A Pal-umporium of Experiences!

So before we get into the ins and outs of placement in week 2, we have to describe the incredible first weekend we had in McLeod Ganj, home of none other than the Dalai Lama himself. While we were not able to visit him personally we got to see the temple and were both amazed and deeply moved by the enlightening Tibetan museum.

Our favourite meal was exquisite Mo Mos (like dumplings) at the Tibetan Kitchen. Matty wanted Ti-bet who could eat the most Mo Mos. Justin won that competition hands down, as he just ate Mo and Mo! We also got to do an overnight trek to Triund and the snowline in the Dhauladhar mountain ranges. The hiking was truly world class and the views were so expansive and clear that Jack wanted to Tri-and spot Palampur! Unfortunately it was a bit of a rainy day with an abundance of clouds and fog – nonetheless we train our best to push on through the ter-rain! After 20km of climbs and descents each day, we were quite tired by the end. Charlotte said she was so exhausted she sore stars. It was a truly hard work out for the collective squad-riceps.

This week, the physios have been split between 3 clinics. We are really starting to get really involved in patients’ treatments, and have been given freedom to assess, treat, develop treatment plans and prescribe exercises. The patients and staff have been incredibly friendly and open to us. We have enjoyed chai breaks, learning body parts and counting in Hindi. One patient was being a bit lazy so Cassie told him to chai harder. In all seriousness, we have really enjoyed being in a tea-m environment. Jen had a patient with a rare hip concern. The symptoms were exacerbated with the cold. Thus her primary hip-othesis was that the patient was suffering from brrrrrrrr-sitis. 

Sophie has been treating one lady with knee osteoarthritis. It was clear that the patient knee-ded to strengthen their thigh muscles. Eric has been at a clinic next to the police training centre. One patient had shoulder pain. Eric thought it was due to overuse of the rotator ‘cuff’s, and advised the patient to take ‘arrest’. The health sciences students have been shadowing a local GP, seeing lots of patients with kidney stones, gallstones and diabetes. Justin was so concerned when he saw a young child in pain, he said ‘this kid-ney’ds urgent treatment!’  

Eloise’s favourite part of this week has been the daal-ightful food back at the house. Alison has been at a school with younger children and enjoyed the triumphs and challenges that inevitably come with corralling younger humans. They’ve enjoyed counting to ten, although one or two have been a bit ten-tative. Although she’s always been ‘four’ their learning, once in a while the kids have been in a silly st-eight. We have all come to discover that Palampur really does have a ‘number’ of interesting areas with an a-pun-dance of invaluable experience to be gained.

An Incredible Indian Adventure!

India – a place that so far seems totally manic. In the two weeks leading up to our placement a few of us were lucky enough to explore the northern half of the country. A week into the trip we all had mixed feelings, one of a vibrant and bustling culture and the other of a chaos but colour. The physical experience was taxing, personified by the omnipresent sweaty stench of faeces as dogs, cows, goats and people urinate and defecate in public space (reconsider?). After a long week of scorching heat, constant symphony of traffic horns and being stared at, it was time to escape the hustle of the city.

Manali became our home for the second week, a backpackers paradise with an abundance of adventure activities, cheap restaurants and bars, friendly locals going about their daily business all nestled on a tiny road engulfed by majestic mountains. It was a treat to sit at a street side café drinking chai tea as the local Nepalese women carried hay baskets up hill for their cattle, and the men herding Yaks back down towards the aqua stream below. After the two roller coaster weeks we were Palampur bound!

We arrived late afternoon after a scenic drive through the North Indian mountains, a scene like out of Jurassic park as gigantic mountains towered either side, waterfalls speckled throughout. The drive lived up to the world famous hype, it was nothing short of spectacular. Having nestled into our accommodation and meeting our in country partners and the other students we were feeling reassured and excited to begin the first day of the next 4 weeks.

