming back to my room, I quickly got to bed and continued my sleep I had started in the class. So, another full and different day – not really connected with the Ashram, but infused with the abiding presence of Swami Rama even off at the hospital.

Yoga - first day at the Ashram

2010-10-29T21:22:00.000-07:00

29 October 2010 Friday

This was the yoga or ashram first day. We had a 2.5 hour session introducing us to the basics of yoga and then an evening 20-minute video about Sri Rama followed by a discussion of his life and yoga in general.

See photo album India 2010 #8 Ashram

Here's a trip itinerary of the whole India trip [a Word document] in October and November 2010

But the day started out with a plan to meet at 7 for an hour walk. I woke up as usual at 4:25 am knowing I would not be able to get to sleep, and when I next looked at my watch it was 6:52 am – wow, a really full, good night’s sleep for the first time on the trip to India. Rushed and put on my clothes just in time to hear Alice knock on my door. One of the Ashram ladies, Joan Ann (originally from Minneapolis and raised Jewish) led us to the archeological dig of Virbadra. (us meaning Alice, Llyn, Joan Ann and me). We walked along back lanes from the main road south and then toward the river Ganga. People were just getting up – cattle were being fed, a woman was taking a cat back into her courtyard, school-dressed brother and sister were rushing to school. We saw both the new Sri Virbadra temple as well as the fenced in digs. Joan Ann told the story of Shiva’s assistant, Virbadra as we walked along. -Then the loop back – past papaya trees, old gates, fancy new 2-storied buildings, and the Seema Dental College. Our hour trip getting back in time so Joan Ann could join the last ½ hour of the pre-breakfast meditation.

Went back to my room #14 and showered and got ready to join Robert to go for breakfast late, around 8:40 am. Others were still chanting and we joined the others in the group on the benches outside the main eating hall (where people sat and ate in long rows). We were served breakfast of toast spread with butter, two types of curries or dal, and chai.

I went back and got my computer and then to the office and a little bit of emailing with Deej and on Facebook. Robert’s group was up with their passports getting registered, which I had done when I arrived at 3:45 pm yesterday (Thurs). I also rushed to the Gift Shop and bought a white shirt with their insignia on it and white pants – and wore that to the yoga introductory session starting at 10 and lasting until about 12:30 pm

Our group's schedule at the ashram

Our instructor for the session was from Denmark, all dressed in white, Tele, and all of 19 years old. He was very good, giving us an informal session as we all gathered round him with our yoga matts and folded blankets. He explained a little history and background – to control our breathing to make our bodies healthy to improve our minds so as to work our way toward samadi and release the self or atman. We laid belly down to start teaching our lungs to breathe through our diaphragms; we spent a lot of time figuring out how to position ourselves so we will sit with our curved spine freeing our diaphragm, Tele going around and individually helping to position us correction. He selected me and 4 others as better to sit on a chair or stool rather than on the floor and blanket. Then we need to focus our minds in meditation – by focus on 1) Shiva or such, or 2) by counting, or 3) by a mantra which he gave to us So ‘ Hom – I am That. Then we went through about 40 minutes of breathing and meditation.

It was just about 1 pm lunch time by then, and we all got up and loosened and stretched our bodies and went to lunch. Again we were served after washing our hands, and after more chanting. Similar fare of curries, dals, rice, chapatis, water. Some went off and did digestive yoga, while I went back to the room and copied off photos from my cameras.

At 3 we had a session for the group, led by Robert back in the meditation room – he saw this as a banquet, as a time for us to share our stories, and as part of the Hero’s tale with challenges along the way – like the Ramayana, deciding options – to come, to go through challenges along the journey, and to share them with each other. Robert told the first stories of the Ramayana, as we sat in a circle for about an hour.

Alice and I wanted to go to town, so after we went down and had chai, we headed out to the bazaar – Abe, Anne, and Kathy joined us – we were told it was Rs. 7 to the bazaar, and sure enough that is what the auto-rickshaw driver wanted – the 5 of us crowded into a rickshaw with an Indian couple joining us. Getting out of the rickshaw after the 20 minute ride, we asked where Arora and Sons was, which we had been told was a good place to buy kurta and payjamas. But first (at 5:15 pm) we decided if we got separated to meet at Neelam Hotel at 6:15 to go back. We headed down the 300 yards further down the road, which was not easy since the busy traffic continually whizzed past us barely missing us. We ducked into a shoe shop so I could buy some sandals – and I bought a pair, not the best, but the black plastic chapals would have to do. At Arora I tried on a white shirt, and both Kathy and Alice finally agreed it fit me. But they thought a tan kurta was even better – I went ahead and bought both – the white set and the tan kurta (Rs 450 for the set and Rs 250 for the kurta). Alice also bought a scarf, and Anne tried on an outfit in the back room but didn’t like how big it was. We walked further north on the road which soon turned into hardware shops so we headed back. Kathy lead the way, and we headed down one side road a little ways and backed out, and then down another that turned around and back to the main road. There were lots of colorful paper flower garlands in the shops in preparation for Diwali – and many other interesting things along the street. We got back to the main road and I tried to get a passport pouch in 3 bag shops next to each other – nothing to be had. C But I did find a simple gray shoulder bag – and I bought 2 more cokes (and Alice bought bottled sodas) at Rs 20 each, and then about 8 bananas for Rs 15. And we got another rickshaw and headed back.

I wanted to get a photo as we arrived 20 minutes later, so stepped out before everyone else and took the flash photo, just as I realized my right foot was in a cow pie!

Back to our rooms at 6:30 pm to get ready for supper at 7. I unloaded my loot and took a photo, by which time Robert said he had heard the supper bell.

Normal supper, chanting, hands washing, sitting on benches out back – dal, veg curry, chapatis, rice, salt, 2 cayanne peppers, hot milk with sugar, and an apple. We back to the room and then on to the 8 pm video session – almost walking into the sacred video room with my new chapals on.

The video session turned out quite boring to me, at least. A 20 minute video of Sri Rama followed by some random comments, no really answering Llyn’s pointed question, so why do people come here for what reason? Nor even Kathy’s question about, so why and what did Sri Rama die of and what lessons did he leave his followers. Claudia got up and left soon after the video, and then Gail left after the 45 minutes of the session, and I just about fell asleep before they ended the session at about 9:10 pm – Robert, however, was totally enthralled by all of it – having read some of the suggested books, etc.

I came back ‘home’ after agreeing to meet Alice again at 7 for an hour walk tomorrow morning. I tried to write some of this before I got too tired.

Shifting - a new stage Reunion to exotic

2010-10-29T21:19:00.000-07:00

28 October 2010 Thursday

Transition day, moving from the Woodstock Reunion stage of my trip to my Exotic India stage of my trip. Traveling from Woodstock and Mussoorie by car to Dehradun, and on the Haridwar by Link Express train, and car to the Sri Rama Ashram in Rishikesh. Robert’s group also traveled by bus from Delhi to Rishikesh during the day.

See photo album India 2010 #7 to Rishikesh

Alan and I went on our one-hour walk leaving around 6:10 am from the Hanifl Center. As other days, there were the three early morning men on the first rise going east on Terhi road – one man lying flat, one sitting up, and one exercising. Don’t know why, but we greeted them as usual. They laughed as Alan commented ‘serious’ exercising. We had thought we’d go around the base of Flag Hill, but then we headed opposite of Flag Hill to the Haunted House – ducking under the perfunctory first barrier, but coming up to the strong signs “No Trespassing” This time the sign had an email address on it! But there was no dog or guard, though we still decided to go around it, and not into it, going around the right side, where Alan noticed a big cement mixer machine. We gave up going around the side as the vegetation closed in. We did see and hear some more birds – the red bird group, and the whistling bird.

Got back around 7 and I showered as the others went off to breakfast around 7:15 am. I soon joined them and in my rush, I got to the dining room only about 5 minutes after they had gotten there. I dropped off a Fosters bottle next to some red trash on my way in. Pancakes and special pakora bread for breakfast, but still no promised curd. More others joined us as we were finishing up. I left to go back and pack, though Helen had already packed the night before.

Packing was pretty easy back at the Hanifl Center and I was done by about 8:45 am so went down the Center’s computer room and did some emails and connections. When 10:30 am came around, Alan with Helen’s suitcases and I with mine were down waiting for the car, which arrived pretty soon, with Sanjay as our driver – same driver as yesterday from the picnic to Woodstock.

Helen and Yvonne were waiting at the Woodstock gate and there were hugs and goodbyes and we were on our way, though the traffic though the lower Landour road was really horrible. About 15 minutes after King Craig, Helen let out this loud remark – oh, no, I left my Woodstock bag on the top of the scooter where we were waiting! Right away Sanjay stopped and was prepared to go back, but Helen said no – it was unimportant stuff. She had her money and passport with her. Further discussion led to the probability that I would pick it up when I was back in Mussoorie in the next few days, take it and leave it at the Delhi Florance Inn, where Helen was returning in 6 weeks before she left for home from Delhi. Sanjay used my ‘new’ cell phone to call his boss who would call Woodstock to find and hold it. The boss soon returned the call that the bag was being held by Mr. Roberts.

