Saturday, November 29, 2008 – Amritsar, Delhi, New York
We honestly thought that Amritsar had no more to offer besides another trip to the Golden Temple, but we were so wrong. Our guide suggested that we go first to see a Hindu Temple (Mataka Mande?) which we described as a “cave”. I was a little nervous about this as I get claustrophobic in caves so I asked Cliff to be sure to bring his special flashlight. The joke was on me because not only was the temple not dark, but it also wasn’t really a “cave”! It turns out there is a real cave containing a Hindu temple in Jammu, but since local people can’t get to the temple in Jammu they’ve replicated one here in Amritsar. If only Doshi and Mary Campbell could have been with us; they would have adored this temple. I took as many photos for them as I could without getting hopelessly lost from my mini-group.
Then we returned for a daytime look at the Golden Temple. We had a chance to see Sikhs taking purification baths in the holy water (still wearing their requisite daggers). We also toured the kitchen where anyone is able to obtain a hot veg meal, 24/7, free of charge. Before we could leave we insisted upon finding a CD of the lovely chants/prayers we’d heard the night before. I’m looking forward to listening to mine on the flight home later today!
I am now writing back in Delhi at a nice hotel that we are able to wash up and repack in before heading to the airport at 8pm. Our flight leaves for the US after 11pm. Ferris and I need to reorient our thinking and dig out warmer wear for standing in line waiting for a taxi at Newark Airport. What a dreadful thought. I learned on the drive to the hotel from the airport that what I thought was a “bindi” that was applied to my forehead this morning at the Hindu Temple is in fact a “tikka”. Bindi is a term that refers to something fashionable whereas a real mark on the forehead given by a priest in a temple is a tikka. I am quite fond of my orange colored tikka which Vijay (our driver) explained to me is supposed to give one extra insight and vision regarding one’s life. I have never needed this more.
Needless to say we are sad to leave India. Cliff, Cathy, Ferris and I are already planning a new itinerary for Fall 2009! We’re talking about a zig-zag around India to take in stops missed on this trip, including Pushkar, the Buddhist caves at Elora and Ajanta, a return trip to Jaipur, a first time trip to Goa and perhaps other stops in the south. Good thing I got a 10 year India visa. I’m already ready to return.
No comments:
Post a Comment