Our trip from Agra to Bareilly

Agra & the District Conference

We have finally arrived in Agra but it is late so Rahul, our host again, orders us in pizza so we can rest before the start of the conference.

We sat through the first day of the conference which, with the exception of our presentation and the speech by the RI Representative, was mostly in Hindi…RI Rep.Shastri gave a good talk and even mentioned “Indian Time". They gave a report on the state of their district….they had very impressive membership figures. The first 6 months of this Rotary Year they have had a 200 member increase in their district. Way to go district 3110!!!. India should be very proud of the fact that they have moved ahead of Japan in total membership and now sit #2 behind the US. They also are # 4 on the list of total Foundation Giving. Their focus this year is to end polio in their district, increase eye donations, and Literacy.

We finally got to give our power point presentation and it went really well and I think everyone enjoyed it. Got rave reviews from RI Rep. Team is representing us well.
We have met so many Rotarians and as always are being treated like royalty. Over the top hospitality!!

After lunch, we left and went to the Taj Mahal. We had a personnel tour guide so in addition to viewing one of the “seven wonders of the world” we got a bit of history of the area. It was spectacular!!!!!!! Too beautiful for words.

In the evening we returned to the conference to watch a cultural program of music and dance and have dinner.

The final day of the conference the keynote speaker spoke on “Eye Donation”. She was excellent.

After the conclusion of the conference we headed to the Agra Fort…and another personal tour….followed by some local shopping.

In the evening we had a meeting with the Agra Central Club. It was the first meeting we have been to that was all in Hindi. DG Dr. Raju and Arun were with us again.

The next day they moved us to a Hotel for our Isolation Day. On the way to the hotel Rahul took us to a craft center where we could see how they made marble into tables and crafts. This large elephant is all hand made out of marble. They also had many other crafts including rugs. After tea and snacks we were off to our hotel. We spent the rest of the day relaxing and wandering through the local markets….Pizza Hut for dinner!! Oh and we had to make a stop at McDonalds for French Fries!!!

The next morning after breakfast we were off to Mathura (the home of Lord Krishna).

Only a short ride and arrived first in Vrindraban where they took us to a local Temple where they had a large food facility, run by holy men (sort of like monks) where they made lunches and delivered to the surrounding village schools. The facility was extremely clean and well run. Everyone working with the food had to wear hair nets. Their focus was on getting a balanced meal to each kid. They felt that the kids would be better able to study in school if they had one good meal a day. They feel that education is the main answer to poverty in their country. They have facilities in about 7 states and feed about 1.3 million kids everyday. Their goal is to get to 5 million per day. The wheat and rice are donated by the government but everything else is paid through donations. Very impressive organization.

They then they they took us to their local art gallery of one of the famous artists. After lunch we were off to our hosts in Matura. We all stayed in the same home. His family is third or fourth generation in the town. Very well known in the community. That evening we went to the Lori Day Festival in town. Dr Raju and Arun joined us in the festivities!! It was outdoors in a large courtyard. They had a stage set up with lots of music and dancing and camel rides!! Then a rain storm came through and we all ran for cover till it blew through. Lori Day is the festival of the harvest. During the evening we were privileged to meet a famous Muslim freedom fighter that is out spoken against terrorism. He was the guest of the Rotary and surrounded by armed guards as the terrorists have attempted to kill him a couple of times.

The next day we toured a hospital where all services were provided for free and a private hospital run by a family of physicians. We also toured a planned housing community of town houses. These seem to be the new rage in India. Sometimes they are individual houses and sometimes townhouses. Apartment house is also being built. We had dinner at another celebration of the Lori Festival in one of the local planned communities. They had a big bon fire that you throw in a handful of peanuts, popcorn and assorted nuts. Then you have to pick up six pieces from around the fire and eat them for luck.

We soon had to leave our new friends and head for Aligarh (Lock City) where we were met by the local Rotary members at the Jain temple. We were given a tour and learned the history of the Jain. We were then pulled away to the DPS School next door. They wanted us to kick off the Kite Festival. I was asked to fly the first kite of the day to kick of the festival. The local newspaper was there to cover us. They seem to be everywhere. I think we have made the paper in every city we have visited!!!

After lunch we went to visit a literacy project being funded by a couple of local Rotarians. They teach basic reading and writing to local village women and children people. They gave a bonus for 100% attendance for a year. They are really trying to teach the villagers the value of an education. Afterward we went to visit two schools totally funded by one man, for the poor children. He spends all of his money on these schools. A true humanitarian. And of course we had tea and snacks!!

After we left we went to the Muslim University for a short tour.

In the evening we went to a dinner and cultural show….DG joined us again. It was Lori’s birthday and they surprised her with a cake. As was their custom they fed her cake and a little got all over her face and hair!!!

After breakfast we were off to Kashipur….long ride …five hours in our van. In Kashipur we were hosted in a hotel owned by a local Rotarian. Oh my …soft beds and hot showers American style!!! Had a light lunch with Rotarians in hotel

After lunch we took a tour of the local Glycols factory. They were a very progressive and environmentally conscious company. They also provided a lot of services to their employees and their families. They provided a medical clinic for the employees and families as well as to the local villagers.

We are now on day 17 and are having another vocational day. I was escorted to one of their high security manufactures locate near their military bases. I found very high tech security and a working fire system. They had their own fire response team on sight.