The temperature, weather changed to much warmer as we reaching Dehradun. We searched for and found a restaurant recommended to Helen, the Yeti – Chinese, Tibetan, and Indian food. The woman owner was great – she recommended the fast food would be Indian and we made them bring and seat Sanjay to eat with us. The pallau, dal, chapatti, and vegetable curry came soon and Sanjay especially seemed to enjoy it. Then to the station by 1 pm, with Sanjay helping me get a coolie for Rs 50 who would carry my bag and seat me in the right place on the train. Hugs to Helen as she went off with Sanjay for the afternoon, maybe to the Forestry museum for the afternoon (Rs 800 extra) before her 5 pm Shatabdi.

I had my bunk, compartment all to myself, as we found my name listed on the sheet on the boggie. The trip down to Haridwar seemed slow – it appeared to be about 27 miles and took about an hour.

At the station as I got off and was pulling my luggage, my next contact appeared with a Philip McEldowney sign. He picked my bag and I followed him up over the bridge, down, and to the parking lot and the car – he got in the front and a driver joined us. It was a strange one-hour drive them to Rishikesh through horrendous traffic coming both ways, follow the railroad tracks half of the way and the Ganga next to us some of the time. They picked the correct one of the two Sri Rama ashrams, went to the registration office, filled out forms and gave passport for copying, and then drove near to my #14 room. I filled out and signed and gave the coupon to the Uday agent who seemed overjoyed that the transaction and trip had taken place without a hitch. I was in my room by 3:45.

Very simple rooms with a bed in two separate rooms, a bathroom with explained hot water for showers, and a living / kitchen first entrance room. The air conditioner’s clicker didn’t have any effect of course. I walked around the Ashram grounds. Robert showed up around 5:30, and we eventually went to supper at 7, with chanting beforehand, and I met and sat with the others on the outside benches and tables. Gail first, then Alice and Llyn – then the others, - Kathy who is Gail’s neighbor and friend and feline friendly. The young Abe and Anne couple. And the two others – Claudia and Jeanie. Each one very interesting in their own ways.

I was exhausted, went back and fell into bed around 8:30 or so, as Robert was still up.

And I slept soundly – beyond my 4 am wake up and almost missing my Friday morning walk.

New Tehri and its dam

2010-10-26T19:16:00.000-07:00

26 October 2010 Tuesday

Hard to keep the blog going much, like last night (Monday 25th Oct) I finished up the 320 emails and tried to reply some at the Hanifl Center's computer room, but by then it was 10:30 pm, way after my usual bed time. I moved my photos off my cameras but was tired and fell to sleep about 11 - waking as usual at 4:45 am, which is a good 6 hours sleep for me (I usually sleep at home from 3-7:30 or 4.5 hrs, so 6 hrs is more).

Then went on a walk with Alan - like we have done the last three mornings from 6 to 7 am - this morning up the back side path from Jabbarkhet to Fairy Glen - not too far up the path, and down to Fairy Glen, a clear, flat area with concrete flat seats to sit and look out, north to the snows - which were out nicely this morning. The Class of 1963 had donated money to fix it up as part of the 150th Woodstock School anniversary and it looks nice

Today Alan and I rented a car ($25 each) out to Tehri, where they completed a huge dam around 2004, which the backed up lake has submerged the 80,000 population town and built a beautiful lake or jeel - supporting hydro-electricity production. All the residents were built new homes by the government, about 4,000 feet further up the mountain side - the new Tehri town has about 100,000 population now, living in the new homes. Had a great lunch on the outside terrace of a very modern hotel/restaurant - alu muttar curry with pea pallau and roti followed by gulab jamans, masala chai, and mango juice. The 2-hour trips there and back were interesting, but a bit scary. It goes through Danolti about halfway there - the road winds its way along very, very steep mountain sides (Deej and others of the Class of 1959 will remember the treacherous ride to Danolti there and back in 1998). Yvonne didn't want to do it, and Helen also refused to do it, after her experience of her brother George falling down the khud and eventually dieing of injuries. We left the Woodstock gate at 8:15, got to Tehri dam around 10:15, up to Tehri around 11:30 for lunch, left there around 12:45 and got back to the Hanifl Center around 2:40 pm.

But Alan and I thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Alan is great - even though his Hindi vocabulary is more limited than mine, he has some great phrases he knows and modifies to meet the occasion, and is never reluctant to try his Hindi, like with your driver Jagdish. Alan learned 4 words today bimar (sick, as in Yvonne gets car sick easily), araam (rest or with ease, as in don't drive back quickly, just go with ease), and then two other words I can't remember - one is for translate (anuk?, as in Alan's father did a lot of translations from and back into English to Hindi or to Urdu), and the other is for cattle ranch (gokul, as in Alan runs a cattle ranch back in New Zealand).

We learned our diver Jagdish grew up in a village, now on the other side of the new Tehri dam lake, and the government supplies a motor boat to take villagers back and forth

I better stop now, since I need to go to the School and pay my bill before they close at 5 (it is 3:38 pm right now, and it takes a brisk 12 minute walk to the School, and I said I'd be there around 4 pm)

And when will I have time to upload some photos! awck!

I am feeling better, have had no stomach or bowel problems, having taken two days of the arithromyisine (something like that).
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Later Alan wrote these remarks in an email (26th December 2010)

For the rest of the class, I don't know whether Phil Mc told you or not (I haven't seen it if he did), but one day we two took a taxi out to the Tehri dam. Leon didn't want to come, nor did Helen or Yvonne, and the Rughs had already left the hillside. It took about 2.5 hours to get there, with magnificent vistas of the snows and other mountain scenery on the way. The dam is strategically placed to dam the Ganga and one other river (forgotten the name of it) where they come together to carry on as the Ganga. The resulting elongated lake, running more or less east west as far as I could make out, covered about 100 villages and some of the most fertile land in the area. All to get more water and more electricity for Delhi!! The new town/city of Tehri is relocated to near the top of the hills, from under that water. What a shame, in the name of progress. More dams may be built in the future too, it seems! Somewhere in those hills. Our driver, Jagdish, shared a lunch with us at a roadside eating place.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Dorms visit and access

2010-10-26T19:06:00.000-07:00

25 October 2010 Monday

Had wonderful tours of the dorms in the morning, and mostly tried to catch up on my 320 emails and other Internet stuff in the afternoon.

Hopefully more later.

Sunday the 24th. Church, snows, Oakville

2010-10-25T04:32:00.000-07:00

Flag Hill walk and snows. Breakfast. Church service at St Pauls. Lunch at Char Dukan’s Alif’s Café. Walk around the chakar. Lal Tiba snows. Oakview houses. Frustration at no Internet, but good chocolate and talk. Supper and more no access frustration.

Alan and Jim had offered for me to join them for the walk to the top of the hill at 6 am Saturday morning, but I regret that I declined. So, I got myself ready to go with them Sunday morning when they decided to go see if they could see any snows from Flag Hill. And we left on our trek around 6 am, going through waking Jabbarkhet, with the few early rising kids and others staring at us, a woman ringing the temple bell. At the base by the road we could see the sun was rising soon and it was light enough to see, but I was exhausted already, compared to my two seasoned (they had been here 5 days) who also exercised and did regular manual work back home. So, I rested as I told them to go on, yell if they could see snows – Jim said, if he threw down a small rock, to come up. A big rock meant no snows, don’t come up. Well, I have saw rocks, but started the trek about 5 minutes behind. They were going up the ridge about 1/5^th of the way up, and said to stick on the ridge if I decided to follow. The sun then rose over the Tehri hills to the east. I worked my way through the boulders and bushes, gradually, reaching the flat camp ground about 4/5ths the way up. As I was almost at the top they were coming down, but went back to the top with me, and lo and behold – there they were again – those marvelous snow covered peaks of the Himalayas. Nanda Devi, Bandar Punch, etc. What a sight with the early morning sun striking them from the right side, from the east. Photos, photos, photos, and then the trek down, trying not to slip and the loose rock.

Breakfast was pretty normal, except we were the only ones there – as the kids were either in their dorms or off on Activity Week, and staff was not around Sunday morning. Cereal, eggs, fried squares (at first thought to be fish, but ended up being white cheese), toast, coffee, chai, seeb (apple), and I shared two of my four custard apples. No juice. Rughs went off back to the Hanifl Center, while the rest of us discussed religion. I was going to try the Internet, but the conversation was to hot. Off to the Gate with Helen, Yvonne, and Alan, as the Rughs were coming in other cars.

St Pauls Church – up near the top of the hill, our taxis going through Mullingar and up the west side roads. The service had already started when we got there at 9:35. It was a normal Anglican service, with hymns, scripture reading, following the priest in the book, a talk by his wife for about 15 minutes, more singing, more chanting by the priest with us participating, communion, a last hymn and it was over. At one point we introduced ourselves to the 20 member congregation, and only two people did not go up for communion, Yvonne and me. Dead beats. The church was built back in the 1840s or 1850s with some plaques honoring soldiers who had died in the 1860s and 1870s. The pew railings still had holes to place your rifle, after you lifted a little latch. Chai and cake and conversations – Alan and I talked to the coach who had been at Woodstock since 1980, and was directing kids all day yesterday at the Olympics. He also was part of a 9 team that rollerskated from Dehra Dun to Amritzar in 9 days – only two dropped out.

