Randy's 50th birthday travel adventures

In January and February 2011 I had the fabulous opportunity to travel through Northern India and Nepal. The photos and stories in this blog document my adventures and experiences; what I saw and what I learned. My travel started in Delhi, India and then led me to the spiritual town of Rishikesh, India for a week long stay at a yoga ashram - Rishikesh Yog Peeth. After that I traveled to Khajuraho, India to view the ancient Hindu erotic temples, tour a local farming town, and spend the day at a small Indian village. Next I traveled to the holy Hindu city of Varanasi where life revolves in and around the holy Ganges River. I spent a day visiting the town of Sarnath where Buddha offered his first teachings, and which served as a pre-cursor for my trip to Nepal and the Kopan Monastery to study meditation and Buddhism. After Varanasi, I flew to Kathmandu and spent a couple of days walking the streets of the city before venturing about a half-hour above the city to the Kopan Monastery for a week-long retreat to study meditation and Buddhism. Afterward I went back to Delhi and took a day trip to Agra to see the Taj Mahal.

The Indian railway system


            Traveling by Indian railway was a fantastic experience. The trains pretty much run on time, are clean, comfortable, and safe. There was a mix of foreign travelers and Indians using the trains, and it was great meeting and talking with fellow travelers. This website is a great way to view train schedules and book e-tickets inside and outside of India - www.cleartrip.com. The train stations were great for people watching and here are some of my photographs from the train stations, including photos of some of the thousands of Indians traveling to Delhi one day for an organized march protesting rising food and fuel costs.