Well as you will be aware we have safely positioned ourselves in Varanasi. This new location brings with it an opportunity for rest and personal reflection; both of which have been scarce during our first week in Kolkata.
Moreover, in the clean confines of Hotel Surya we have had an opportunity to shower today under an outlet of running water that appears from the wall, and even has these 'turny' things that allows for different types of water temperature.
Whilst several of the boys have found it uneasy to accept the disconnect between our current Hotel Surya environment and the India we have come to know in the last 7 days , I have attempted to reassure them that this deliberate move is a specific ploy to revitalise the bodies and minds before another busy leg that awaits in Delhi.
Clearly though we are nowhere near that 'Delhi reality' yet so let's focus on how today unfolded:
Monday 16 December
6am- The overnight train arrives at the Mughal Sarai Station. Unbelievably it is 20 mins early!! During the night many experienced a quality sleep, although a small group, including the Editor, had stayed awake on a promise made by Jake Robson that the Indian Railway samosas were the best in the land and someone would walk past selling them soon. Unfortunately they never arrived, possibly like most things in India. Of note, the efficient railways (which these days they actually are to be fair) only had a couple of spelling errors on the ticket itinerary. They included: Manke (Manks), Mr M. George S. (Clearly Mr Reuben McGregor-Sumpter) and Miss R Gandy (very fitting considering her aura)
6:20am- We jumped into auto rickshaws for our first ride in this style of transport; the destination of Varanasi was only 19km away, or a 35min drive. As we crossed the Ganges (Ganga) in the early hours of the morning a couple of the drivers sang out songs of praise, however a blanket of fog removed our ability to gain a view of the sacred river. In saying that it also increased the intrigue (we can't wait for tomorrow morning when we are actually on the river!)
7am- All group members arrive safely within the confines of Hotel Surya. Before them sits a garden, swimming pool and restaurant; all far removed from the Kolkata chaos. The journey in via auto rickshaw had resembled a much different landscape to Leg #1 (Kolkata) with more cows, less people, and a much lower temperature (unpack the thermal and fleece time!). Regardless of these differences however the environment witnessed during the drive in was still none-the-less Indian. Yet inside the gates of Hotel Surya we could easily have been standing in a totally different world
7:30am- We all 'take' breakfast at Hotel Surya. The concept of 'taking' is normal- you take breakfast, then you take rest, and most importantly, you take time with everything you attempt to achieve in this city. The morning breakfast by the way included omelettes, cereal, toast, Indian options of course, and orange juice. Being a buffet breakfast the actual serving table itself was also eaten in the process just to illustrate the impressive appetites of our teenage boys
8:30am- Free time is given on the condition no one leaves the hotel. The boys are free to shower, sleep, do laundry, blog, email parents, read books, eat, etc. In all 10 hours is available to complete these necessary tasks in life admin and relaxation!
6:30pm- We all meet up at the onsite restaurant. Will Allen proceeds to provide a superb account of the intricacies of the Buddhist religion. This is closely followed by Ben Toogood who superbly explains the historical context of a Varanasi and it's significance today. Combined they deliver highly informative and beneficial points of reference- awesome stuff
7:15pm- The Editor reads part of an extract from the 15 Dec 2011 blog. Two years ago, occurring a single day earlier on that particular yearly calendar, the 2011 group had a similar programme of events as us during their first 24 hours in Varanasi. Reading this blurb was not meant to illustrate that the current group are just statistics/numbers/another set, but moreover that they are currently experiencing a reality that by 4 Jan 2014, a total of 57 AGS students would have participated in. Sometimes it's nice to feel connected to a bigger story, even though we like to think we pave our own way forward in life
8:15pm- The meals arrive and are splendid! A mixture of curries and Asian cuisine, combined with the pizzas the boys had previously enjoyed throughout the afternoon in the garden, create extremely full stomachs for all concerned
9:20pm- Debrief begins with tonight's focus being firstly to pick a single card out of a wide collection. Each card had a statement (2-3 words) on it which included phrases such as 'awakening within', or 'daring to dream', or 'longing for freedom'. After examining the available choices, the boys selected a card that resonated with them. The key was then to explain why that particular card was chosen, with many choosing explanations that linked to their experiences in India, while others focussed more on how the card linked to other events in their life. An add-on task was then given - ignore the words and instead consider the most appropriate image sitting in the background of the cards. They then had to explain why that imagery had caught your eye. The inspiration for such a task was derived from a very special second mother in my world, and no surprises the debriefs were
extremely detailed and thought-provoking as an outcome
10pm- The students join the staff in the Mango Tree Bar for a round of Cokes ahead of an earlier night, with the excitement of a 5am start (and the wicked Ganga) capturing everyone's attention
11pm- The final lights switch out as the Editor attempts to round up the lost sheep and push them into their respective rooms
So it was a highly enjoyable day full of time to enjoy good food, unusual massages, great card-play, and importantly a time for rest.
