India 2017

My dream of India has come true

 And after the planning our departure is due

Michelle and I would travel together

And look forward to much warmer weather

We travelled from London to Mumbai by plane

And then onto Pune by getting a train

We arrived at Sangam on thinking day

A place so special in every way

We renewed our promise with everyone

And swam in the pool when the sun shone

We visited markets and learnt how to cook

And shopped for gifts and a cook book

The Taj Mahal was a sight to be hold

Its story of love a tale to be told

In Mumbai we saw many  wondrous sights

And learnt of  Gandhis march for rights

We tried panee puree out on the streets

And sampled other  Indian sweets

India has  been such a wonderful place

With contrast and colour all in one space

Our journey is soon at its end

Thank for joining me my very dear friend

4th march - my final blog

Well this I guess is my last blog about India- all home safe and sound- well back in the UK for Michelle she still has the journey back to Tasmania !

we have had an amazing time and its made me think how things have changed since my Aunt was here so many years ago- this is a picture of her(wearing the saree) with a friend taken in India in 1932 and
 below is a picture of myself and michelle in our punjabi suits.

India has come a long way since 1932- we have learnt how Gandhi led protesters on marches against Bristish rule including the salt march in 1930-which led finally to Indian independence in 1947.

The India I have seen has been vibrant and friendly but with a dichotomy of extremes from high rise flats and 5 star hotels to slumsand absolute poverty.

Its vibrancy and diversity come together to offer the visitor something so different to any other country  and the friendliness of all the people we have met  have made this  a visit far better than anywhere i have visited before

I hope you have enjoyed reading the blogs about my holiday as much as I have enjoyed sharing a little  bit with you.

I think aunty margaret would have been so pleased I visited a country that she had spoken about briefly when I was young- I wish I had asked more questions  but one which has changed so much- I am hoping to try and put together some of her accounts in India from diaries, photos and telegrams home- many years before  direct flights mobile phones and facebook- a time that I feel privieldged  to have a liitle knowledge about her and to have known her & have such precious  black & white photos of many years ago.

3rd march- we're leaving on a jet plane !

 Our bags are packed and we're ready to go......

We have had the most amazing time in India- these pictures were taken at about 7.30am on Friday morning just 5mins walk from our hotel- India is a country where two worlds collide  both old and new in one place.

It is a country of contrasts, of diversity, of colour of intensity but one where everyone has been so friendly and willing to help us , to talk or to have their photo taken ! 

It will be good to go home but  I have  really enjoyed visiting and seeing just a little bit of what India is

2nd march -its thursday so we must be in mumbai!

well here we are our last day of our indian adventure- we had a very early start to our day 6am pick up for airport! We had a 2 hour flight from Delhi to Mumbai and after a slight delay arrived in Mumbai about 11am with about an hour drive to our hotel then our sightseeing tour began at2pm so all go- Mumbai is a very cosmopolitan city very modern in some respects with many old buildings with a very British heritage particularly the railway station which is a world heritage sight- we also visted the gandi museum which was very thought provoking after a quick stop at the gate of India we me up with Larissa a friend of michelles who works for vodaphone in Mumbai it really is a small world! After a last minute spot of shopping we headed back to hotel a brilliant holiday and a wonderful country to visit its diversity and history fascinating -I will do a final blog when we get home with pictures to try and give you a sense of the India we have enjoyed x

“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.” 

― Mahatma Gandhi

1st march tour of old and new delhi

after a hearty indian breakfast of fish soup (Michelle!!!!) fruit potaoto dosa and doughnuts we met our driver rawat at 9am and picked. Up our guide for the day to do a tour of old and new Delhi -we were shown round the markets andtaken to the red fort in Delhi before going on the visit Gandhi memorial which was quite athoughtful place- we then went for an indian lunch at a restaurant before going to see India gate and parlimentary buildings. After a stop at a carpet shop ! We didn't buy anything despite the owner explaining all about how they are made and inviting us to Kashmir! We then back to the hotel for a swim and cocktails by the pool!

