We traveled from February 22, 2018 through March 4, 2018. We arrived in Delhi and stayed overnight before taking a train to Agra. Navigating a railway station in India can be quite intimidating but finally we were on our way to meet our hosts in Agra. First impressions of India besides the beautiful, colorful clothing the women wear are the incredible amount of garbage everywhere and the significant number of people living in poverty (at least by North American standards). There are cows, pigs, dogs and goats roaming aimlessly and feeding off the available garbage.
Photo Caption: Ian and Hillary Brown, Lorna Curtis, Bonnie Murrell, Susan Graves, Tiffini Walker
Team Members:
Ian and Hillary Brown – Sidney by the Sea Club
Lorna Curtis – Oak Bay Rotary Club
Bonnie Murrell – Rotary Club of Nanaimo
Susan Graves – Whitehouse (soon to be a Rotarian)
Tiffini Walker – Rotary Club of Chehalis
Ian and Hillary Brown – Sidney by the Sea Club
Lorna Curtis – Oak Bay Rotary Club
Bonnie Murrell – Rotary Club of Nanaimo
Susan Graves – Whitehouse (soon to be a Rotarian)
Tiffini Walker – Rotary Club of Chehalis
Agra is where the Taj Mahal is located and it is magnificent structure, it definitely lived up to our expectations. In addition to visiting Agra we visited other cities in the district Aligarh, Vrindavan and Kanpur. One thing you quickly learn about the culture in India – everyone wants to feed you, even if you are not hungry and everything is ‘no problem’. Some of the highlights of our trip (besides visiting the Taj Mahal) – visiting; the Lynx lock factory, a Rotary supported orphanage where the children performed for us, a couple of schools supported by Rotary, dipping our feet in the Ganges River, meeting a Hindu Guru and staying at a Hare Krishna Temple in Kanpur. We will never forget our stay at what we called the ‘Exotic Marigold Hotel’ in Vrindavan! We also had the experience of participating in ‘Holi’. Holi is a spring festival, which involves everyone being covered in coloured powder and water.
Photo Caption: At Holi: Ian and Hillary Brown, Lorna Curtis, Bonnie Murrell, Susan Graves, Tiffini Walker
After our RFE was finished we all participated in a tour of southern India for 5 days (where we shopped, went to a play, did some sightseeing, yoga and relaxed! Southern India has less garbage and their owners care for the animals.
The most memorable part of an RFE is the people – not only the people you meet in the district you visit, but more importantly the people you travel with! We were a group of people who did not know each other before meeting in December and we could not have asked for a better group to travel with – there were lots of bumps during our India adventure but we all took care of each other and shared lots of love and laughter – new lifelong friendships! Thank you District 5020 for this memorable experience.
The most memorable part of an RFE is the people – not only the people you meet in the district you visit, but more importantly the people you travel with! We were a group of people who did not know each other before meeting in December and we could not have asked for a better group to travel with – there were lots of bumps during our India adventure but we all took care of each other and shared lots of love and laughter – new lifelong friendships! Thank you District 5020 for this memorable experience.