At first, it was a bit daunting to discover that each and every meal at the house would be Indian vegetarian. But we soon found out, every meal was made fresh, full of flavour and accompanied by home grown organic vegetables. Almost one week in and each meal continues to satisfy both the stomach and the soul. We are completely hooked on foods like dahl, chapati and paneer (look it up). We are embarrassed that we once enjoyed a sausage roll or meat pie from the servo.

Making our way to placement each day is an adventure. We catch the local bus and get off at the local market which is just beginning to show signs of the hustle and bustle that will inevitably characterise the streets during the day. Catching a second bus, we wind our way towards placement. The manic driver takes violent turns at lightning pace, it's important to hold on tight!

The placement so far has been an eye opener, there are so many differences in physiotherapy between Australia and India it's overwhelming. At this stage we are just observing and although we see things that we consider to be different, we are learning the role of cultural and social influence on treatment in order to achieve greater patient outcomes.

The stroll back through the market at the end of the day is highly anticipated. A plethora of amazing fresh sweet and savoury delights, hot steamed momo’s, cool butterscotch ice cream and a big grocery bag full of afternoon snacks for a mere $2AUD. We are currently planning our weekend which will consist of exploring Dharamsala and McLeod Ganj, with hiking and culinary experiences high on the to do list.

Namaste in India, thanks

No one can believe the trip is over already. We've had the most amazing experience - from meeting new people at the different placement sites to teaching others and learning so much ourselves and weekend getaways that don't always go to plan. All the things we've learnt along the way will undoubtedly help us in our future physio careers and in our lives. So I thought I'd finish off this blog by telling you some Do's and Don'ts we've learnt in India

Don't say yes to being in a photo with one Indian. This one Indian will soon become 100 Indians and instead of the Taj Mahal being the attraction, it will be you. We're still not quite sure what they do with all the photos of us but everyone seems to need one with the tallest whitest, blondest haired people in the group - special thanks to Swedish Giants Jack and Elise for taking the bullet most times on this front.

Don't get Om tattooed on your foot. The foot is a negative place and you'll end up offending your yoga teacher and have to be pulled aside from the class to have a "talking to." This chat will also cause you to be late to the only meat meal of the week.

Don't always believe your trekking tour guide's weather forecast. Although they dress and act like they're "one with the earth" and have done this hike over 1000 times, even if they say it won't rain, it might definitely rain... And hail... And be windy as anything. Your tent might collapse and they might not get out of their cosy tent to help you fix it or cook you a warm dinner. You might have to wait out a 7-hour storm while propping up your tent with your head. So yeah, just trust me, don't always trust them!

Don't try to understand the Indian head nod. It might mean yes, it might mean no, it might mean that they have no idea of what you've just said and it's the Indian equivalent of smiling politely because that usually suffices as an appropriate response to any question. Either way we never could quite work it out and generally assumed it was whichever response we wanted it to be!



Now on the flip side

Do take up the offer to visit a 150 year old tea plantation. We were lucky enough that our host dad's family owned a 100-hectare tea plantation just a 15-minute walk from our house. His father, the most passionate tea maker I've ever met, showed us around the expansive property full of bright green tea hedges while explaining the difference between the techniques of preparing green and black tea. We learnt about the sorting, packaging and exporting of this tea to many countries around the world. It was such a beautiful place to spend an afternoon.

Do try extreme sports. The views while paragliding were incredible and we can now all say we've paraglided in the same spot the world championships were held. We also tried our hand at white water rafting, arguably the best activity we did on the weekends. We set off from Manali in two rubber rafts and followed each other down the Rapids. Our guides were excellent and ensured our safety while sending us straight for waves ensuring we were soaked with the biggest smiles on our faces by the end of the 14km trip. All for only $12!

Do try paneer. And any other meal you're served for that matter. We ate predominantly vegetarian the whole trip with the exception of chicken on a couple of meals we ate out and chicken or lamb once a week at the house. Our wonderful chef never disappointed, to the point some of us (previously "carnivores") weren't even craving meat.. For the first week anyway! Paneer is the most delicious cottage cheese often in a tomatoey sauce with peas or spinach sauce. We also had a mixture of Dahl, chickpeas in curry and beans in curry accompanied by a variety of breads; chapati, kulcha and naan.

