ERRATA

It is with sincere apologies that the editor of this blog addresses an inaccuracy that appeared recently. The statement of measurement "5 cows" made in regards to the distance from the Golden Temple to the hotel the author resided in during her visit to Amritsar . This is a complete and utter (slight pun intended) fallacy. The author did not even observe 5 cows in all of the city of Amritsar in the period of March 22-24 (inclusive), let alone between monument and accommodations.

Please accept this apology. In light of such blatant, lying exaggeration one factual note - however, potentially more unbelievable than the false-cows: the existence of a mirage-like place called the Galaria. It confounded the India-adjusted senses and boggled the logical capacity of all linguistic likelihoods!

First off, that such a clean picturesque park existed, UNINHABITED only a few metres from the main road by a major tourist/pilgrimage site in a city of 1 million people is hard to conceptualize at all in India (for this author, at least). BUT that it also had well-manicured lawns, marble steps, fountains (albeit off), patios AND beautiful magenta-blooming shade-giving trees?! I almost teared up and was certainly speechless.

Tree in the Galaria outside the Golden Temple

It also had a lovely walking path (used by less than 10 people while I was there) and seeing that it was all shady and cool in the 30C degree + day... I was again surprised that there were so few people there!



So I sat myself down with my newly acquired book* on Sikh Philosophy and let my mind into this parkland oasis and allowed my senses a reprieve from the endless hectic show of which I tend to be a spectacle. (As all blonde (or red-) haired people in Asia can basically attest to.) Then I took a break from reading and just observed.



*Book note: I've gotta STOP buying books and start taking more pictures of flowers... the latter takes up WAY less suitcase space!



Rested.

And a little boy crossed the marble steps in front of me and a poem-like feeling crossed my mind.

barefoot and kicking

flower petals

Enter: A playful Breeze



to perpetuate the game -

tickling the blossoming branches

until one more floral ball

dives

in a delighted dance

into the arms of awaiting gravity

to twirl it gently

dip and spin

releasing softly to the



marble steps

to rest

poised

yet eagerly counting down

the next pair of bare

feet to come

and join the game.

After the Flower Kicker came the Flower Pickers

 THEN THIS HAPPENED! Little girls replaced the little boy and began to gather the flowers as I was taking some macro-floral shots. I gave them my photographic subject and then they...

Flower Girls (who ASKED me to take their photo - uh, YES!)

It was such a beautiful afternoon and I was even able to tell the portrait-girls that they were beautiful too! (my one minor accomplishment in Hindi... soon eradicated when they asked me a question about the picture that I was beyond useless to answer further than: A polite smile. I know I missed something...)

**oh and further note to the book-note: I am quite sure my 40Litre backpack must be, literally, 14Litres of books right now. Possibly 15L - too many Litres, L* too many Litres.

SUPER AmritS(T)AR

Yes, it is actually Amritsar but for some reason (and far too long) I referred to it (mentally, verbally and awkwardly) as Am-rit-star... nope. I might as well call Canada something like Ken-add-aye. Anyways my Amritsari experience has been so awesome I'll never pronounce it incorrectly again!

Seriously the only bad thing (which may have more to do with Mother Nature than the city) has been the excessive amount of mosquitoe bites I've gotten... in one night while I was sleeping* I got at least 12. And I know I was sleeping because the little devil bumps of swollen itchy-ness are in practical places like between my toes, on the sole of my foot, THREE on one elbow, on the back of EACH hand and on the knuckle of my right index finger. Yes, I have an itemized list!

What makes it a Super Star? Well for one I stumbled across one of the best hotels of all (which was even recommended in my Lonely Planet guide I left at home - see how good my instincts are?!) and have had a great time with Hotel Grace as my home base. It's only a few blocks* from the Golden Temple, they are well connected for info and tours and the like and I AM EATING LIKE A QUEEN AN ARMY OF QUEENS!

*the concept of blocks does not really exist here but it's the easiest way for me to describe. I doubt the more accurate descriptions of "five cows" or "18 souveiner shops" will paint a very exact picture.

Since I am feeling a bit tired after all my adventures today (and, honestly, I was just invited for an Indian whiskey so that trumps extended blogging, sorry folks).

And for my next trick, I mean trip...