Tomorrow morning is a rather exciting time as the boys will witness the Ganges in all its glory. Superbly, we will have 22 students on deck, healthy and ready to relish the moment. We hope jealously doesn't reign among the parents and supporters of this blog when we note we are in one of the most spiritual of places on earth right now and are totally connected to the vibe.
Ben
MVP- Miss R Candy. This lady is wonderfully beautiful. She has taken to given hugs to the boys as they come out of their spells of sickness, and was even overheard saying how she appreciates Harison Manks, which is tough considering no one likes him. But seriously, in an act of total selflessness today, Rachel sat alongside some seasoned South African tourists and entertained their conversations on two occasions today whilst they frolicked in the Hotel's garden area. Now for a short description- these 3 South African ladies are truly 'intrepid travellers' who are not only transported by private Air Con 4WDs, but clearly love the country of India, even though they have never really met the people, as they are "a little dirty", etc. Importantly here they were talking to our R Candy who entertained their ridiculous ideas, opinions and travel advice for 30 mins. In all, it seems highly rude to not award this acknowledgment to Rachel who smiled and nodded throughout the entire conversation in the fashion that every Indian has done in our direction throughout this tour.
Thought- Stepping Outside. Sometimes we need to step outside the current reality. Stepping outside allows us the chance to make comparisons between one reality and another, and when we make the time to get this right we grow exponentially in the understanding of ourselves and the wider world. So, when did you take a moment to step outside and look back in on your world?
Moreover, in the clean confines of Hotel Surya we have had an opportunity to shower today under an outlet of running water that appears from the wall, and even has these 'turny' things that allows for different types of water temperature.
Whilst several of the boys have found it uneasy to accept the disconnect between our current Hotel Surya environment and the India we have come to know in the last 7 days , I have attempted to reassure them that this deliberate move is a specific ploy to revitalise the bodies and minds before another busy leg that awaits in Delhi.
Clearly though we are nowhere near that 'Delhi reality' yet so let's focus on how today unfolded:
Monday 16 December
6am- The overnight train arrives at the Mughal Sarai Station. Unbelievably it is 20 mins early!! During the night many experienced a quality sleep, although a small group, including the Editor, had stayed awake on a promise made by Jake Robson that the Indian Railway samosas were the best in the land and someone would walk past selling them soon. Unfortunately they never arrived, possibly like most things in India. Of note, the efficient railways (which these days they actually are to be fair) only had a couple of spelling errors on the ticket itinerary. They included: Manke (Manks), Mr M. George S. (Clearly Mr Reuben McGregor-Sumpter) and Miss R Gandy (very fitting considering her aura)
6:20am- We jumped into auto rickshaws for our first ride in this style of transport; the destination of Varanasi was only 19km away, or a 35min drive. As we crossed the Ganges (Ganga) in the early hours of the morning a couple of the drivers sang out songs of praise, however a blanket of fog removed our ability to gain a view of the sacred river. In saying that it also increased the intrigue (we can't wait for tomorrow morning when we are actually on the river!)
7am- All group members arrive safely within the confines of Hotel Surya. Before them sits a garden, swimming pool and restaurant; all far removed from the Kolkata chaos. The journey in via auto rickshaw had resembled a much different landscape to Leg #1 (Kolkata) with more cows, less people, and a much lower temperature (unpack the thermal and fleece time!). Regardless of these differences however the environment witnessed during the drive in was still none-the-less Indian. Yet inside the gates of Hotel Surya we could easily have been standing in a totally different world
7:30am- We all 'take' breakfast at Hotel Surya. The concept of 'taking' is normal- you take breakfast, then you take rest, and most importantly, you take time with everything you attempt to achieve in this city. The morning breakfast by the way included omelettes, cereal, toast, Indian options of course, and orange juice. Being a buffet breakfast the actual serving table itself was also eaten in the process just to illustrate the impressive appetites of our teenage boys
8:30am- Free time is given on the condition no one leaves the hotel. The boys are free to shower, sleep, do laundry, blog, email parents, read books, eat, etc. In all 10 hours is available to complete these necessary tasks in life admin and relaxation!