That night the local Rotarians had a great party outdoors under a tent. The weather has been so cold that they had big bon fires going under the tent. I was again asked to “garland “ Paul Harris and light the opening religious candle. Paul Harris had never looked so good!!! I keep putting garlands of flowers on him. They have a very active Interact club that I spent some time talking with. They had a great band.

The next morning after breakfast we toured some local factories. We went to a paper mill and a plastic bag factory. Both factories use all recycled products. This whole town is focused on recycled products and a green environment. We then toured a pea factory where they produced frozen peas. Then we toured a textile Mill and had lunch in their dinning room. We ha a new dish made from lentils…we all loved and our host said they would buys us some dried beans to bring home.

On the way back to hotel we stopped by the new building built by the Rotary Club. They provide Physical Therapy and artificial limbs. Then our host for the day…the club secretary…took us for a stroll through the local market. We walked among the cows, vendors, rickshaws and lots and lots of people. Lori found some shawls. I think Allen was only tolerating us and shopping!!! He is a good sport about it.

It is now

Day 18 and we are off to Jim Corbett Park and our Elephant ride!! This is our shortest trip …only an hour an a half. OH MY!!! This is the life ..Luxury at its best. Swimming pool, spa and it sits on the river at the edge of Jim Corbett Park. On arrival we were greeted by the cub president and secretary and had tea and then lunch. In the afternoon they arranged a safari by open jeep through the park. So sad no tigers to be found. Only saw monkeys, deer and birds but it was a beautiful ride.

That night the whole club and their families hosted us with a cultural show out on the lawn and music. They have 11 members…small but very active.

The next morning we were off for our Elephant ride. It was fabulous. We all rode on the back of an elephant for a couple of hours through the forest. Sometimes the elephant was making his own trail!! Again no Tigers but lots of spotted dear.

That night we were again joined by the Rotarians and we watched a movie on tigers in the recreation room and then had dinner.

So sad we had to leave our lovely accommodations….off to Pant Nagar.

We were hosted by the University of Agriculture a Technology. The University was started in the 1960”s in conjunction with the University of Illinois. One of the largest universities in India. It is a learning university. We toured the fish hatchery and farm. They are teaching farmers how to create a business with a fish farm. They come to school here and learn the correct way to produce a good product for the public. They also teach them how to cook the fish for sale. We were able to observe a class. They had 60 ponds…growing 6 types of fish. We had a dinner meeting with their club members. All employed by the university….most number of highly educated members (PhD’s)..Great fellowship. After dinner Allen and I accepted an invitation to a local wedding to take place that evening. It was quite spectacular!!! Husband arrives by horse drawn carriage…well decorated. They a half an hour later the bride is escorted by her family to the two thrones set at the front of the room. There are about 1000 people in attendance!! So much food…Indians love food. Then they exchange flower garlands and everyone takes pictures. Later in the evening they have religious blessing and lots of food and dance till wee hours of the morning!

Breakfast was early and we were off to our last stop..Bareilly.

We were met by local Rotarians and had tea at the Rotary Building. Dr Mehra gave us a tour of the basement where he built Prosthesis of amputees and Polio victims. We had lunch ad then were taken to host families. Betty Jo and I are being hosted by Sanjeev and his wife and two small children. We had some free time to get to know our families and then we were off to our first dinner meeting in Bareilly.
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The next morning after breakfast with hosts we were off to the Vetinary Institute. It is a very large teaching college. There they are doing research on cross breeding the Jersey cow with the Indian cow. The Jerseys produce more milk and the Indian cow has a higher fat content. They are also studying the effect of heat and humidity on the production of milk. Was fascinating to me as my Dad’s family had a dairy farm. All sorts of research on illnesses of cows, pigs, sheet and goats.

After lunch we went to another college where we had an outstanding presentation on India’s economy and future of India by the student body. Following program they had us sitting in front of audience and let the audience ask us questions on anything they wanted. They also asked us to comment on US and Canadian economy and health care system. Sticky…..but we got through.
Off to another dinner meeting with lots of good fellowship and food

Day 27….only 4 days left and the team is getting tired.

We had our last vocational day today and everyone had a great day. Erin got to sit in a class, Allen and Betty Jo both went to a very large teaching hospital, Lori went to a home for the mentally challenged run by the nuns of Mother Theresa and I went to a security & fire company that had been in business for 15 and had installed over 5000 fire systems. After lunch we had a short interview with local press and then returned to our host families for a rest before our dinner meeting. The sun is out today!!!!! I sat out on deck with my host family and enjoyed the baby monkeys playing in the tree! They liked the sun also!! Nobody buy me enjoyed the monkeys. They all think they are pests.

Another great evening of Rotarian love and hospitality.

Today Betty Jo and I awoke to the singing vendors…Potatoes, Tomatoes, and Beans!!! They bring their carts up and down the streets all morning singing!!

Today after breakfast…she is spoiling us rotten with good food. We left for a day of touring the manufacturing of Barielly. We stated at the Cane Furniture factory where they processed the cane and built all types of furniture. Really fascinating!! We were each given a tea strainer. Our Rotarians for the day said we were very blessed as he never gives gifts! We felt very blessed as we have been everywhere.

Then we were off to a bottle cap and bottle factory, a bakery where they produced bread and a factory run by a woman that produced a soy snack product.

We were then treated for lunch by the Rotarian’s club that we had been escorted by all day. Then we returned home to spend time with our families.

More good treats and played in the sunshine with the kids….Satvik (3) and Radhika (8) and Sakshe their mom and a couple of neighbors.

We are off for another evening of Rotary Fellowship!!