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World Seva 2011
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13th Year: 2011
Jan
- Piano Recital by Robyn, Mosaic Art Portrait & CNY Reunion Lunch
Feb
- Chinese New Year, PA Got Talents, Alvin's Birthday & Opening of Clay-Street New Studio
Mar
- Bye-bye Heni
Seva Wk 01: Art of Living Ashram, Bangalore
Seva Wk 02: 1st Seva with Divine Karnataka Project & On Course
Seva Wk 03: Sponsoring Rural Village Sport Clubs & Bridge at Chikmagalur
Seva Wk 04:
'WHY DKP' Corporate Fund Raising
Apr
Seva Wk 05: DKP Helps Rural Farmers, Gadag & Koppal, Karnataka
Seva Wk 06: Hyderabad, Bhubaneswar, Konark, Puri & Sri Sri University
Seva Wk 07: Tribal School Project, Jharkhand
Seva Wk 08:
Tribal School Arts Festival on Facebook
May
Seva Wk 09: Tribal School @ Dumuria & Ranchi
Seva Wk 10: Tribal School Digital Contest & Kolkata
Seva Wk 11: Kolkata to Delhi to Himachal Pradesh
Seva Wk 12: Shoghi, Shimla & Tirthan Valley in Himachal Pradesh

Jun
Seva Wk 13: Homestay @ Tirthan, Kullu Valley
Seva Wk 14: Sangla, Peo, Nako, Kinnaur Valley
Seva Wk 15: Tabo, Kaza, Kye, Spiti Valley
Seva Wk 16: Demul to Komic on Yaks, Spiti Valley

Jul
Seva Wk 17: Kaza to Manali to Gurgaon, Delhi
Seva Wk 18: Gurgaon & Barefoot College,Tilonia
Seva Wk 19: Jaipur & back to Bangalore
Seva Wk 20 & 21: With the Murthys in Bangalore

Aug
Seva Wk 22-24: Meridian 101 Ambassadors for India & Bye Bye India
Seva Wk 25: Seva in Africa - Jumbo Kenya!
Seva Wk 26: Seva at the Children's Garden Home
Sep
Seva Wk 27: More Seva Projects at CGH
Seva Wk 28: Self-drive Safari to Masai Mara, Lake Naivasha, Hell's Gate
Seva Wk 29: Short Break to Arusha, Tanzania
Seva Wk 30: Safari at Nairobi National Park & Children's Day Celebration
Oct
Seva Wk 31: Launching BEADwear for Christmas
Seva Wk 32: Robyn turns 13 in Kampala, Uganda
Seva Wk 33: Rafting the White Nile, Jinja, Uganda
Seva Wk 34: Sipi Falls, Uganda & African Child Mega Dance in Kenya
Nov
Seva Wk 35: Nairobi to Mombasa, Malindi & Lamu
Seva Wk 36: Seva@Lamu - Donkey necklace + Kaya
Seva Wk 37: Seva@Lamu - Hands Up 4 Kids
Seva Wk 38: Bye Africa, Hello Istanbul, Homeward-bound Singapore
Dec
- Home Sweet Home in Singapore
 
   

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SEVA WEEK 12 (23-29 May 2011)

r e f l e c t i o n : ON GOVERNMENT

 

Shoghi was our first stop in Himachal Pradesh, on our way to Kaza. At an altitude of 2,200m, Shoghi offered a temperate climate, cool and nice with unpolluted natural mountain fresh air.

Since we were informed that the Manali-Kaza route was still closed due possibly to snow and landslides, we decided to take it slow and easy for 2 weeks, after 2 months of pretty intensive seva work. As Robyn has never travelled to altitude of 3,000m, it would help us all to acclimatize as we gradually moved from homestay to homestay before we arrive higher up to 4,000m villages in the Spiti Valley. Besides altitude, we probably would need acclimatization to the cold too.

Veer Garh Homestay is so delightful a place to stay. Perched on the hillside overlooking a vast expanse of the valley, our balcony offered a superb view. Our room was well furnished and spacious, and we got to watch cable movie for the first time in 3 months. We spent 3 days relaxing here.

View from Veer Garh Homestay
View from Veer Garh Homestay.

Spacious interior of Veer Garh Homestay.
Spacious interior of Veer Garh Homestay.

Jin and Robyn at Shoghi

Jin and Alvin at Shoghi

At over 2000m in altitude, the climate here was cool and nice. For the first time in India, we used our warm clothing. We enjoyed the 1km stroll to Shoghi town for breakfast and appreciate the wonderful natural scenery.

Shoghi town centre comprises of a main road with a row of shops at one side and cliffside on the other.
Shoghi town centre comprises of a main road with a row of shops at one side and cliffside on the other. On the left is the taxi and bus station.

Our neighbour at Veer Garh Homestay was a family of 3 from Delhi on a 5-day driveabout in Shimla region - Atanu Chakraborty, Anaya and 10 yr old Aranya.
Our neighbour at Veer Garh Homestay was a family of 3 from Delhi on a 5-day driveabout in Shimla region - Atanu Chakraborty, Anaya and 10 yr old Aranya.

The Shoghi train station.
The Shoghi train station.

Station master with train control mechanism.
Station master with train control mechanism.

We went on a day trip to Shimla.

On 24 May, we took the local bus from Shoghi to Shimla to look-see the busy town, and to find out the bus schedule from Shimla to Aut, where our next destination would be.
Shimla is a hilly thoroughfare, crowded with shops and people. We enjoyed a lunch of chowmien there.

