The first farewells

Carl Lindquist, driver Balbender Singh, Sara E. McNeil, Kate Zibluk, Jack Zibluk, tour guide and fixer Saurav (Sam) Somani, Kalee Haywood and Shenetta Payne prepare for our last tour of Delhi before Kalee and Shenetta's departure in the evening. Sam and Mr. Balbender also departed our company that day.

Kalee Haywood and Shenetta Payne went home to Arkansas Thursday. The rest of the group will be staying on a few days to do some international recruiting recruiting for Arkansas State, and to prepare for next year's tour. We will be without the services of tour guide and fixer Saurav (Sam) Somani and driver Balbender Singh, who both were excellent companions and helpers.  I will be posting fewer entries in subsequent days.

Hear Kalee Haywood's final thoughts:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fps9Ais9AaA

Hear Shenetta Payne's final thoughts.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nePDxSYMdWw

Our last stop on the tour was to a Tibetan Buddhist refugee community. Since the Chinese invaded the Tibetan capital of Lhasa in 1959, many Tibetans have fled to India, including the most famous Tibetain, Tenzing Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama, who lives in Dharmsala.

Shenetta Payne observes a temple in the central square of the Tibetan community.

A monk takes a stroll through the square.

Kate Zibluk spins a prayer wheel at a Tibetan temple. As you spin the wheel, it releases its prayers.

If you meet a sadhu on the road...

On our last day in Rishikesh, I took a hike away from the Indian tourists.

A sadhu, or wandering holy man, walked up to me. He said he name is Baba and he was from Mumbai. As  many sadhus, he wanders around the country, asking for donations. I gave him 50 rupees, about a dollar.

Baba asked about me and my life. He said he noticed our party wandering
around town because we were among the only westerners.

Small-time, independent yogis await customers.

A handcraft salesman talks with his daughter.

A student reads at an ashram.




And then we departed down the mountain and went back to Delhi by train.

Indian trains are notoriously crowded.