We then joined the Rughs for their farewell lunch at of the Char Dukans or restaurants – sharing a basket of onion pakoras with Helen as others had pranthas and pancakes, juices, tea, etc. Then we bade the Rughs farewell as they are off for 4 days in Delhi before flying back home to Tennesee, via, flight to London, then Amsterdam, then Knoxville.

Next the trek around the chakar, a path or road around the top of the Mussoorie hill. We met a few people and stopped to chat with them – visiting Americans about our age, two German students at a Dun school for the semester with their fellow students, before we got to the beautiful sights of the snows again at Lal Tibba – they were in full sun and surprisingly huge and seemed close by. Photos, photos, especially for Helen, whose camera’s battery had died. Past pushtas under construction, and with flowers and trees sticking out of them. Then the cemetery, but still closed so we could not check of Ms Marley’s grave was indeed overgrown. On to Kellog and more photos. Around the font side to see where the huge oak tree had fallen down during Friday night’s rain and wind storm, and which Alan and Jim had seen on their Sat morning walk. It had missed Sanjay’s house and his car and knocked down electric lines. When we got there only 4 huge sections of tree remained and men were gathering up the electric line. On to Prakash’s where I got some potato chips and a Cadbury almond chocolate bar, which inspired Helen to buy one. And, Alan and Yvonne went back to buy theirs too.

On to Oakville, past other Woodstock houses and centers, where Helen had lived. She described the big duplex, the tennis court, the main house, and the cottage. So we took photos of it all. The dogs were barking inside the house, but no one was around. We went down the back road with a dual concrete track which the Alters had had made. Down to the camp ground and the amphitheater which the Class of 1960 had donated money for.

And then home, the Hanifl Center around 2:30 or so. We spent the afternoon in there, making tea and sitting around talking as we tried to connect to the Internet, in about 40 unsuccessflul ties. Talk about personality ties and who and whether people we knew fit into them and why or why not.

Around 6:30 we headed for supper – again just the four of us, with basic rice and three types of curry and some salad. No curd, no chai, basic. I went up to try the Internet and Dan was in the Alumni room downloading classical music, which he had developed a craving for and was so easy to find and download – Beethoven, Copland, and a little Mahler while I was there. I read through some messages in my dead email form the 20^th Oct which had somehow been downloaded onto my computer. But still no luck getting access. Walked home feeling woosie and had some stomach and bowel problems, so quickly took a pill.

Fell to sleep exhausted – from the morning climb to Flag Hill? Or the long afternoon chakar walk? Or? Around 7:45 pm.

WorldWide Woodstock Celebration at Woodstock

2010-10-25T04:27:00.000-07:00

Time for the World Wide Woodstock Day, at Woodstock while others celebrated around the world. The second annual one, in preparation for the 100^th anniversary of the Woodstock School Old Students Association, WOSA, to be held next year 2012. This one was held at the Woodstock School President’s residence, starting around 6:30 pm, included about 35 people, alumni and staff from over the years, some visitors, like 3 members of the Class of 1960 also celebrating their 50^th, many residents on the hillside who were past staff or student alumni, and present staff. It was my second attendance, being at Woodstock last year at Pennington for the first celebration. Anne asked, will you be here for the real celebration 2012? Who knows?

We arrived from Hanifl Center at the President’s house at around 6:30 pm – Alan said – wow, this is the first time I was allowed at the President’s house. Others trickled in during the next half hour. We were greeted by the President at the door, put our coats down in a back room There was a wonderful roaring file in the living room, a table with food in covered metal dishes in the living room, with seating all around. The President gave some remarks, and then Chris S added more, with a little history of how the event had originated and was binging promoted by Woodstock as he headed the effort. The trays of vegetable and meat kababs were placed on the coffee table near the fire place – at one point Helen had to shoo the cat from its stiffing and interest in the meat kababs. Then there was the food – various salads, curries, rice, naan, etc. in a very festive atmosphere. People greeting old friends, but mostly getting to know new friends, surprised at the connections, common experiences and common friends, and the stories events at Woodstock and after. Several staff were there, tired from their full day experience and participation at the Olympics. Including celebrity, Tom Alter, who was, as usual one of the centers of recounting memories and personal associations. Other alumni had just arrived, especially for this event, and greeting old and new friends. Laugher, warm conversations, stories galor, finding suprising connections.

The party started breaking up around 8 and after, and we drifted back to the Hanifl center full of good food and sharing the connections and stories we had heard. A successful WWD at Woodstock.

Friday and Saturday in Mussoorie

2010-10-25T04:17:00.000-07:00

[Internet not working well here, so can't use my virginia.edu mail, which might be blocked anyway as I went over quota just as I left, and don't know if I deleted enough to be back on quota]

Friday (22nd Oct) first went to breakfast at the school, after I barely arrived in my 6-7:15 drive up from Dehra Dun to the Hanifl House as Jim and Loise, his two grand kids, Helen, and Allan and Yvonne walked off to breakfast; I went in and brushed teeth, took pills, went to the bathroom, and then walked to breakfast. They sat us in front at the 8:30 monthly Parker Hall session, but did not introduced us. Did some Internet stuff.

See a photo album India 2010 #1

Went in a car with Helen and others to see where her brother, George, fell (and then died some weeks later of his injuries). Somewhat emotional for Helen, but she kept asking questions of the driver who had helped, along with the driver's brother, to go down and carry injured George back up the road, so that George could be taken to the hospital, etc. It is locate in the very, very steep ravine which goes from the School, to the west side of Eastwood and down to Hanson Field. The car went back up to the School where we had morning tea.

Around 11:45 am we got in cars and went to a 'development' lunch at Rookbey, a nicely redone house, up and down as a plosh restaurant. I had tandoori cheese salad, mustard chicken, and chocolate mousee (or mouse, as we joked, all non-veg dishes). Several staff were there including the Principal, Anne L, Chris S, Aba (development officer), and others. Leon Dillingham is spending 3 months doing video of the school and area, and since he's also Class of 1960, he joined us for lunch - quite an interesting, knowageable, and funny guy. Rookbey is up near Kellog, near the top of the hill.

I went to Landour bazaar as others went back to Woodstock or Hanifl. Got my hair cut, bought 2 coke bottles and asked how much a car would cost back to Hanifl (Rs 100), bought 2 bottles of beer, checked out a Rs 1300 ($32) cell phone to possibly purchase. Walked on past the now destroyed, gone clock tower and on to Picture Palace. They said Rs 200, I offered Rs 100, but one guy said, okay Rs 150, so came back with him, giving him Rs 170. Tried using the Internet here and got some connection on my laptop, but then they locked both doors to the Center where the computer room is - so I had to open up a window and yell at the chowkidar to unlock one of the doors.

It started raining and then raining hard. Jim let me an umbrella and the four (Jim, Loise, and grandson Steve) of us walked back to school for supper, which was pretty good - varied Indian dishes with rice.
The school kids were in the other room having a special dinner, all dressed up for a Sadie Hawkins dance to follow - but we came back around 7, with it still sprinkling. I left by myself, without flashlight, in the dark walking Tehri road in the dark (no street lights working). I just kept to the hillside and hoped for the best.
Only a few cars blinded me at the beginning and luckily no one came walking for me to bump into. Next day discovered an electric line and fallen down on Tehri, but on the down khud side, so I mixed being entangled and electricuted by it. 5 minutes after I got back, they arrived.

I worked some on my photos uploading them - drank a Haywood, but I was exhausted and soon fell to sleep, under a nice quite in a refreshingly coolish room.

Woke up a few times during the night, but fell back to sleep right away, until around 5 when I couldn't get back to sleep so worked on photos some more, took my first India shower (nice warm water), and did not go with Jim and Alan on their nice walk up to the top of the hill, where they saw a huge oak tree had fallen down just missing a roof and a car, but toppled the electric lines in the area.

See photo album India 2010 #2

Saturday (23nd Oct) We took off for breakfast around 7:30, ate and got ready to get cars to take us to Wyneberg Allen's sport field where there was an Inter-school sports day (5 different schools like Woodstock joined together for the meet. It was quite somthing watching the high schoolers - hurdling, jumping, pole vaulting, running, etc. Tom Alter opened the whole event up and even went down and gave some of the medals to the winners on the victor stand. Alan was quite surprised Tom had such as strong Indian accent. We sat with the Woodstock students at first, and then went to a guest area under a canopy, luckily before it started to rain. But it didn't rain long or hard anyway. We found rest rooms, a different kinds of hot food at stalls.

Had lunch and then went to the bazaar at Picture Palace - I went off with Jim and his two grandkids, leaving staff member Emo to show slow Helen around, but lost them shortly after getting Bengali sweets (two warm gulab jamins). Jim was bent on finding his grandaughter a woman to put hena on her hand. I chased after them, stopping briefly at Bond's book shop, and going almost all the way to the Library, without finding them. Took a Rs 30 rickshaw back, and bought a Rs 80 torch (flashlight). Found Jim getting his shoes shined. His granddaughter had her hena. Then off to Picture Palace to catch a car back to the Hanifl house, and tried this Internet now.

It's almost 6 pm so need to go off and join others for the walk to the Principals house and our WWD celebration.

Nice Wold-Wide Woodstock Day - met some new folks, joined with others for the evening celebration. Good food, good conversations, jovial. Singing some Woostock songs. Sparkling lights of Dehra Dun. Light conversation among us on our way home after a very interesting, full day.

