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Before writing this article my heart had hardened and I thought I had no advice for people wanting to travel to India. On a budget option it’s difficult to know what you’re getting and even the best made travel plans are sure to go arry in this crazy country. My travels through the ‘Golden Triangle’ will forever be remembered for their utter chaosness. From the time the driver says “You are here”, and you’re left to your own devices to ...
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Pictures are worth a thousand words…
There are not enough words to express the feelings of gratitude I have for being fortunate enough to help the people of Rishikesh. Today the babas received soap and facecloths – part of donations received in kindness, and to those who contributed I am very grateful. The final days are here as I plan my departure on Monday 21 July to travel for one week in India before going back home. I will continue to ...
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When a young boy comes up to you nearly every day begging on behalf of his mom and you can feel the suffering in his voice. He desperately wants you to buy his pencil on scrap drawings and gets excited about 10 Rupees (less than 2 Rands).
When you walk past the same row of old people every day and their arms remain outstretched with new hope that maybe today you will give something.
When you walk over a 100 metre bridge passing ...
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When I took this photograph during a walk to the next town yesterday my interest was only in the moss which covers all the pathway walls and many other structures along the road to Laxman Jhula, making everything intriguingly beautiful. Only when I arrived back later did I look at the picture and see the snail tucked between the moss and rock. We often miss the small things but it’s such a nice surprise when nature unveils itself.
My time ...
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I went to fetch my saree today – the one I’ve chosen to wear at my graduation next Saturday evening…with much annoyance I ended up leaving 45 minutes later than I would have liked from the saree shop. It seems that I was waiting for the tailor to finish the top. One thing I’ll need to work on is my nerves when I’m told so ‘matter of factly’ to wait, first 5, then 10 then 2 minutes and later…I want ...
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It’s a new month! Day 2 of week 5 for me and my room is looking like a laundry. I have piles of clothes separated over chairs, boxes and my back pack. From almost clean to almost dry; dirty waiting for the wash bucket; separated colours; washing in the bucket and bits drying on the line from yesterday. It’s like a conveyor belt…the rain has a big deal to play in the fact that no-one can do a big amount ...
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The start of week 4 and yoga classes are becoming emptier as yogi’s suffer from all sorts of digestive related illnesses and other ailments like skin rashes and allergic reactions. My 48 hour tummy bug thankfully only pulled me out of one yoga class and I seem to be on a quicker road to recovery than some. I bought an Aloevera natural juice which I’ve been taking (30ml) religiously every day and I put my health down to this natural ...
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Noise from helicopter engines fill up the sky as rescue efforts continue daily to bring stranded people out of the mountains to safety here in Rishikesh. I’m told lifeless bodies are being washed up along the river banks, some so badly mutilated.
It’s difficult to do anything without consciously sending prayers up when the noise is a powerful reminder of so much chaos and lives lost.
We experienced another ‘super storm’ here last night and even within the safety of these walls ...
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I have just spent the last hour and a half on the streets of Rishikesh with the old, homeless and sick. As my trip to Mumbai has been cancelled I will not be working in any old age homes there so I decided to take my services, first aid and foot care to the people here. I’m not sure how many pairs of feet I squeezed in during this time. Dry, calloused and corns; one pair of hands; 3 septic ...
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I’m trying to recap the past three weeks. The 20 days seem to have passed so slowly, so much has happened, so much has changed. At the beginning of the week my mood and attitude had been stretched. I wasn’t happy and the rain seemed to me, to be a negative manifestation of my feelings. Yesterday morning feeling much better I left the breakfast table and made my way to my room passing through a shaft of light. I was ...
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