Today is Monday. March 21st. I say this for myself and to acknowledge, for the first time that my blog-timing is a bit confused. Sometimes I am posting for "today" in Canada and sometimes I am posting for "today" in India. TODAY I did both. One post for Canada-today (Holi) and one post for India-today (travel plans). In the future when these are read there will be no confusion, but for today... confuse away! (Well, only to me).

I digress...

But I do want to announce my next travel plans today... Canada-today. I am going to be boarding my first India Railways train (originally in 3rd Class A/C but now half the journey will be in First Class... long story)! When you in Canada read this I will already be on the train and half-way through my re-location. Tonight (of India-today) I'm on the Express Dehradun-Amritsar. I will be spending three days in the Punjab state.

What is in Amritsar you might be wondering... well I am too - that's why I'm going. But I'm also looking forward to seeing the exquisite Sikh monument The Golden Temple. I read somewhere that it rivals the Taj Mahal. And then there's museums about the Punjab history and Sikhism that are sure to be informative and interesting. Of course the cuisine: I've got to eat some Punjab foods (close proximity within the Old City).

Another stop on most Amristar-tourists' lists? The Indo-Pakistan border! Apparently they have a bit of a show with the changing of the guards and a formal gesture of peaceful greeting between one sides guards and the other.

Mostly I am just eager to get out on my own for a couple days and see what another state of India is like. This may not QUITE fit in my "in-depth" and "meaningful" intention of Lyndia's India but as if I wasn't going to mention ANYTHING about it. I hope to give another update soon after my return, but there may be limited time as I will be off on another adventure the day after... Doon social-service project in west Uttakarhand.

One excursion at a time Lyndia. One excursion at a time. Don't forget about The Moment. Don't forget to Go-With-the-Flow.

Preparing for a Technocolour Surprise

I went out this morning: clean pale skin, long blonde hair, light denim pants, white t-shirt (and two white "under-layers" just-in-case-of-water-splashing).

I came back later this afternoon: green and yellow arms, pink & red face, orange-yellow-pink hair, rainbow spattered jeans and a neon camoflauge t-shirt that also tattooed my skin. I was plastered, layered in colour!

Post-Holi, Final Form

Happy Holi!

I spent an equal amount of time playing Holi and I did washing it off... scrubbing face, scrubbing clothes, scrubbing bathroom after the fact. Only slight fear? When my hair was rinsing reddish-pink after the second wash, but no harm done. Except for a patch of un-exposed skin (still) retaining a beautiful florescent-watermelon-with-vibrant-green-dots...

Let the HOLI-Playing Begin!

I arrived at the school outside the Rose Bowl at 10:12am and within 10 minutes the lawn, paths and students didn't look the same. I was given a packet of light-green dust (of an All-Natural vairety) and tried to figure out the game. An adult learning to play. A grown-up trying to celebrate a childhood she never knew. A Yes Ma'am being politely smeared with the powdered colours of Holi.

Girls of Many Colours: Where's Lyndia?

So you may be wondering - music? dancing? organized chaos? What's NOT to love? and more importantly... why? I asked around. I looked things up... and I learned the following:

- there are two kinds of Holi but it's kinda morphed into one celebration, always in the spring. Always on the Last Full Moon Day of the Feb/March lunar month.
  a) bonfires lit on Holi-eve for the Holika Dahan (or burning of Holika - a religious story in which God prevails.).
  b) colour! commonly played with both dry and wet colour, water guns, water balloons
- it's a festival that equalizes all people (and no one is safe!)
- always to the sounds of the Dholaks (traditional drums).

Dance! Dance! Dance!

- sometimes it gets out of hand and people in the streets start throwing less friendly colours... like paint.
- celebrations are bigger in North India but are epic in West Bengal where they start with music and singing at 6am! Also celebrated in Nepal & Sri Lanka.
- things usually calm down by lunch. Or at least by 2pm.
- it AWAYS rains just before or just after Holi. (This year it was the evening before so the colour-dusted streets are fun reminders of my first celebration!)
- at Doon they are still respectful and as I was encouraging one boy to throw the colour on me he advised otherwise "Actually Ma'ma it can get in people's eyes." - good point my multi-coloured-young-sir. Good ponit.
- There are sweets and snacks all OVER the place!



Colour Layer 1 of approximately 7

 Obviously... I LOVED IT!