Finally,
Do take up the opportunity to visit India! Whether it be for study, work or a holiday, it's a beautiful place to visit and the people aim to look after you, on the most part, and show you all that India has to offer. We've seen and learnt so much of the culture, their physiotherapy treatments and the attractions to see and unless someone is keeping really quiet about it, none of us regret coming here for our advanced physiotherapy practice placement. We're so thankful for the experience and now it's onto further travels around the world or home to rest, relax and enjoy our mid-year holiday!!

Dust, hail and sweat with some physiotherapy in between

We carried on this week at our respective placement sites in the morning and completing tutorials and case studies with our teacher, Julie, in the afternoons. One of Heidi's patients, a paraplegic post-surgery complication, is becoming more independent and we've ordered her a wheelchair that will fit her so she is able to get around more easily. One of Ryan's patients has progressed from not being able to sit for 10 minutes to now sitting for more than 6 hours with ease, which enables them to make the necessary travel requirements to see their family and friends.

Luci enabled one of her patients to get out of bed independently using a rope attached to his bed so his wife now won't have to drag him out of bed using her strength. Alexa, Alice and Elise continue to improve the motor skills of the children at the Rotary school so they are able to socialise with other children in the playground. The other students at the private practices continue to minimise the negative impact of the various injuries they've been presented with.

Dust and sweat 
Two weekends ago we travelled as a group to Amritsar, in the nearby state of Punjab. As the hours crept up on the bus ride so did the Celsius outside. 6 hours later we arrived at our hotel in 44-degree heat. It was a struggle to leave the comfort of our big fluffy beds and aircon to head out and drive to the India/Pakistan border. Our driver got us as close as he could then we were on our own. Outside and covered head to toe for cultural purposes, we squished in between the crowds of thousands who lined up to get through the first gate towards the border. Two gates further on, lots of sweat, plenty of selfies and we were sat down in the special "foreigners" section awaiting the spectacle. It was an hour wait in the sun once we had our seats but, definitely worth the wait!

Each country had an MC whose job was to hype up the crowd and dance along to the loud music blaring from the speakers. Then the guards from each side appeared and essentially had a dance off! Swinging guns around, jumping up and down and carrying out high kicks better than a cheerleading competition. The ceremony lasted for about 45 minutes with a confusing combination of the guards shaking hands to show friendship and threatening each other to show who's boss.

We followed the swarms out of the ceremony to meet our driver to head back to Amritsar and visit the beautiful golden temple. This Temple is open 24/7 and serves food for free but don't forget to walk through the water on your way in or you'll be smacked by the security guards with a stick, Alice learnt the hard way!

Hailstorms for hours
I'll start by saying we're all safe and alive! Just last weekend we set out for a blissful hike up the beautiful Himalayas to a well-known camping spot called Triund. We were prepared for spectacular views during the day and cool weather at night but that's not exactly what we got. The hike up was magnificent, with the view getting better and better at every turn. We shared the hiking path with donkeys and were greeted by thousands of cows and goats when we reached the campsite after the 9km trek.

We found our tents and the storm set in. Strong winds, hail and thunder had one tent collapsed within minutes and 12 of us bunking into 3 tents suitable for 7. We had a few laughs and made the most of the situation until even stronger winds, more hail and a broken zipper meant the second tent collapsed and 12 of us squished into 2 tents for the remaining few hours of the storm (7 in a 4-man tent and 5 in a 2-man tent). We held up the remaining 2 tents until the first storm passed. We ran to the closest market for snacks and drinks and feared worst. The second storm hit and we were bunked down in our overpacked tents once again!

We missed dinner and packed like sardines to attempt sleep and waited out the storm which ended up lasting from 3pm to 10pm. Wet and cold we exited the tents at 5am for sunrise and trekked back down the 9km path. A quick look at the markets, some lunch and a visit to the Dalai Llamas monastery and we were on the bus for the drive back home. It's safe to say we all enjoyed warm showers and sleeping in beds with fans more than ever before!

