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.

Sightseeing in Delhi - Jain Temple and the bird hospital

Across the street from the Red Fort is a magnificent Jain Temple. The Jains also operate a bird hospital next door to the temple which houses injured bird which are rehabilitated and released back into the wild.

Sightseeing in Delhi - Humayun's Tomb

Humayun's tomb is the tomb of the Mughal Emperor Humayun, and set the precedent for Mughal architecture ultimately leading to the construction of the Taj Mahal.

Diary from Delhi - Day 2

               Wow - another dizzying day spent running around Delhi! I started off on a quest to find a SIM card (finally) with the folks from Beijing. We took a short subway ride to an area recommended by the hotel. Like most areas in Delhi it's a circle and after making about three trips around we found a tiny shop packed with people -- a copy service, a notary, a phone guy, and no telling what else!

             Fortunately I was told ahead what to expect when a foreigner wants a SIM card - so I was prepared: "Sorry sir you need your passport to purchase a sim card." I came prepared and even had extra copies of my passport. "Sorry sir you will need a passport size photograph also." I was prepared for that ridiculous requirement, but didn't have any other those. "OK sir, you will have to go to the photo booth store; it's just around the corner. He will take your photograph and then you will come back here and purchase your sim card." So after two more trips around the circle, we found the photo studio. "OK sir that will be 50 rupees. Me: "OK whatever." Now with passport photos in hand we went back around (only once this time) to the sim card man. This time the store was beyond standing room only - apparently everyone in India run out of phone time at the same time! OK, get the card, put it in, and of course, it doesn't work! What?! Go back to store - directly without anymore needless circles. "Hey sir, the phone doesn't work." SIM card man: "You will wait until after 1:30 and it will work." What?! "Yes, sir, that is required for the phone to be activated." (Did I mention that it was also required that I sign the forms in 6 different places and put in my local address, my home address, and my father's name - go figure!

            So now it's time for lunch, and maybe a good opportunity to let the digital world catch up to us. So after making 2 more passes around the circle we found a lovely Indian restaurant and had a great meal. OK sir, it's time for the phone to work. "No sir, not just yet. You turn it off and wait 2 more minutes and then turn it back on." Yeah right. So with Vikram's name, number and address (I forgot to get his father's name - damn) we walked around the circle one more time and found our way back to the subway. That was at 1:00 today - it's now 7:00 pm and I successfully placed my first call - to the couple from Beijing -- I still can't place a call home! Oh well. How about an e-mail? Oh yeah, and there was still time to visit the Qutab Minar and the most overwhelming site - Humayan's Tomb. I'm off to Rishikesh by train tomorrow and we'll see if I can successfully call someone other than Beijing and his wife.


            Everything works in India - EVENTUALLY!
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