28th february an awesome day full day to Agra

we had a very early start to our day after picking up our packed breakfasts we were picked by our driver at 6.30am and began our grand tour.
after a 3 and a half drive we had our first stop the wildlife SOS  sanctuary which  was established in 1995 to conserve and protect indias natuarl heritage and wildlife . At the sanctuary there  where  22 rescued elephants from circuses and from misuse elsewhere  to find out more or to sponsor an  elephant  go to

www.wildlifesos.org

after spending time here we went to the Taj mahal at agra which was absolutely amazing and a true love story- the photos are suberb but as I cant seem to post from my phone I will have to add later finally we visted agra fort which was another amazing place very Persian in design with wonderful views across to the Taj Mahal- we finally got back to our hotel about 8pm after driving through the most busy traffic you could imagine think M25 and M6 together with tuk tuks bikes and scooters and apparently no particular right of way anywhere! After a very welcome beer we are just about to go to bed before another day in Delhi tomorrow

27th february 2017-travel to delhi

today was a travelling day,after breakfast and picking up a packed lunch we got a tuk tuk to the airport with all our luggage.it was really sad to leave sangam andall the new friends we have made there in such a short time.
anyway our flight to Delhi was supposed to leave at 11.40 but was plane was hour late but we were happy people watching in the airport with indian snacks for lunch
we were met at Delhi airport and taken to our hotel the park and for some reason given an upgrade so we have a suite with a bath you could swim in almost!
very luxurious hotel just treated ourselves to afternoon tea and cake need to have early night being picked up in morning at 6.30am

26th February 2017

OK today we  had a cooking lesson at the home of Kamini and Kirti 2 very good friends of Sangam- we were priviledged to be welcomed in to their home  and be shown some really easy indian dishes to try out at home-  we were taken to be shown where the  flour was milled and the different types of flour used

we made lentil dahl, chapatis, rice raita and a pea & tomato dish- non of the food was overly spicy except for a vegetable chutney which  had rather  a kick!

 It was so good to be able to see how the different spices are used in everyday cooking and be given so much advice about cooking Indian food at home.

The amount of food that came out of such a small kitchen was
amazing and they were both so friendly- a sign in their home said

" a smile is the same in any language"

how true we have found that to be with everyone we have met this week.

It is very quiet at Sangam today the trefoil ladies left this morning and instead of going out on our last night- we are getting takeaway pizza so we can have our last dinner here at sangam with all the staff and volunteers who have made it so very special for us.
 we leave here at 9am tomorrow for our flight to Delhi- dont know if we can find a computer at hotel so will update when I can again
jane x

25th February 2017

 OK so I seem to have sorted this photo thing out - copy & paste if all else fails!

Another amazing day- started off at 7am with a climb up the water tower- michelle only ! to see the sunrise- more of that on FB
we then left at 9am to visit a maher home  which provides safety & support for the destitute & lonely- the one we went to was a refge for women and children escaping domestic abuse - they are given guidance to get themselves and their children back on track and

advice on forming co-operatives to earn and save money my making items such as  cards and bags to sell- It was a priviledge to have been invited to see what work they do- it was founded by Sister Lucy Kurien a catholic nun working in the area  - but help and support is available to all  with no boundaries of caste, or faith its mantra is the following

" Is God so smalll to be posssessed by one religion?"

If you want to find out any more  please look at www.maherashram.org

The children where so pleased to see us and just wanted to have their photos taken all of the time- as I said it was a priviledge to there even if for a short time.

This afternoon Michelle and I took ourselves off for an hour to the botanical gardens - before you all get too excited- it was the local park with a few flower beds- but we found a lovely tuk- tuk driver who took and waited for us  which was really helpful.

A quite night at sangam tonight- the trefoil guild ladies are leaving tomorrow and half of them have gone out for dinner- we decided to stay in and had chicken tacos for tea which were lovely.

looking forward to our last day  just hope the mossies are not so bad seem to have been eaten alive despite bands and repelllent.

