View of Ghats from Above I'm eager to return to Varanasi. On this return, I'm booking two guided walks with "Jai", Jeremy, through VaranasiWalks. What a story he has! Born in Minnesota, Jai grows up an evangelical Christian. Attending a Bible college for three years, he leaves without a degree. What to do? He joins …
Continue reading 537. Walking through Varanasi: Guided by Jai
From Dharmshala, I fly to Delhi. Even though the flight departs fifteen minutes late, we arrive on time. Uneventful. Nice job Pilot! From the airport, I arrange a taxi to the Delhi railroad station. I have a pre-purchased ticket for the Delhi to Varanasi train. The taxi ride is uneventful. Again, nice job taxi-cab driver! …
Continue reading 536. The Nightmare at Delhi’s Railroad Station
To be honest, I forget how I heard about the Tibetan Children’s Village. Regardless, I decided to stretch my legs and walk to the TCV. Since the Tibetan Children's Village is located "only" a mile outside the town, I say to myself "No problem. I'll love a fresh walk in the countryside." Well, the walk …
Continue reading 535. Walking to the Tibetan Children’s Village
Gyuto Tibetan Monastery While I enjoy wandering around a place by myself, I know that there are times a guide is indispensable. In Dharamsala, Dholdun is my guide. Born in China's Autonomous Region, he has lived in Dharamsala since fleeing China in 2005. Although only a guide for three months, he is eager to show …
Continue reading 534. Seeing Dharamsala and Tibetan Buddhists with Dholdun’s Help
My flight to Dharmshala lands roughly, but safely. Yeah! Before talking about the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan presence, the main reason for my traveling to Dharamsala, I want to describe my initial impression of Westerners and Dharamsala, my two interesting conversations with Westerners, and a reminder that Westerners had made Dharamsala their own home. …
What does one do at night in Haridwar? Of course, go to the Har Ki Pauri Aarti sunset ceremony! So, along with hundreds of others, I move toward the Ganga riverbanks. A word about Haridwar. Haridwar is important for a number of reasons. Approximately 130 miles north of Delhi, Gwami (sp?) drives me from Delhi to Haridwar, …
Continue reading 532. A Night at the Ganga: Haridwar’s Aarti Ceremony
I'm like others. I want to see something new; I want to visit a place of distant, cultural memory. So, I include in this trip Haridwar and Rishikesh. In my reading, the "almost-Himalayan" town of Haridwar continually pops-up as one of India great pilgrimage sites. Sign me up for a visit, but not a pilgrimage. …
Delhi has numerous Hindu religious communities. After my 1990 conversation with Professor Raymond Williams, I become familiar with the modern Swaminarayan branch of Vaishnava Hinduism. While the headquarters is in Gujarat (western India), the Delhi Temple complex describes itself as “the largest Mandir in the world.” It might well be! I reach the complex easily …
Continue reading 530. Delhi’s Swaminarayan Mandir and Complex
Nizamudin Shrine Unlike my 1990 flight to Delhi, this flight in 2013 is uneventful. No falling luggage from overhead bins. No developing a chest cold which requires a doctor visiting my hotel room. Instead, a smooth flight. A nice welcome from Pravia my Delhi BnB host! Pravia offers me a welcome fruit juice, offers practical …
Continue reading 529. Glimpses of Delhi’s Religious Diversity
Year of India I'm very fortunate. Beginning around 2010, Reinhardt University begins to sponsor a "Year of ...." program. Each year, the faculty and staff arrange activities focused on a particular part of the world or a particular people of the world. When I volunteer to lead the 2014-2015 "Year of India," I ask to …
Continue reading 528. Preparing for Reinhardt’s University “Year of India”
