2007 Travel Scholarship Report - Sarah Ross

I am sorry to say this swan didn't swim in the Ganges, but took a boat trip instead! An amazing experience nonetheless and slightly more hygienic.

From initial plans of arriving in Bangalore in south India due to unforeseen circumstances, we were redirected to Delhi - so began our adventure, numerous phone calls to and from home and rescheduling of visits and plans. At least starting in the north of India we knew we had to quickly re-arrange to ensure achieving goals and be in Chennai by 20/08/07 for departure to Colombo prior to returning home on 25/08/07.

I was lucky my brother Adrian was with me and had previously visited India as part of his Religious Studies Degree.

It would be easy to write a little about all the places we visited, but that would read a little like a what's where of India and would take up pages:- Delhi, Jaipur, Agra, Varanasi, Allahabad, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Kerala, Chennai and last but not least Kandy (Colombo).

I will try and share with you the flavours of India and the impact that remains with me.

From the small part of India I explored / saw I can safely say that it is a beautiful country filled with more sensations than I could have ever imagined. From the vibrant colours of the saris and the bindi to the tantalizing aromas of the spices, from the peace and tranquillity of a place of worship to the hustle and bustle of the streets, and from the touch of pure silk pashminas that fit through wedding rings to the touch of the many poverty stricken adults and children desperate for a few rupees. 

In India you receive an education which I believe to be unique, Socially, to see the diversity of so many people living in harmony together. Where in England would you have the hotel owner inviting you to have lunch with his visiting family? Psychologically, India makes you assess your own lifestyle and outlook on life. You are able to compare and contrast young peoples lives there with your own.

Educationally, to witness the diversity of the education system, from `high class` colleges and universities in the cities to volunteers being responsible for teaching people in rural areas and the street and railway children whose only education is coping skills needed to survive.

Geography, the sheer vastness of the country, the changing climate and natural geography from the north to the south; History, to witness at first hand the remains of Colonial Britishness through customs, eg, afternoon teas and in the architecture of fine buildings and monuments: Technology, to see the difference modern technology has made on the lives and way of life in Bangalore (Techno City of India) and how other rural areas are virtually untouched by technology: English, so well spoken, you just have to remember to shake your head for yes and nod for no:
Maths, you soon forget to convert £1=Rupees72 and quickly learn when items are cheaper or more expensive than you think. Religiously, to experience so many religious beliefs being practised in one country is awe inspiring. The grandeur of the many different places of worship is something to be witnessed and to being invited to share in some of the different types of worship enables you to see the importance religion plays in so many peoples lives.

In India I learned about myself, about my dads family background, about a different way of life. I have felt humbled at times to be so privileged to have what I have and to have given so little to the needy people in India.

An immense, diverse country, India's richness is its` people and the welcome you receive wherever you go.

It was a childhood dream come true to visit India. I was expecting it to be shock to the system once I arrived there, but stepping out of Delhi airport was like stepping out into a different world. It was amazing and outstanding. In fact I'm not sure words could describe the feeling I had upon arrival. Even after 10 hours of flying all I wanted to do was explore and experience India!! Now I yearn to re-live it all again.

Whilst in India we did inevitably miss some of the comforts we were used to back at home, on reflection it was mainly the things we took for granted, a soft comfy mattress and constant hot running water, that's one thing that, excuse the pun, on tap in the U.K. in India hot running water was a luxury, even in hotels, in some places we had to have cold showers (you get used to it though) and in others hot water was available, from the ‘water boy' - who went round the hotel with buckets of hot water. However one thing I know I didn't miss too much was English food (although admittedly I did miss vegetables). The food there was amazing and completely different from Indian cuisine in the U.K. I think we were lucky in that not one of the meals we had were bad. We even got invited to join the hotel owner and his family when we were in Sri Lanka. One thing I can say I've taken away from this trip is the courage to try new things, even if I have no idea how to pronounce it or of what it is.

Our short trip to Sri Lanka came as a welcome break before returning home. We spent our four days in Kandy (Maha Nuvara) in the midst of hills in the Kandy Valley. Whilst we were there we were very lucky as our visit coincided with the Kandy Esala Perahera, a 10 day festival honouring the sacred tooth relic of the Buddha. We were only there to see the first five nights of this spectacular festival. Traditional dancers, drummers, caparisoned elephants, Kandyan Chieftains (Nilames) paraded the streets of Kandy each night. We were told by our hotel owner that the parade grew each night in both length and by the number of people and elephants involved, by the 10th night the parade travels around the entire town of Kandy and involves numerous elephants, with one having the honour of carrying the sacred tooth. It was sad that we were only there for the start of the festival and because it was such an amazing experience I intend to go back one day to experience the festival from beginning to end.

Whist in Sri Lanka we also made a visit to the infamous Pinnawela elephant orphanage. This 24 acre orphanage has around 70 elephants. They are allowed to roam freely and it was amazing to was the heard interact, socialise and play with each other. Watching the elephant bath in the Maha Oya River was an absolutely beautiful sight and being around these serene animals in such a beautiful setting had such a calming effect. One of the elephants there was brought in at two years old, from the northern part of the country, with the lower part off her front foot blown off by a land mine. It was amazing to see this animal coping and growing up with that leg about six inches shorter than the other, she is now twelve.

I don't think I will ever have an experience/time like I've had In India and if (when) I return again I think it would be a completely different experience. She is still a young country since its independence and is changing and growing in many ways all the time. There is so much more to see of India, so much more to learn, I think it would take life time and more. After a time, even with us moving around, India began to feel like home and by the time we were leaving Tamil Nadu for Sri Lanka it was home. Given the chance I would go back to Incredible India in a heartbeat.

Thank you to everyone at BGS who helped me achieve this journey.

I hope to return to India when I have finished my degree.

I will keep you informed.

With many thanks and many memories,
Sarah Ross.