6:30pm- We all meet up at the onsite restaurant. Will Allen proceeds to provide a superb account of the intricacies of the Buddhist religion. This is closely followed by Ben Toogood who superbly explains the historical context of a Varanasi and it's significance today. Combined they deliver highly informative and beneficial points of reference- awesome stuff
7:15pm- The Editor reads part of an extract from the 15 Dec 2011 blog. Two years ago, occurring a single day earlier on that particular yearly calendar, the 2011 group had a similar programme of events as us during their first 24 hours in Varanasi. Reading this blurb was not meant to illustrate that the current group are just statistics/numbers/another set, but moreover that they are currently experiencing a reality that by 4 Jan 2014, a total of 57 AGS students would have participated in. Sometimes it's nice to feel connected to a bigger story, even though we like to think we pave our own way forward in life
8:15pm- The meals arrive and are splendid! A mixture of curries and Asian cuisine, combined with the pizzas the boys had previously enjoyed throughout the afternoon in the garden, create extremely full stomachs for all concerned
9:20pm- Debrief begins with tonight's focus being firstly to pick a single card out of a wide collection. Each card had a statement (2-3 words) on it which included phrases such as 'awakening within', or 'daring to dream', or 'longing for freedom'. After examining the available choices, the boys selected a card that resonated with them. The key was then to explain why that particular card was chosen, with many choosing explanations that linked to their experiences in India, while others focussed more on how the card linked to other events in their life. An add-on task was then given - ignore the words and instead consider the most appropriate image sitting in the background of the cards. They then had to explain why that imagery had caught your eye. The inspiration for such a task was derived from a very special second mother in my world, and no surprises the debriefs were
extremely detailed and thought-provoking as an outcome
10pm- The students join the staff in the Mango Tree Bar for a round of Cokes ahead of an earlier night, with the excitement of a 5am start (and the wicked Ganga) capturing everyone's attention
11pm- The final lights switch out as the Editor attempts to round up the lost sheep and push them into their respective rooms
So it was a highly enjoyable day full of time to enjoy good food, unusual massages, great card-play, and importantly a time for rest.
Tomorrow morning is a rather exciting time as the boys will witness the Ganges in all its glory. Superbly, we will have 22 students on deck, healthy and ready to relish the moment. We hope jealously doesn't reign among the parents and supporters of this blog when we note we are in one of the most spiritual of places on earth right now and are totally connected to the vibe.
Ben
MVP- Miss R Candy. This lady is wonderfully beautiful. She has taken to given hugs to the boys as they come out of their spells of sickness, and was even overheard saying how she appreciates Harison Manks, which is tough considering no one likes him. But seriously, in an act of total selflessness today, Rachel sat alongside some seasoned South African tourists and entertained their conversations on two occasions today whilst they frolicked in the Hotel's garden area. Now for a short description- these 3 South African ladies are truly 'intrepid travellers' who are not only transported by private Air Con 4WDs, but clearly love the country of India, even though they have never really met the people, as they are "a little dirty", etc. Importantly here they were talking to our R Candy who entertained their ridiculous ideas, opinions and travel advice for 30 mins. In all, it seems highly rude to not award this acknowledgment to Rachel who smiled and nodded throughout the entire conversation in the fashion that every Indian has done in our direction throughout this tour.
Thought- Stepping Outside. Sometimes we need to step outside the current reality. Stepping outside allows us the chance to make comparisons between one reality and another, and when we make the time to get this right we grow exponentially in the understanding of ourselves and the wider world. So, when did you take a moment to step outside and look back in on your world?
Dear Mr Editor
ReplyDeleteIt's been so good to be able to read your blogs and be transported into India through the conversations that have unfolded. The boys will be forever changed through such an enriching experience. What a privilege for you, Rachel and Shane to hear their reflections on what has been going on within each boy at this stage of their lives.
I am optimistic of our future when I think of the great work people such as yourself are doing with the younger generation....exposing them to a world beyond their own, widening their perspectives and giving them the opportunity to express themselves as they grow in awareness of themselves and those around them.....and becoming aware of the important place they have in shaping tomorrow's world.
The choice for good is heightened when we are exposed to the consequences of so much poverty and have mentors to help us process this with compassion, insight and a call for justice.
On the flip side, after adjusting to the sensory overload, they will also discover the joys that can be found when they see the people of India enjoying family and the simple pleasures we often take for granted.
What a great bunch of guys who bring so much energy and many different talents to this life changing adventure.
Go well future son-in-law....proud you are part of our family
Raewyn