Episode 1 India Trip: Arriving in India

(As requested) Daas will share some experiences and photos from my India trip this year:

In February, my mother and I went to India. I planned to visit Sri Harimandir Sahib and have darshan of Gurmukh Pyaare in Panjab.

We travelled on Air India (for the first time!) from Heathrow. In the departure lounge an elderly Singh and his wife came and sat next to us. I shared Guru's Fateh with the Bhai Sahib. We then started talking. I was suprised that the elderly Amritdhari Singh talking to me was the first Sikh judge in the UK and was a retired High Court judge. He told me that he became a judge in the 1960s! It was amazing that someone achieved so much in such a short time when coming to a new country.

The aeroplane journey was suprisngly comfortable. I was bit apprehensive about flying with Air India because I had an image of rude air hostesses, uncomfortable seats, and a lack of space. Surprisingly when we entered the aeroplane the air hostess smiled, put her hands together and said "Namashkaar". When we got to the seats, it wasn't the uncomfortable tight seats I had expected, instead the seats were very clean and spacious! The journey was very comfortable and the airline staff were very respectable to everyone and were courteous!

When we arrived at Delhi Airport we got through the checking very quickly. But it took TWO HOURS to get our luggage. I was shocked how long it took! I think if you check in your luggage early when departing, you luggage comes last when you arrive!

When we got our luggage, I put my Kirpaan on and went to the bathroom to re-tie my dastaar (as it had been a long journey and my pagh looked a bit of a mess!). I noticed that in the bathroom there was a shifty looking man just sitting on a seat near the door offering people toilet paper and hand towels! It just looked bit strange. I thought perhaps this guy is doing some sort of Sevaa. The guy watched me tie my Dastaar and offered me a hand towel (when I didn't need one). I kindly declined his offer. He was also "advising" people on where the vacant toilets were (which weren't exactly hard to spot anyway as the vacant toilets had their doors open!). Chalo, I thought perhaps the man is employed to do this! (Waheguru! Wonder what the job title is?).

I came out and my mum went to the ladies bathroom to freshen up. Whilst she was in the bathroom I started to do Japji Sahib. When I had finished reciting Paatth, my mum came out. She smiled and said, "It is weird, there was a lady standing in the bathroom giving people tissues and telling people where the vacant toilets were, and she was asking people for money." The funny thing was that the lady asked my mum for money and instead my mum ended up giving her a bag of BISCUITS! Sat Naam, Waheguru!

The worst part of the story is that the biscuits had got bashed up in the aeroplane and so the biscuits were more than likely broken up! Anyway, there were still "Blait de Biscuit". My mum gave the lady the biscuits in good will and told her that they were made in France but baked in England (I doubt that lady understood a word and probably didn't care whether they were baked in France or Panjab!). The lady took the biscuits and stared at my mum in shock (must be the first time in her life that she has received a bag of biscuits from someone whilst standing in a public bathroom! lol). Waheguru!

We eventually came out (at last!). The journey from Delhi to Panjab was painful! After 8 hours of sitting down in the car on an uncomfortable seat and with no leg room, I was glad to get to the pind and sit on something more soft! Waheguru.


To be continued...