Shimla

 

 

Tirthview Homestay25 May - 7 Jun 2011: Tirthan Valley, Himachal Pradesh

We found Tirthview Homestay on the web. Actually its website offered very little info and its location seems to be in the middle of nowhere, between road and the Great Himalayan National Park. But that was precisely what attracted us. Our desire was to get to a place in the middle of nowhere, and spend some quiet time in nature, and also to complete some of the outstanding seva projects for DKP and Tribal School Project.

On 25 May morning, Atanu kindly gave us a lift in his car from Veer Garh Homestay to Shoghi town centre where we took a bus to Shimla ISBT bus terminal. There we caught a bus to Mandi at 11am. We arrived at Mandi at about 5pm and changed to another bus bound for Kullu but alighted at Aut.

Hari Singh and Ashish met us at Aut and took us by car to the Tirthview Homestay, yet another hour's drive towards the Great Himalayan National Park, along the majestic Tirthan River.

Tirthview Homestay is that green roofed house in this photo on the right. >

Tirthview Homestay
A close-up view of Tirthview Homestay taken from across the valley on our trek to the Hippo Fall just outside the Great Himalayan National Park.

Even closer up view of the lovely Tirthview Homestay. We were so honoured to learn that it was newly completed and that we were its first guests!
Even closer up view of the lovely Tirthview Homestay. We were so honoured to learn that it was newly completed and that we were its first guests!

Tirthan Valley

 

The Tirthan Valley

Breathtaking valley scenery of the Tirthan Valley, with snow-capped peaks peeking from afar in the Great Himalayan National Park.

The Tirthan River flows in the middle with Goshaini town at the bottom right of the picture. The Tirthview Homestay is situated on the left hillside but just out of the view.

Peaks in Great Himalayan National Park.
Peaks in Great Himalayan National Park.
Zoom-in to the right corner of the photo on left.
Zoom-in to the right corner of the photo on left.

People who took so good care of us at Tirthview Homestay:

1. Hari Singh - the always so caring and attentive host.

2. Dipu - son of Hari who assisted his father so ever diligently.

3. Hari's mother-in-law - the chef who fed us so well. Her Aloo Gobi was Robyn's all time favourite dish.

Hari Singh Dipu Singh Hari's mom-in-law

 

Thanks to Dishu who drove us around the valley, we got to enjoy many beautiful sights and meet many wonderful friends, and taste some local eateries' offering.

26 May: Dishu drove us around the valley.
26 May: Dishu drove us around the valley.
We had tea at home of Rimple, Ishan and Prakash.
We had tea at home of Rimple, Ishan and Prakash.
Boss of Icy Spicy, Rajeev and son
Boss of Icy Spicy, Rajeev and son.
Robyn with the daughters of a campsite owner.
Robyn with the daughters of a campsite owner.
A local gentleman
School girl
Ishan
School girl
School girl
School boy
Weaving lady
Sukhram's nanny

 

Tirthview Homestay is perched on the valley hillside with the Tirthan River raging just 200m below, which provides a continuous gushing melody to mesmerize us even as we sleep. On this day, Hari led us down a trail to enjoy a close-up experience of the river. The water was crystal clear and freezing cold. Trout are aplenty in this river but we didn't manage to spot any.

Staying with Chawlaji and Aunt Bimla, and her sis Kanta.

We enjoyed many homely hours of interesting chats with Chawlaji and Aunt Bimla.

Hari and Robyn at the Tirthan River
Hari and Robyn at the Tirthan River.

Jin at the Tirthan River
Jin at the Tirthan River.

 

The Hippo Fall is a lovely campsite situated 6km from Goshaini, just outside of the Great Himalayan National Park entrance. Ashish organized a trek for us there with overnight camping led by Murali and assisted by Dipu.

The trek follows the river towards the Great Himalayan National Park. It was an easy walk with breathtaking scenery along the way.

Trek following the river to the Great Himalayan National Park

Jin and Robyn trekking to the Hippo Fall.
Jin and Robyn trekking to the Hippo Fall.

The trail passes by some villages.
The trail passes by some villages.

We rested here for tea.
We rested here for tea.

Great view fo the raging river.
Great view of the raging river.

Jin and Robyn

Alvin and Jin

This was our first trekking trip since we got to India so the 12km to-fro distance was a good warm up for more trekking to come. We even bought a pair of shoes each since we came to India only in slippers!

Robyn, Jin and Alvin
Last rest stop before the Hippo Fall.

Bridge to the campsite
Bridge across to the campsite.

The Hippo Fall.
The Hippo Fall.
The Hippo
Do you see the Hippo?
Old scout and young Brownie in action.
Old scout and young Brownie pitching tent.
A lovely campsite.
A lovely campsite.
A close-up experience of the raging Hippo Fall.
A close-up experience of the raging Hippo Fall.
Robyn om with the Hippo.
Robyn 'Om' with the Hippo.

Alvin with the Hippo.

Alvin and Jin yoga with the Hippo.

Jin headstand with the Hippo.
Robyn the elastic girl.
Robyn the elastic girl.
The Yongs on the rock.
The Yongs on the rock.

The Yongs at the river.
The Yongs at the river.

Maggie dinner by the starry night.
Maggie dinner by the starry night.
Will this campfire work?
Sure it'll burn...?
Campfire burning, bright and strong.
Campfire burning beautifully.
Experimental photography
Experimental photography!
Robyn brushing teeth at the stream.
Brushing teeth by the stream.
Examining a hollow tree.
Examining a hollow tree.
Tirthview Homestay in our background.
Tirthview Homestay in background.

The overnight trek and camping had been a most wonderful adventure for us in the Tirthan Valley. It was a new experience for Robyn to take in a raging white water river up close, drink from it, brush teeth by the stream, prepare a campfire and enjoy a magical starry night sky by a warming campfire.

 

> Week 13: Relaxing in Tirthan Valley...

 

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