Ch'ville to Mussoorie

2010-10-25T04:14:00.000-07:00

Took a car Wed (20th Oct 2010) to Richmond, a flight to Newark, a 2.5 delayed 14 (minus) hour flight to Delhi (arriving around 9:30 pm Thursday the 21st Oct, waited long for luggage, then went through visa and customs), was picked up by my travel agent (about 10:30 pm), went with him to go over my itinerary and bill, found an ATM after two tries to pay the bill, made the 11:55 overnight train to Dehra Dun, arriving at 5:45 am Friday the 22nd Oct, with taxi waiting and winded our way to Mussoorie around 7 am, and the Hanifl Center around 7:30 am as my Woodstock companions were headed out to breakfast.

See Photos India 2010 #1 - the first 20 photos or so.

Madison again in October

2010-10-16T21:38:00.000-07:00

Headed to Madison again, after several days with Julie and family in Iowa, where I again attended librarian meetings and the annual South Asia Conference.

Madison's a great place - on the lakes, where I went to graduate school for 4 years in the mid 1960s, lived and learned - and where I've come back to often for this fall annual South Asia Conferences.

Wed the flight from Des Moines was delayed about 1/2 hour since they encountered thundershowers leaving Chicago, but our flight was fine. Then sitting around Chicago, this time with my gate nearby - so I got lunch at Chillies, then on to Madison, reading some more on the Little book on Language, in an aisle seat. The surprise was to get a Green Cab after I got my luggage off the carousel - and I needed to tell the Asian looking cab driver how to get to University Inn, since he kept going around the Capital square. And a cheap fare - $11 plus tip - quite Green.

Settled into a nice room #311 on the side away from the noisy State street, and went up and down State street popping in to the nick-knack shops after going to the University book store for some good cards and pens. Supper again at Kabul, lamb kabob - but those are 8 big pieces of lamb with the onion, tomato, and green pepper. Their soup and bread is always great. Not much in the evening but my webcam was not interactive in the living room - don't know why.

Thursday, lazy getting up and preparing for the meetings. Ate at the PotBelly across the street since the other Afghan restaurant, Shabaz, has disappeared - had chili again. Off to get my pass and greeting people for the two hour presentation by Carol and Fehl of the Islamabad and Delhi offices. Then the 4 hour meeting from 2-6 of the CONSALD meeting - the Round Robins taking lots of time, though also usually good and interesting information of other libraries. I got my ephemera or pamphlet pitch in, show the GoSher blog also. Walked with others to Carol's (20 blocks?), and had a fantastic India supper there catered by Taste of India. And then walked by myself the 22-24 blocks back to the hotel in the dark.

Friday got up, eating breakfast of cereal, milk, and juice I had bought the day before, packed, and carried or rolled my luggage as I moved from the University Inn to the Madison Concourse Hotel, where the Conference also is. Got here about 10, and got to a great 3rd floor room - one floor above the main Conference panel floor and the same floor as the swimming pool. Registered for the Conference and luckily got a meal ticket. Full day of panels, from about 10:30 on, with lunch of Momos at Himal Chula, and the a great Indian supper at the end of the afternoon panels. A keynote talk about Mystic India, and then some flute music before I got too tired and came upstairs.

Saturday, same or more panels, lunch again at Himal Chula, this time their veg special of cauliflower, peas, etc. Afternoon panels and then a symposium praising Narayan Rao - interesting and he was there giving a humble reply. Back down to Kabul restaurant for supper of lamb kababs again - and then back to the Madison Concourse Hotel to watch in amazement as Wisconsin beat the #1 college team, Ohio State. I went for a leisurely swim and sat in the hot jacuzzi at half time. Talked (via Gmail chat and video) some with Deej. Earlier I'd written to Beth, Deej, Mary, and Lois about taking charge for next Saturday's Curry Club. Looks like Beth with do it right, as Deej has her visiting Aunt Jerry and daughter Christine coming next Sat to see her sister (Deej's mom Mimi) in Harrisonburg and Sharon's going to help with a lunch.

Packing some so I can get up at 3:30 to catch the 4:15 taxi to get to the airport by 4:30, an hour before my 5:30 am flight. Crazy.

Iowa again in October

2010-10-14T08:34:00.000-07:00

Flew off to Iowa last Friday and saw my daughter and her family, and friends, the next few days - again a nice time, and different than all the previous (almost) annual visits to Iowa.

Got on the plane in Charlottesville Friday morning as Deej took me to the airport around 10 am - a three leg trip. Into Charlotte, lunch at a BBQ counter, on to Chicago and walk walk walk from E concourse, through F concourse, to the hub, then down and a long underground walk to the B / C concourse, starting at B's high numbers going though to C's high numbers to get to the end of the concorse at C4, my gate.

Had to wait a little while for Julie to pick me up, but she did - good to see her, and we decided we'd try an Indian restaurant. Called a couple places and headed for the nearest one, Namaste, but there was construction which made us go and go way around it. But finally found it, restaurant with bare stalls on the left and Indian grocery store on the right. Didn't know if we should stay - only two other groups in the place. But decided to try it out, and the Bombay trained Indin chef came out and talked with us, helped us decide; talked also to the Goa waiter. The food was superb. In spite of the sparse sourroundings - and the dirty, bare restroom (Julie didn't like at all).

Then the drive back to Jefferson with lots of talking about our lives and others, etc.

I'll try to fill in more later - Saturday was going out to Deal's apple orchard and Halloween stuff, going to the grocery store (buying stuff for Monday evening's India meal), and off to an evening of pot luck and costumed kids running around outside at a Halloween party.

Sunday - going to church for a couple hours, bicycle ride to the football field and watching 7-8 grades play, back home, and Julie cooking big beef roasts for a supper celebrating Lauren's birthday.

Monday - teaching 3 of Julie's French classes about India, then going to Andrew and Sarah's to cook up the India meal from 3-6, with Jan and Donna and others arriving to for us to eat it all together. With a ride back to Ames with Jan and Donna, and talking for a couple hours before bed.

Tuesday up late (9) with breakfast by Jan, walking out back and talking, and more talking as he drove me back to Jefferson around noon - Going to get Eliza at 345, and take her to dance, as Lauren had already gone there on her bike. Pick up Eliza at 7, eat delicious left overs. Julie getting back around 8:30 from parent-teacher confrencing. Worked on setting up her scanner on her computer.

Wed - packing at 645, breakfast, byes, and Andrew picking me up around 815 to get me to the airport around 925 - nice ride and talk with him. Then a two-leg trip to Madison.

Nice time in Iowa -- being with the growing granddaughters, changes with Julie, being some with Matt, greeting new people, seeing old family and other friends - sharing with them.

Traveling Oct and Nov

2010-10-14T08:10:00.000-07:00

Here it comes - for much of the next two months I will be traveling - first to Iowa to see my daughter and her family and then to Madison Wisconsin to meet with fellow South Asian librarians and attend the South Asia Conference -- and then on to India, leaving the 20th October to go up to my Woodstock School again, and join Robert Bonham's Exotic Tour group staying at an ashram, seeing many of the north India famous monuments, and going to a tiger reserve, arriving back home in Charlottesville the evening of the 21st November, so I can get back to work on Monday the 22nd Nov.

I hope I can keep a fairly up-to-date blog with photos along the way. We'll see.

Already its been an unusual adventure. I went ahead in July to buy my airplane round-trip ticket to Delhi and back, and bought into Robert's tour group - thinking, since I had just been to India last Oct/Nov my visa and passport would be fine. Nope. The 6-month visa expired in March. And though the passport is valid until 2016, I needed to get a new visa. Big problem, with new visa rules in August, in making a visa application one had to have a birth certificate now as part of the application. Searching around for my birth certificate, I could find it anywhere. So, I needed to get a duplicate from the US embassy or state department. They suggested I log into the Nagpur (where I was born), search their database, and request a birth certificate. Well, I was born way back in 1941, before Independence (1947) - the database turned up nothing.

Oh, no! Now there was the possibility I could not get a visa, and I'd loose out all the money I'd spent for the airplane ticket and joining the tour. Finally found some place within the State Department (Vital Statistics section in room 510) where I needed to apply - so, I bought two priority mail envelopes, fill out all the application information, plus sent photocopies of all required documents, so it would get there fast and be returned fast. But sent it off on Thursday, a few days before Memorial Day Monday, so knew they wouldn't get it until probably Wed. Then I waited and waited - some people said it took 4 to 6 months to get this duplicate birth certificate. I finally found a phone number and email address for the Vital Statistics room - and called them at the end of Sept. on a Tuesday - and found out they had just then sent it back to me. It was a beautiful Birth Certificate with Hillary's signature on it.

It arrived Thursday (it was a beautiful Birth Certificate with Hillary's signature on it), and I filled in the India visa application, but it kept rejecting my request for a tourist visa. I finally sent it in with my passport and copy of my new birth certificate, on Monday - it required, since I was born in India, I guess, that I apply for an entry visa. And lo and behold, here it came back to me with the visa in it the following Monday.

An unusual adventure, before the up-coming traveling adventure.

Great Beach week - Over? Over!

2010-06-17T11:23:00.000-07:00

That was a great week at the beach (Sat 5 to Sat 12 June 2010). Pretty good weather, warmish water, Shirley visiting, seafood, thrift shops, great rental house with good wi-fi, beaches at Nags Head, Coquina, Mile Post 28, Pea Island, and Ocracoke - sun, salty water, beaches, gulls and pelicans.