24th February 2017

ok so today you have a picture- this is me  in the garden at sangam

 we have had yet another amazing day- after breakfast we went out into Pune city with Diana one of of the staff members here she took us round all the markets  so see all the different sorts of fruit and veg available- some so different to what we get at home the sights and  smells were wonderful .

after this we went shopping for material to get our punjabi sets made up- sarah you would be amazed how cheaper all the fabric is I was at a loss for what to choose.
we have spent the afternoon having a sleep - the heat in the middle of  the day is very intense - before having a swim - its a hard life ! and having indian spaghetti bolognese for dinner!

the food here is great all cooked freshly- Michelle & I have booked to go for an indian cookery lesson at someones house on sunday afternoon  which will be great- i watched the kitchen ladies making chapatis the other day- they just seem to do them so quickly.

tomorrow morning we are visiting one of the local community projects to see how sangam helps with local groups which will be interesting

we have met so many people while we are here from all over the world- many people volunteer for a short time other longer- at the moment there are people from chile, costa rica , belgium canada,  NZ sweden and of courese australia and the UK- it just shows what a world wide organistation guiding is

23rd February 2017

another amazing day- arrived properly at Sangam this morning- have a twin room with michelle- made to feel so welcolme- spent morning working out what we want to do for next few days- have decided to get punjabi tunics made so we will be going to get fabric tomorrow then a tailor comes in to make them!

Then we have organised to visit one of the local community projects on Saturday and to have an indian cookery lesson in the evening- there is so much to do- have been out shopping this afternoon  took a tuk- tuk into town what an experience- visited a few local craft shops and then had an iced tea in macdonalds- it had to be done and they had a/c !!

we were invited out by the trefoil guild group that are staying here  to the Hard Rock Cafe as it was one of their ladies 70th birthdays- what lovely group of ladies- they were on cocktails just to start the evening.

still cant upload photos internet really slow- those of you with facebook I have posted a few - the photos cannot do justice to the many amazing sights and sounds that are everywhere.

Happy thinking day to everyone!

Well we have arrived at sangam an early start we were here for 8.15 this morning- we spent the morning with theBharat scout &guides celebrating thinking day- It was so good to see all the local scout & guide groupsin their uniforms looking immaculate

Pune city is very busy aut rickshaws bikes scooters everywhere

Sangam is an oasis in the city  it is so peaceful with a a loveley pool  most welcolme inthe heat of the day- it is very multinational with volunteers from all over the world just showing how amazing being part of the scout & guide movement is- the manager jeni is from Tasmania and would you believe it I have meta guider tracey who is here  from Brailes about 20miles from home !!!

There is internet but photos seem to take forever to upload so will try again

Jenny hope the districttevent on sunday is a great sucess please pass on our Thinking day wishes to everyone

will try & get some photos on next blog - very much enjoying ourselves

jane x

21st february 2017

those who live know a lot,those who travel learn a lot-seen in Mumbai airport

we have arrived at our hotel in Pune after a 9 hour flight from heathrow and a 4 hour train journey!
we will have an early night tonight have taxi booked for 8am tomorrow for full day at Sangam for thinking day !

India 2017

18/02/2017

well here we are 2 sleeps to go until one of the biggest adventures of my life- a visit to India

all sort of ready bags packed- will probably repack again tomorrow !

Itinary  printed off- tickets and passport ready !!

The inspiration behind this trip is my great Aunty Margaret ( my mums aunt) who went to India  as a missionary- unlike us she travelled to India by ship on the SS city of Manchester setting sail from Liverpool in January of 1930- just over 87 years ago !!

I am going away with my very good friend Michelle from Tasmania whom I have known for 25 years since we met at Witan 92 an international scout camp in Denmark- this was the first time I had really ventured abroad by myself  and have since visited many other countries  both with Guiding and my family.

During our trip we will be visiting and staying at Sangam one of girl guiding world centres and will be there for world thinking day on February 22nd -which as a member of girl guiding UK will be such an experience.

This trip will also be one of the highlights of this year as I will be 50 in March and am looking forward to celebrating later in the year.

hope you enjoy following our travels and seeing what we get up to........