Friday, 30 October 2015

Mother India, here we come.

Well here I am in India, having spent plenty of time on aircraft, flying through space and time to arrive in Daramshala today.  But first let me re-wind to departure whilst I can still recall events!!
Left Melbourne on Tuesday morning, to the airport by the very acceptable Sky Bus!!  What a surprise that was - peak hour traffic but left Spencer Street Station (sorry Southern Cross Station) at 8.10 am and arrived Tullamarine at 8.40!!  An $18.00 bargain.
Long, long queues to check in - nothing new there. John, Pete, Lianne and me are finally on our way.
Some 7 hours later - we arrive in Singapore and have to do a very hasty transfer to another terminal to connect with our flight to Delhi.  Oh, oh nooooo - Pete has mislaid his Passport as we are about to board the transfer train. Much throwing stuff out of bags, looking, searching.  Panic, panic and a bit more panic sets in. Pete returns to the arrival lounge (which is quite a distance if any of you know Changi Airport) while the 3 of us board the train to Terminal 3 and then running, running to the departure gate.  As we are trying to explain what has happened, miraculously Pete turns up - passport in hand.  Whew.  He'd left it in the seat pocket - Grrrrrrr




Lianne and John at Melbourne airport, doing that thing everyone does.

Singapore to Delhi - another 5 and a half hours - and then to the hotel - in bed at last.

Wednesday 28th - up early for breakfast and then we are off to the Lotus Flower Temple which is a bit like a folded Sydney Opera House


Lianne and Me
Lianne, John and Pete.

No photos are allowed inside, and they are very strict about this.
No shoes either - also very strict about this

Strangely, Indians like to have their photo taken with you, and ask if you will take a photo of them.  So now you will see my recently adopted Indian Family below!!
 
And this is Lianne's adopted Family - also strangely we seem to have the same little girl in our families!!
Oh well - it's nice to share. 

Ahh - The colours of India

And then it's off to  Swaminarayan Akshardham - a huge Temple complex set in a 100 acre site, dedicated to Bhagwan Swaminarayan.  It's very hard to describe this place - a mixture of kitsch and wonder.  A "River Caves" ride is included - complete with amazingly real statues depicting the History of India.  The building you see below is reminiscent of the domes you might see in Italy - intricate carvings all over.  The base of the building is surrounded by fantastic elephant carvings

 Lianne taking a "selfie".  


Sadly- my phone seemed to have died at this point
But do check out the website - www.akshardham.com
And if you ever visit Delhi - come here!

So today we flew to Dharmsala on a prop jet - (iphones are everywhere here too)


Ah yes - And more later.





No comments:

Post a Comment