Beach 2010 Day 3

2010-06-07T10:32:00.000-07:00

Monday, 7 June 2010, South Nags Head, NC. Third day at the beach. Wild life around the Sea Hawk rental - big bunny out back, tiny humming bird on its nest in the front yard's pine tree, and little green frog hiding on the front porch. Today the weather is perfect - blue skies after very early morning showers, temperature in the 70s, compared to to 90s yesterday with its high winds blowing stinging sand onto our legs at the beach; today has calm winds, with cold but not freezing water at this morning's beach when we dipped into the waves for 5 minutes.

Saturday. So we planned to leave by 10 Saturday morning, but then I saw an email from Marilyn that the Class of 1975 group was indeed in town for the reunion weekend, staying over at Jefferson Park Circle. I was mostly packed by 9:45 am, so went over to see them. Susan's Richard met me at the door and we cleared up the confusion of who he was and who I was and then joined Susan and Lisa on the back porch, with Lisa going off to get Marilyn, after we talked briefly of where she is and what not. Nice talk with Susan, with her restoration project almost done - kids, etc. Marilyn came down and we had a nice catching up conversation for about 20 minutes - her involvement with her dad's large number of books, etc. Got a couple photos, before Marilyn walked me out - good to see her and others even briefly, after these 15-20 years.

Back home and packing up the car and getting on the road by 11 - stopped beyond Richmond for Subway lunch, with slowed, stand-still traffic beyond Williamsburg because of an accident, and then again, another 20 minute delay trying to go over the bridge to the Outer Banks, also because of an accident. We also stopped to get cheap gas just inside NC, but it was even cheaper ($2.43) beyond Grandy; also stopped at Powells for blackberry juice, peaches, strawberries, etc. Remarkably made it about 4:25 pm to pick up our key at 4.75 mile post from Wrights. Then got groceries at Harris Teeters (beers and shrimp, etc), after ABC Store in Kitty Hawk, and on to Food Lion in Nags Head - cereal and mango juice, before getting to South Nags Head Sea Hawk rental (#426) around 5:40. Almost immediately we had a small shower - and a beautiful rainbow. Unloading, settling in, firing up dsl, and cooking a great supper of shrimp, potatoes, corn on the cob, and strawberries with whipped cream. Oh, yes, drove to the public beach and walked around for about 30 minutes after we unpacked. Somewhat windy - lots of seaweed on the beaches, some jelly fish. Calm water.

Sunday - mainly relaxed and did not go to the beach until around 4 pm, since it was very windy, very hot - blowing sand stung our legs - hardly any one else on the beach either. Drove to Grits for a fine breakfast around 9:30 and got a couple more grocery items (sandwich bags, paper towels), and some stuff at the Dollar Store. Then back 'home' Went north to 'town' again around 1 for lunch at Sooey's BBQ, splitting a normal, but very, very good bbq poke sandwich; went to Radio Shack and bought a wireless router on sale for $39.99. Stopped at a SeaSurf shop finding nothing, and a the fish shop and got 1 lb. mahi mahi. The hook up at home was easy and nice - works well with two computers (the Compaq HP and the mini or Chota Dell) - even the streaming live webcams work fine on both of them. Put up the self-portrait photo of us at the beach and the rainbow photo on Facebook - which brought several comments. Watched the bunny outside in the late afternoon with Deej's prepared gin and vodka tonics, when we got back from the beach. Again a good evening meal - broiled mahi mahi (seemed nicely fresh), vegs, and strawberry desert. We were both strangely very tired, dissatisfied with the rotten TV programs. And went to be around 11 or so (very early for me).

So, this is the 3rd day at the beach - Deej is off getting fish sandwiches for lunch, while I enjoy a blackberry coke.

India - looking back to the 2009 trip

2010-02-28T07:45:00.000-08:00

One of the things which made the India trip a pleasant one was a cell phone. I had bought an Indian cell phone back in July 2007 when I went there with my grandson, Mark. And then I lent it to my Woodstock classmate Robert B and he used it when he took a group of college students to India in January 2008. Then I again used it in October 2009, during this last trip to India.

The one thing I forgot was to carry extra passport photos with me, which is a good thing to do on any trip abroad, India or otherwise. Of course, now, there are good and cheap photography shops in India, even in Landour, Mussoorie, which will take the photos and give you copies, often times within 4 or 5 hours, or less.

It also means having the name of an Indian resident who will vouch for you, and my hotel landlord was very willing to do that, and to send one of his assistants with me to the office where I could apply and register for my use of my cell phone. The office was about a 20 minute walk away, in Landour. It actually took 3 visits over 2 days to set every thing up, but it could have happened in just one visit. The second visit was to give my passport photos, and the third was to sign the FRONT of the photos (I has signed the back which were pasted on the application). But the cell phone was activated the first day, in spite of the further actions needed. I think the registration and one month fees totaled around Rs. 500-600 ($13?), but my memory could be far off. I'll try to check with Robert for around how much he had to pay.

It was easy to communicate with Woodstock School people, at the alumni office, from our Landour hotel, also with travel agents in Dehra Dun, Delhi, Jhansi, Datia, Orccha, etc, and persons and offices in Delhi

It's an old (2007) Nokia phone - no bells and whistles or picture taking, etc., which I'll be glad to lend to others.

Back in the USA

2009-11-04T21:56:00.000-08:00

Back in the USA - Wednesday 4 November 2009

Continental Flight CO 83 for 14.5 dark hours. Newark arrival, long baggage pickup, customs, re-checkin. Wait 4 hours. Contiental 8:25 am flight to Richmond. Parking lot C, Hardee's biscuits, gas, drive back to Charlottesville. Phone ringing as open door, meet touring Woodstock school mate Phil W and his wife Mariilyn (photo below) for lunch. Groceries, unpacking. Rest. Making bread and supper. Back to email and TV.

Continental Flight CO 83 for 14.5 dark hours.

Newark arrival, long baggage pickup, customs, re-checkin.

Wait 4 hours.

Contiental 8:25 am flight to Richmond.

Parking lot C, Hardee's biscuits, gas, drive back to Charlottesville.

Phone ringing as open door, meet touring Woodstock school mate Phil W and his wife Marilyn for lunch.

Groceries, unpacking. Rest. Making bread and supper. Back to email and TV.

Last Day Cottage shopping

2009-11-04T21:42:00.000-08:00

Last Day Cottage shopping – Tuesday 2 November 2009

[Details and more later]

Breakfast. Packing. Tuk-tuk scamed to false Cottage Industries store. Walk to real Central Cottage Industries Emporium. Shopping and Shopping and Café Lunch. Suitcase and shoeshines (photo below) on Janpat. Tuk Tuk back to Hotel. Relax and repack. Check out at 6. Out for Aangan dinner. Stop for beer at Spicy by Nature. Uday ride waiting at 7:50. To the Airport. Checkin, but no water, and can’t take Nag Tibba staff. Waiting. Continental 14 hour flight from Delhi to Newark.

Breakfast. Still breakfast only at top restaurant – ate inside since crows swooping down on left food plates outside. Puris again cold, water not hot, eggs all cracked.

Packing.

tuk-tuk scamed to false Cottage Industries store.

Walk to real Central Cottage Industries Emporium.

Shopping and Shopping and Café Lunch.

Suitcase and shoeshines on Janpat.

\

Tuk Tuk back to Hotel.

Relax and repack.

Check out at 6.

Out for Aangan dinner.

Stop for beer at Spicy by Nature.

Uday ride waiting at 7:50.

To the Airport. Uday’s Kailash P.

Checkin, but no water, and can’t take Nag Tibba staff.

Waiting.

Continental 14 hour flight from Delhi to Newark.

Dilli and Kailash

2009-11-02T07:38:00.000-08:00

Dilli Haat and Greater Kailash Market - 2 November 2009 Monday. Guru Nanak's holiday, full moon.

[Details and more later]

Breakfast buffet again (holiday). Taxi (same driver as yesterday) to Dilli Haat - a collection of 80 or so state and specialty Indian carft shops and 10 or so different state food restaurants - shopping. Over to Greater Kailash and three FabIndia stores and Anokhi. Back to Grand Peepal Hotel. Walk to Aangan veg restaurant, with another surprise - the open walking shopping mall along 5 or 6 vehicle-free roads, with street shops and stalls, crowds of strollers and many hawkers calling out their wares and prices. Marvelous buzz of activity. Great thali and Hyderabadi chaap. To Peepal rooftop to view and hear fireworks in the distance celebrating Guru Nanak's day.

Khan and Lodi

2009-11-02T07:31:00.000-08:00

Khan Market and Lodi Gardens - 1 November 2009 Sunday

[Details and more later]

Breakfast surprise - no room service, buffet on the roof. Taxi to Khan Market with lunch at Latitude, shoping and small FabIndia shop. All bookstores closed. Lodi Gardens - lots of couples cuddling by the pond, families picinicing, girl scouts and boys playing games, badminton, sun, delightful screams. Hotel and walk to Suruchi supper with Rajasthani and Gujarati thalis.

