Kolkata, which is also still called by its British name, Calcutta (and it always has been called both names even though the city was officially "renamed" Kolkata in 2001), is the capital and largest city of West Bengal. But with a population of "only" four and a half million, it's only the ninth-largest city in … Continue reading Kolkata Unveiled: Mother Teresa’s Resting Place and Unexpected Discoveries
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India Travel Day – from Bodh Gaya to Kolkata
After a good night's sleep at the Airbnb in the yoga center, we took a tour of the adjoining school, a boarding school for underprivileged kids. It occurred to us that we might want to return here at some time and volunteer at this school; it seemed like a good fit for us. And we … Continue reading India Travel Day – from Bodh Gaya to Kolkata
Chaos in the Kitchen and Coconuts with the Dentist -Layover in Gaya, India
And so we finished up our ten days off the grid at the meditation retreat in Bodh Gaya; and although we may not have earned our wings as superstar meditators, we at least made some progress. The next stop was the nearby city of Gaya, where we'd lay over for a couple of days before … Continue reading Chaos in the Kitchen and Coconuts with the Dentist -Layover in Gaya, India
Going Off Grid for Two Weeks in Bodh Gaya
As we mentioned previously, we left our quarters in Bodh Gaya, where we'd spent the past month volunteering at a nearby school, and headed toward a new adventure, one such as we'd never experienced before. And what was this intriguing undertaking? We were about to attend a ten-day meditation retreat. Vipassana Retreat Bodh Gaya, being … Continue reading Going Off Grid for Two Weeks in Bodh Gaya
Portraits of Students – Bodh Gaya Workaway Wrap-Up
And so we came to the end of our volunteering gig in Bodh Gaya; and it was time to see some test results. No, not the results of students' tests. There weren't any. The results from the blood tests we'd taken the previous week. So we walked back to the medical lab, and at first … Continue reading Portraits of Students – Bodh Gaya Workaway Wrap-Up
Exploring Bodh Gaya: From Awkward Volunteer Moments to Unexpected Discoveries and Exciting Future Plans
As our stint in Bodh Gaya progressed, the volunteer position itself became a bit awkward. We sometimes felt like a fifth wheel, and our talents were not being put to good use. But we made the best of it, and had a good time with the students. And we continued to be fascinated by our … Continue reading Exploring Bodh Gaya: From Awkward Volunteer Moments to Unexpected Discoveries and Exciting Future Plans
Getting to the Roots of Buddhism
Poverty. It was all around us in Bodh Gaya. And it was very much in evidence at the school where we volunteered, and the neighborhood around it. People living in squalid tenements that looked like gutted, abandoned buildings. Children attending our school, which itself looked like the remains of an abandoned building. Peasants hard at … Continue reading Getting to the Roots of Buddhism
Our Trip to Gaya
On Tuesday, Aug. 16, we decided to make another excursion into Gaya in the afternoon. In the morning, of course, we taught at the school as usual -- and had a little session in doing the hokey - pokey. The kids took down the Independence Day decorations from the previous day, including the big flagpole, … Continue reading Our Trip to Gaya