SUNDERNAGAR

Never heard of this place, but my friend Karen from Petersburg Alaska referred me to friends she got to know on her trip to India maybe 10 years ago. 

She got to know the little girl and her grandfather during her walk.  Karen, if you know her, is the ultimate traveler and ambassador of kindness.  Well, this encounter led to Karen developing a lasting friendship with this family.  The little girl, Priya, is now a grown woman attending her first year of college in Shainghai.  She is a scholar and is studying Chinese.  When I reached out to Priya, she invited me to spend Diwali with her family, even though she would be in Shanghai.  I graciously took advantage of their kind offer as I was excited to spend the time in an unknown place with a Jain family.  A Jain family belongs to the religion of Jain. They all carry the same last name. They are vegetarians, if not vegans, and believe that all nature should exist in harmony and unity.  This is also a practice that I respect and honor.
Not knowing what to expect, I prepared myself for anything.  I was surprisingly pleased.  They live in a concrete house in what I would describe as in the countryside. 

The father, Lokesh, is a supervisor for the hydroelectric company.  He drives a scooter to work, and they walk daily, maybe once or twice in their neighborhood.   It is a lovely place.  The people are wonderful.  We often stopped in to visit someone and were treated to tea, milk tea, cookies, and water.  They were all so friendly and pleasant. 

The son, Sambhav also came to visit, and we all drove the Reslawar, a Tibetan Hindu village.  It was so peaceful and beautiful there.  I loved seeing many people walking around the Lotus shaped Lake, holding their prayer beads.  I met an older monk, and we smiled and acknowledged each other and did our best to communate as I helped him find a seat at the local coffee, tea, and street food establishment.   It was wonderful.  We all walked and enjoyed the scenery. 

The father also took me to Minala  a nearby town that is known for their temples.  We stopped along the way to see his friend in the insurance business and again was offered water and tea.  We also got some help to the bus as we were carrying lots of vegetables and grains from the market.  I would have stayed longer but decided to head to Chandigarh.  I truly enjoyed my visit with the Jain family, her mom, Nitu, made awesome homecooked food, and the father, Lokesh, was a hoot as he talked just about everything.  

The son was also pleasant and helpful.  I also got to meet other friends.  I got to know Priya’s mom quite well.  We shared stories, and she shared some of her dreams and goals.

I hope to go back and visit again.  We surely will keep in touch.
Chandigarh was something else.  I stayed near the lake.  I enjoyed walking to the lake and visiting the rock garden.  There, I met a man as we bonded over a dog named Lucy. 

It all started with me walking on the path, and I saw this dog, which looked like she was chained to the bench.  I went over just to find out, but he was just laying under the bench.  As I stayed, I enjoyed the scenery  then a man came walking straight over and sat down.  I thought that was weird but then realized that he came to see the vdog… not me.  We started talking and visited for over an hour.  Then I went on my way to the rock garden. 

The Rock Garden was amazing.  Anyone who knows me knows that I like rocks and have from different areas that I have traveled to.  Well, this rock garden consisted of clocks of all shapes and sizes, other fixtures made into shapes.  So creative.  Just loved it. 
On my way back, I passed the bench, and low and behold, he was still there, but without Lucy.  We talked again… this time for maybe 2 hours.  We shared contact info and will keep in touch. 
Well… I met the laundry guy a few doors down from my hotel.  We talked and he was really nice.  Showed me a picture of his son.  When I went shopping the next day I bought some some dried fruits and nuts. 
Then it was off to the airport.  I woke up a little late, so I ended up rushing.  The hotel booked a taxi for me, but I felt it was a little late in timing.  Well, it was.  The cab driver was concerned, and we tried to check in, but it was too late.  Upon arrival to the airport, I rushed out to the counter , and they said it was too late even though I had about an hour to take off.  They sent me to the counter, and she found another flight that would get me to Kochi earlier in the day.  That was OK, so I headed towards security.  When I passed security I was looking for my phone… I use two phones – the older one for text messages and the newer one has the India sim card in it.  I could locate my older phone.  Security tried to help me and sent my things back through the machine to help find the phone.  To no avail and I had to catch my plane.  So anyway, I figured I left it in the hotel room in my rush.  I’d have to figure that out later.  Then I remembered the laindry guy next door who I had been messaging him through Instagram.  I sent him a message to please go talk to the hotel.  Then I boarded.
Stopover in Bangladore, I found wifi to check my messages.  He said the hotel couldn’t find my phone.  Now, I am really confused.  Maybe under the bed or something. Well, gotta get on the flight to Kochi…