Delhi shopping

2009-11-02T07:24:00.000-08:00

Delhi Shopping - 31 October 2009 Saturday

[Deatils and more later]

Breakfast. Taxi to Janpat. Pizza Hut lunch. Walking up Janpat, pricing things and buying custard apples. Over to State emporiums - Gujarat, Delhi. Search for and find FabIndia - packed and little selection. Back to Grand Peepal Hotel. Walk to supper at Sandoz.

Bundeli sights

2009-10-30T22:00:00.000-07:00

Bundeli sights - Friday 30 October 2009

[Details and more later]

Spent the day seeing tourist sights around Jhansi, a center for Bundeli or Bundelkhand history. Breakfast and walk to cenotaphs and climbing them - views and birds. Down to the river. Walk to shopping and Deej's minature at Ladakh shop, on to the Flower Gardens or Phool Bagh with non-functioning fountains, Deej's wooden stamps. Back to Resort for packing, lunch. Car trip back to Jhansi and then very rough 1 hour road trip to Datia and Vir Singh's palace or Mahal by a lake with views of his prison, justice building, guest building, and fort. Rough road travel back to Jhansi fort and walking around it. Tea at the Hotel Sita. Shatabdi trip back, 6:11 pm to 11 pm, on very old coach and very jerky ride (at 80 mph most of the time) with tea, appitizer of bread stick, and veg supper. Back to busy Delhi traffic and to Grand Peepal Hotel

Orccha

2009-10-30T21:48:00.000-07:00

Orcha – Thursday 29 October 2009

[Details and more later]

Shatabdi to Jhansi, 6 am to 10 am, more Indian countryside. Drive to Orcha and Orcha Resort, after 1 hour traffic jam in Jhansi. Lunch, rest, and then guide Amrit Williams' tour of Orcha - the Jahangir, Raja, and Sheesh Mahals. Shopping on Orccha's main street. Evening at Orcha, soaking feet in the swimming pool, supper, Bundeli music and dance performance by the pool.

Late Express and Delhi

2009-10-30T21:42:00.000-07:00

Late Express and Delhi – Wednesday 28 October 2009-10-30

[Details and more later]

The Indian countryside because the Express is 4.5 hours late. Grand Peepal Hotel. Full treatment at the Library of Congress Delhi. Crowded Metro back. Sandoz supper.

Last minute and Dehradun

2009-10-30T21:30:00.000-07:00

Last minute and Dehradun – Tuesday 27 October 2009-10-30

[Details and more later]

Morning in Mussoorie – WS office for Philip and Iman tailor for Deej. Packing and paying up. Noon ride to Dehradun. Lunch at the Hotel President. The Doon School, Survey of India maps, and FabIndia. Lindsay and Dana to the Shatabdi. The Forestry Research Institute. Bad Internet. Hotel President supper. Boarding the Mussooire Express.

Mall and Bandaloop

2009-10-30T21:26:00.000-07:00

Mall and Bandaloop - Monday 26 October 2009

[Details and more later]

Morning tea with Bandaloop members. To the Mall, ATM, Cable car and snows view, women's toilet (Rs. 6 each) and Library crowd of school kists. Cycle rickshaws back to Cable and Tourist office with local maps. Buying my hat and khadi shirts. Tavern lunch. After rest, walk to Mullingar top, taxi up to the Mussoorie top at Lal Tibba and view of snows. Around the chucker past the cemetery, Kellog Church, and to Sisters Bazaar for snows map. Rush down to new Gym. Bandaloop performance and no mention of Class59 reunion members. Tea again. Emails in the office til 6:30 - walking back on Tehri road in the dark. Iman's camera. Join others at Tavern - mean Philip.

Nag Tibba

2009-10-26T05:51:00.000-07:00

Nag Tibba - Sunday 25 October 2009
[Sections #1 The climb, #2 Inserts, #3 Toes and Feet, #4 Poles]

To Go? Van to Srikot base. Climb up to false Nag Tibba saddle. Climb to the real Nag Tibba peak. Descent from the top.

[More later -

To Go? Got up at 5, getting ready to leave at 5:30, discussing with Lindsay and Deej about my stomach illness and whether we should risk climbing Nag Tibba. Decided to ask the driver if he could go tomorrow. He said No, he could not, so we went on in the small van. Leaving Himalaya Castle (elevation 6695 feet) around 5:30

Van to Srikot base. Our main driver left us at Picture Palace and we went on with a driver and guide, in the dark, passed Kempty Falls, and down to the Aglar (we spied a pair of phasants just before reaching the river), where it was light. (Aglar bridge is at 2313 feet elevantion) Then up the right side of the Jamuna gorge to Nainbagh, where we took the side road right or eastward, and up to Pantwari (4565 feet elevation) on much narrower and sometimes rough road. Tea at Pantwari, with both Lindsay and I separately climbing the stairs to go into a house to their bathroom. Picked up a second guide as we went on to Srikoti.

Climb up from Srikoti (5382 feet elevation) to false Nag Tibba saddle. around 8:40 am, first past fields, then following a stream (Bantwari?) for another third of the way crossing it 5 times, and then a switch back path straight up another third, seeing a wood cutter bird (wood pecker) near the top. Got the the saddle (8630 feet elevation) with two Forest Department gazebos, where we ate our lunch around 12:15.

Climb up to the real Nag Tibba. But we wanted to get to the very top, which took us another tortuous climb through trees and up a ride to the top, where there was a sacred platform (take your shoes off), a pile of rocks holding a while flag. Four flags flew at the four platform corners.

We made it! Around 2:15 pm Pictures --

Nag Tibba's height is usually listed as 10,000 feet, but our GPS said 9925 feet elevation.

Descent from the top. Then the start down, with thighs (just above the knee) hurting badly. Stop at the saddle for some pain pills and drinking more water, having an orange, around 3 pm. The path down was fine for the first 1/3rd through rhodadenra tree forest, broad path and not steep. But the next 2/3rds we real torture my upper front thigh hurting so bad I thought it would colapse and me with it with every step along a very rocky path all the way. One had to walk carefully with each step to try to not slip and fall. At one point we stopped to see 5 women or girls picking peas, and I took some and ate the fresh peas. We then kept passing resting groups of villagers (all woemen except one man) carrying grass, sticks of wood, peas, etc who would run ahead, then rest, then run ahead again.

[See three inserts below, which are 3 email comments about the Nag Tibba climb.
Insert #1. Guides - Rest! Go! And Girls - Come sit with me, honey!
Insert #2. The bhut or Ghost, watch out!
Insert #3 Still treking.]

Around 6:00 we had to start using our flashlights the last 45 minutes. Then tea and bathrooms at Pantwari, before the dark ride home, getting to our Hotel around 9:15 pm.

Deej and Dana had gone off to Stephen Alter's party at Oak Hill and thought they had left keys with Mr Vaish. But he was away. The rooms were all lit up, the electricity having gone off before the Ds had left, everything was still on. Mr Vaish came in about 20 minutes and we got into our rooms and I fell in bed. Deej arriving about 20 minutes later and we talked some and both fell asleep soon.]

---------------------------------------------------------
[Insert #1. Guides - Rest! Go!
Girls - Come sit with me, honey! From an email from me, 28 October 2010

.Joanne, The elevation of Nag Tiba is almost always stated as being 10,000 feet, but with the GPS device I took, it seems Nag Tiba is about 925 feet (maybe higher if you hold the GPS above your head and stand on the rock mound!)

More details are below, also Witch's hills height (the alumni office is at 6800, Sisters Bazaar at the top is around 7000).

Lindsay and my speed walking and exercising every day for about 2 months before going, helped. But being in the lowlands we could not prepare our lungs or hemoglobin, nor reduce our age. Still our preparedness helped a lot. My grandson, Mark, three years ago, did find and kept up with the local guides when we climbed NT then - he was 16 then. I did better this time than when I went with him 3 years ago.

The guides had three English words for Lindsay and me - Rest? Go. Move. They became less Rest? asking near the end, and much more Go! Move! - as darkness approached and we were still not down the hill all the way, and we needed to use flashlights for almost the last hour. During that hour, 6 or 7 girls / women would run past us on the very rocky and difficult paths, carrying loads of hay or grass on their heads, and then rest after going 300 yards or so. We kept passing each other. At one point, a resting, older woman (mother?) called out to me "buddh, aram lay jao" (Hey, old man, take a rest), while the younger girl, sweetly called out to me "ao, meri saat baito" (Why don't you come sit with me?). Unfortunately, I had already stumbled past the seated, resting pair before I clearly heard and understood them - and I could not think of a retort soon enough either in my painful descent and delirium. --Philip Mc

Heights --

* Nag Tibba climb on Sunday 25 October 2009
* Himalaya Castle at 6695 ft Leave at 5:30 am
* Aglar River at 2313 ft There at 6:44 am
* Pantwari at 4565 ft Tea at around 8 am
* Srikoti at 5382 ft Base to start trekking 8:32 am
* Nag Tibba “saddle” with two Forest gazebos at 8630 Lunch at 12:17 pm
* Nag Tibba peak at 9905 or 9925 ft Pictures at 2:29 pm Odometer 270
* Nag Tibba saddle at 8630 ft Rest 3:25 pm Od 271.8
* Pantwari at 4565 ft Around 6:40 tea again and depart
* HC at 6695 ft Odometer 324.66 on 25 Oct 2009 Arrive 9:45 pm

End of Insert #1 of 28Oct2010, or back to the blog]

[Insert #2. The bhut or Ghost, watch out! From an email the 30th Oct 2010.

Edith, The main reason we had an ambition to conquer Nag Tibba was that Lindsay had a chance to do it with some girls her senior year, and she didn't accept the invitation. I also wanted to go all the way to the top, because I had been up to the saddle which the local people call Nag Tibba, but which is about 2,000 feet below the summit, and where I and my grandson Mark had made it back in July 2007 and we also thought was the top or almost the top. So both Lindsay and I wanted to go to the summit this year.

The younger woman did not mean it sisterly, but very, very seductively - but you must understand that the hill people around Mussoorie and back toward the snows have a fantastic sense of humor, which they greatly enjoy and practice, use all the time. She said it partly to tease me, and partly meant it. Our hill guides were also teasing Lindsay and me all the time - with their English words - Rest? Rest? Rest? or Move? Move? Go? Go? They always did it with a teasing smile or smirk. Another example? Early on Lindsay asked the guides to find her a stick or staff she could use on the climb up and the way down. They also gave me one, but I left it at one of the Rests. Later on the way down, I heard them in Hindi discussing, what are we going to do with that old man, he's lagging behind and we've got him to speed up to get down before dark. I asked them for a second (actually third) stick on the way down, which they found a very good one for me about half way down in a village. They then were laughing with each other - you know how or where we should use that stick to get that old man to hurry up?

At another point on the way down, one guide climbed up into a field by the road to join some 5-6 girls/women and one man, who were picking peas. The second guide, climbed up on a ledge and peaked over into the field, to see what was happening and to get a handful of peas to give to Lindsay and me to eat fresh. I decided I'd climb up on the ledge to peak at the activity. As I appeared to the women, the same young girl (who later teased me to sit with her), warned her friends - watch out, the bhut (ghost) has appeared! - again a humorous jest.

--Philip Mc (just back in Delhi after our 2-day trip in Orcha) End of Insert #2, or go back to the blog]

[Insert #3 Still treking. 31 October 2010.

Gil, They still trek from Woodstock to Nag Tibba, going along Seokoli on Tehri road, then down to Magru and the Aglar, and then up either though Deosari or take a left fork going straight up a route to the summit. I talked with a Casey Woodstock Office young (30 years old?) guy, who had done a lot of local trekking, first to ask about the route up Witch's hill as we looked out on it from the WS Office balcony, but then talked about Lindsay and my plan to assault Nag Tibba. He said he took a group for 5 or 6 students on one of the holidays. He says present day WS students are not at all interested in trekking, but these students reluctantly anyway. They camped at the ponds below the summit which is about equal to the Saddle and Mandir (or temple). He could not get any of the boys to go with him up to the summit, so he went up with another staff member.

So, yes, they still do it the old way, from Woodstock, and climbing up the south face.

There's a blog at the WS alumni site you can look up which describes a 30 something attempting to do the old route walking in a day - which he did, but decided, since it was dark by the time he reached back to the Aglar, to 'cheat' and take a taxi back to the School.

Yes, its nice to know some Hindi and listen in to conversations, since most assume no USA persons knows the language. I wish I knew it as well as Dick and other Woodstock alums. --Philip Mc. End of Insert #3 or go back to the blog]

Modified much later after the October 2009 climb - on 17 March 2010, about 4.5 months later
Toes and feet.

Others have remarked about their experience also in climbing around Landour and Mussoorie, and especially coming down from Nag Tibba, the jarring of the toes in the shoes with each step downward. I give photos of my feet -
the first of backened and discolored toe nails, taken about 10 days after the trek, on the 5th of November 2009 in Charlottesville.
The left foot's big toe and tall toes' nails fell off around mid-January. Other toes continue to be discolored. The new toe nails which grew under the discolored ones on the left foot are are pretty ugly in themselves, even though whitish or yellowish.
The second photo is taken today, 17th March 2010 (4.5 months after the trek).
Enjoy, or turn away, or puke up.
Or as Iris H says "EEEeeeewwwwwww!!!!"
Sorry.

[Others = Steve W. (Class of 1968) Nails falling off. from Facebook 16 March 2010.

"I remember [? in the mid-1960s?] taking a good portion of a day getting to the Top of Nag Tiba from the Uglar. Mark B and I came down from there following the stream, what a mistake. I got blisters under my toe nails from jumping from rock to rock going down the mountain. We made it down in just a couple hours. We stayed down at the Uglar for a couple of days with the rest of our crew and then I had to hike back in sandals. Within a few weeks most of my toe nails fell off" End of Others insert]

Our Walking Poles.
Early on the guides found walking poles for both of us. Lindsay stuck with and kept her pole. I lost or left the pole given to me twice. But the third pole was really a great one.
How to take it home to the States, pack it? Dana decided to saw Lindsay's in half and pack it. I thought I could carry it through with me on the plane like a ski pole. Wrong. The New Delhi airport or Continental people as we departed, examined the pole, took it back and seemed to have discussed it for about 45 minutes, and then went back to discuss it after they first told me no. They came back - definitely no. So, I lost that round. I should have done like Dana, sawed it and packed it. I don't know if Dana has put Lindsay's pole back together, or if they had any problem about it.

The Mall and World Wide Woodstock Day and BBQ

2009-10-26T05:24:00.000-07:00

The Mall and World Wide Woodstock Day and BBQ - Saturday 24 October 2009

[More details later, but we went to the Mussoorie Mall around 10:30, all five of us, to go shopping. Li eventually went off by herself, we four went to the India Bank to use the ATM to get money to pay for our Hotel boarding, then we walked on to the Cable Car, took it to the top, and viewed the snows and Nag Tiba, St George's School, etc. Coming down, we went (after Deej and Lindsay paid Rs 6 each to use a Public Toilet) to the end of the Mall at the Library where there were tons of school kids, begging for the photo. We hired a cycle rickshaw to take us from the Library to the Cable Car, and took the lower road going in to the public Tourist office, and Lindsay and I bought a local map, big enough to roll up.

Going back up the hill to the India Bank, I finally found a hat I sort of liked. Further on I found a Khadi place and got a shirt. Lindsay, Dana, and Deej went on to order lunch the Tavern as I bought some mango jices for the NT tip, and found another Khadi place where I bought two more shirts. Late lunch at the Tavern with beers. Rest and getting reading for the night and BBQ at Judy Criders.

Then it hit - my diarreah! Dam. Took medicine right away. Walked to the Criders at Pennington - a very nice affair celebrating Worldwide Woodstock Day with BBQ chicken, meeting the Criders, David Smith, seeing Beth, and meeting the pastor at the Union Church (for the last 33 years) who has a daughter in Waynesboro!

And he offered to give a ride home, but could only take 3 so Deej, Dana, and Li went rode, while Lindsay and I started out walking back to the Hotel They passed us just before the Landour Hospital. Since Iman's was still open around 8, we stopped there and Lindsay settled on a purple sharwar kamize outfit for Rs 1000. Back to the Hotel and some more runs. But started to get ready for tomorrow's trek and go to sleep]

Witch's Hill

2009-10-26T05:09:00.000-07:00

Witch's Hill - Friday 23 October 2009

[Here I will write about our going to the Woodstock Alumni office, about 11:30 heading down through Eastwood Estate, and then down a very difficult, rocky, overgrown landside path to Dhobi Ghat, then up the west side paved road, past a mine tunnel, to the small path going up the ridge to the top of Witch's Hill; and then down that path to Dhobi Ghat and up the road to Hanson Field. Lindsay and I went on to Hanson Field - as Deej and Dana went up the road above Hanson Field. Lindsay and I climbed the stairs up and up to Ridgewood and we looked into the large dinning room at Alter Ridge. The over to view the new construction at the Hostel and the large unfinished swimming pool which is in the south west corner of the play ground. Then up the steep path to Tehri Road and on to have our second afternoon tea with staff - this time cheese sticks with tea. And back to our Hotel. More details and photos later]

Tibetan Happy Valley and Flag Hill

2009-10-23T04:04:00.000-07:00

Tibetan Happy Valley and Flag Hill- 22 October 2009 Thursday

1.Arise. 2. Happy Valley Tibetan community with the Director, Tour of the School and its Library, Music, Class clapping, Painting, Thangkas, Sewing and Design, Dorms, Lunch, and Temple. 3. Flag Hill with its climb, the flags, the snows, and aborted walk to the Haunted House. 4. Supper at the Four Seasons.

Tibetan day for us – going to western Mussoorie’s Tibetan communities Happy Valley for the morning and afternoon, and then a drive out east to Jabarket and beyond to Flag Hill, where Tibetan prayer flags fly.

1.Arise. We arose as usually around 8, after a somewhat sleepless morning from about 3 am on. I took a little video of our night watchman whistling his way around the Himalaya Castle terrance, shining his flashlight and checking out some the bushes. Lindsay came out of her room about the same time (3 am) and commented on the owl, but I think she mistakenly thought the watchman’s periodic and reigular whistling was the owl. There was a real owl or two hooting, hoot-hoot, then hoot-hoot, which you could hear over the distant dogs barking. Breakfast was on the terrace again – Deej had thought it quite cold and windy at first, but the sun soon warmed us up as we shared an omelet, and scarfed down our warm buttered chapatis and two cups each of tea. I helped Dana order two easy over eggs on toast, the key word being ‘soft’ fried eggs. They came fine, except the toast and runny eggs were separate.

2. Happy Valley Tibetan community with the Director Our taxi was to came at 9:45, but actually came early around 9:30, so we scambled to get in the taxi a few minutes after 9:30, with Dana riding shot-gun or suicide seat? We had some unsolved confusion of how much we were going to pay him, but he indicated Raj – who was the Woodstock taxi man arranging rides, so we left it for later. The drive took us down below the Mall road, with us getting petrol or gas at the King Craig pump. I had never been to Happy Valley, but it was around the road on the north side of the Library, heading toward Kempty Falls, but vering off after about 5 minutes to left or mountain side, and then another 5 minutes keeping to the left, with the bright white buildings of the Indian Administration Institute to our right, including their tennis courts and horse riding flat grounds. We arrived at the office, and one greeter hesitantly figured to usher us in and up to the Director’s office. We had about half an hour just with him, asking questions about Tibetans coming to India, and mentioning we had seen the Dalai Lama when he first came to Mussoorie in 1959. We had filed past him during that public audience, each receiving a special knotted colored cloth. Lindsay and I had lost ours long ago, but some of the Class of 59 still treasured theirs.

What we were waiting on was for another Woodstock group to arrive, which they did around 10:30, a UK family of 5, Chris Anderson’s sisters family. The Director then went into a description of the Tibetans, their refugee history and their trails and difficulties; the founding of Happy Valley, and the setting up of this special school for around 500 Tibetan refugee children, which was established in the early 1960s before the Dalai Lama moved with most of the Indian refugee community to Dharahmsala. The two UK kids asked some interesting and pointed questions.

Tour of the School and its Library Around 11:45 the Director finished his presentation and we thanked him and went off with a guide to see the school. First there was an open courtyard with girls doing the homework, evenly spread out sitting on the ground. Up the steps was the media center and library. The library had some current magazines on racks, various chairs and tables, and stacks in the back. There were photos of the Ruskin Bond’s 75^th birthday celebration at the school. One of the 10 or so racks of books was Tibetan language materials and the rest was a very mixed bag of English books, such as fiction about G.I. Joe

Music. Through some more corridors and courtyards was the music room, where one boy was playing a Tibetan style bass guitar and a seated girl was strumming on a sort of zither. There were drums, horns, flutes and other instruments around.

Class clapping On our way to the painting class rooms, a class of 8 year old boys and girls sang the English song “Clap your hands” – with much glee.

Painting. One classroom had students oil painting variety of subjects, and they were in a 4-year program at different levels.

Thangkas. The same was true (4-year program, different levels students) for next classes of students, the first one had students sketching and painting Thangkas.

Sewing and Design. The next room had students sewing shirts, blouses, and coats, running the sewing machines by foot. Finally there was a design room, where students were cutting cloth based on different models of traditional and non-traditional Tibetan clothes – and of different sizes. All these class were very interesting and the students did not seem to be fazed by our presence, wandering around and looking at them working.

Dorms

Lunch

Temple.

3. Flag Hill

The climb

the flags

the snows

aborted walk to the Haunted House.

4. Supper at the Four Seasons.

Back to School

2009-10-23T04:02:00.000-07:00

Back to School - 21 October 2009

Breakfast on the patio with views of the snows. Going to the tailors and shoeman. Walking to school. The Gate, the office, the Internet. School Lunch. Mumby Gym. Library. Tea. Organic Garden. Supper at the Golden.

Breakfast on the patio with views of the snows. Waking about 8:10 after a good nights sleep, we joined Li, Lindsay, and Dana on the patio, with the snow covered peaks far away in the background, clear and sunny. I had gotten up between 2-4 am after sleeping at 9:40 pm, and copied off photos from previous days. Then back to sleep. Deej had slept well also, getting up to see the starlight from the back window; and much later seeing the sun rise. For breakfast we had chaptis, shared an omelet, and had two 2-cup (barely) plastic pots of chai. Lindsay with Deej searched through the bird book – remembering yellow and red martinets they had seen on their Sesquintenial trip back in 2004 from the Shiva Hotel, The warm sun in the crisp morning and friendly conversation – a perfect way to start the day. After toiletries, we headed out.

Going to the tailors and shoeman.

Around 9:15 Li lead us walking to the Iman tailors at the bottom of the Mullingar hill. But Iman was away in Dehradun, so no measuring and ordering today – but they looked at the bolts of cloth in the shop, but were not happy by what was available. Next to the shoeman or mochi, halfway up the hill on the left – Deej right away found some sandals that fit her for Rs. 300. Lindsay could not convince to customize a pair of sandals with a small heel and without the toe strap, so did not order any. I found a nice pair, but too small, had my foot traced, and left an advance of Rs. 100 (of 300) for him to make a larger pair to be picked up on Friday.

Walking to school. Then up to the top of Mullingar hill, on to Tehri road a walk to the School. Took some pictures of a barber and trash managers (scavengers?) before going past under Landour Community Hospital. We saw some of Gil’s dahlias on the way, Spring View (the Hortons) now residence of a popular doctor, Edgehill Villa (Knox’s place), around the corners with the big mirrors to see oncoming traffic, and views of the Ridge and College (Midland) dorms and of the Organic Garden down below.

The Gate, the office, the Internet.

Arrived at the gate, and the guard called to see if we were legit, and Li answered, yes, we were. Photos at the Gate, working in past offices (used to be the Cells), and through the Quad, and up to the Alumni and other offices. Greeted others there – Anne, Dan, Monica, Principal David, Chris S., Stephen A, etc. And then started our slow WiFi to check on email over the past days – told Lila we were planning to be at LC offices on Wed the 28^th, replied to Claire that really she could take her books to LC for shipping, and 234 other messages. Until

School Lunch. Down to the dinning room, first to the Gents toilet, and then a wonderful lunch of noodles, mamo, lentils, filtered water (filled up plastic bottles), and chai. Meeting a few other faculty. Back up for some more reading of emails. And to talk with Casey, an experienced trekker, who worked in the offices – to learn how best to get to and climb Witches Hill – also talked some of his treks to Nag Tibba from the south side after over night at the ponds – his students also were not interested in going with him to the top. Monica also arranged for our trip to Happy Valley (Tibetan community tomorrow)

Mumby Gym and Library. Anne took our little group on a tour of the new Mumby Gym and the Library. Up the covered passageways with loitering kids, also headed to the gym. What an amazing new million dollar Win Mumby Gym, which had been completed and dedicated about a month before in ceremonies and evening dance. A full sized basket ball court with bleachers, overhead large computerized screens, locker rooms for home and visitor teams, offices, badminton court, two-story climbing wall, two ping pong tables, large exercise room with modern equipment (duty free for a minority, Christian, institute), and squash court. Really wonderful – but it was sitting on top of and replaced my wonderful upper playground were we spent hours roller skating on around the concrete square, no more May pole in the middle, no more place where my Cub Scouts met. Lots of new things replacing some of the old.

To the Library – modern, sunny, named after Miss Marley, and a good section of Ruskin Bond, newspaper racks, and a computer room with about 20 computers. Up to Parker Hall, looking around. Then Anne, Lindsay, and Dana left us to meet with the librarian – after we waited looking at the Peace sculpture and the bank of purple flowers. We had a very pleasant and informative exchange with Sue the librarian – she had put in a new library system, doubled the lighting and much else.

Tea. Down for more Internet, finishing up reading and responding to emails. Downstairs to the tea and cake at the back terrace near the Lyre tree. All sorts of staff and friends were in conversation on the sunny terrace.

Organic Garden. Next, Li lead us down the steep stairs to the lower Tehri road and around it to the Organic Garden. Whoops, a very steep, small loose-rocky path down to the Garden. Deej slipped once, and was scared (along with the rest of us) of the steep khud or hills on each side of the ridge. The gardener with his wife and daughter live in a small pakka house there – to guard (against langur monkeys and others), tend, pick, and water the plants on the terraces – peas, lettuce, broccoli, etc. Li had lots of ideas and instructions for the gardener, to improve everything. The views of the Hostel under construction, the Ridges, and the College, from below and across the near ridge were a new perspective. Then the steep, steep climb back up to Tehri road and learning from the gardener the not-steep path back up to Landour. We went around lower Tehri road and then up the concrete path, which was mostly quite steep. Panting we eventually arrived at Landour – coming on to the road very near where we had been in the morning, the bottom of Mullingar hill near Iman the tailor’s shop, as Sikhs were in a community chant at their center that juncture. A leisurely walk past the clock tower and to Himalaya Castle, getting there about 6, and we all rested in our rooms for about an hour.

Supper at the Golden. Li led us off, about 7 pm, to the Golden restaurant next to the Clock Tower and we had a pleasant and nice meal – tomato and chicken soups, chicken palao, mutton, dal, alo paneer, chicken mughlai, plain and buttered chapattis and naan. Dana and Deej went in search of beer and finally figured out to go 2 blocks to the English Wine shop. Wonderful tastes. Back to the hotel and falling into bed around 9, as Deej read on into her book of the Q&A (Slumdog Millionaire)

Landour Again

2009-10-23T04:00:00.000-07:00

Landour Again - 20091020 Tuesday

Arrival. Settling in. Landour and Mussoorie. Classmates gather and investigate. Golden restaurant supper.