Helping Hands

COUNTRY: India
PROGRAM: Faculty Placement
PROJECT: Physiotherapy
WRITTEN BY: Ali Thomas

Karan hospital
Amanda and Ryan have been completing placement at Karan hospital physiotherapy clinic. In the morning, they look forward to a refreshing fruit box on arrival and greeting their Indian physiotherapy educator who is "Indian Fonz" says Ryan. There is no strict appointment schedule like we're used to in Australia and gradually, the waiting rooms fill up with patients. "Indian Fonz" does the translating and asks the patients what their main problems are (ranging from lower back pain to old fractures, paraplegia and tennis elbow) then Amanda and Ryan are able to practice manual techniques they've learnt at home to treat pain, stiffness or weakness. The techniques we use at home are quite different to India where they tend to use a lot of electro therapies. Amanda and Ryan have found it interesting to teach the Indian physiotherapist a few of the manual techniques we use in Australia and educate him about the evidence of their effect.

Goenka private physiotherapy clinic Heidi and Jack have been at Goenka physiotherapy clinic from the start of the placement and Kath and I have joined for the last 2 weeks. It has been an interesting experience with only a handful of the patients speaking English and no Indian physiotherapists around all the time to translate. One Indian physiotherapist wanders between the rooms to check in on patients and treatment techniques. The experience here is quite similar to the other private practice with the Indian physiotherapy course focusing on electro therapies and minimal manual techniques. Each patient receives their electrical modality from the Indian physiotherapists and then they are seen by the students from UniSA for manual therapies. At this private practice, there isn't an appointment schedule either and we filter through the patients throughout the morning. At both private practices, the students are able to practice their clinical reasoning for different patient presentations and practice a variety of manual techniques.

Rotary children's school Kath, Luci, Jacquie and I attended the Rotary school for the first half of placement and now Alice, Elise and Alexa are attending the school for the second half. The school has 20 boarding students and 20 who arrive by bus each morning. All the students are mentally and/or physically disabled, with the most common presentations being cerebral palsy and Down's syndrome. The morning is spent with select students who need a physiotherapy focus to improve their ball skills, fine motor skills and general function of everyday activities so they can interact more easily with other children. The children have already made so much progress in the first half and we all can't wait to see their overall progress at the end of placement. The last half an hour is spent dancing with all 40 of the students to traditional music. The children are so sweet and the pure joy on their faces while they jump around together is one of the most rewarding images. A photo of the girls with some of their students they've been working with can be seen above. 
Home visits Elise, Alice and Alexa attended the home visits for the first half of placement and now Jacquie and Luci are carrying on with the same patients for the second half. They attend three homes of patients who would find it too difficult to leave and make their way to a physiotherapy clinic. This placement site takes on a rehabilitation focus for patients who have had strokes, leg fractures and other long term physical issues. The families are all so lovely and welcome the girls into their homes with traditional tea, juice and snacks throughout each of the treatment sessions. The patients in these sessions have already made such great progress as well with one in particular being able to get down stairs for first time in 3 months and almost ready to return to work. A photo of the girls with some of their clients and families on home visits can be seen below.

All the sites have shown a completely different side of physiotherapy to each of the students and seeing something so varied to the hospitals and sites in Australia has been an experience we've all learnt so much from.

Namaste India

COUNTRY: India
PROGRAM: Faculty Placement
PROJECT: Physiotherapy
WRITTEN BY: Ali Thomas

Taj Mahal

Before the hard work began, there was some sightseeing to be done! After a day of flights on Monday and a nights sleep in 30 degree heat, our group of 11 and our teacher followed a guide to the Taj Mahal. We were told the history, the do's and don'ts and most importantly, the best angles for photos! No one was underwhelmed by this wonder of the world and our love for India’s beauty, architecture and amazing people had begun. The day was hot as we wandered around being amazed by the symmetry and beauty from every angle. 1 of the 100 group photos taken in front of the incredible Taj Mahal can be seen above.

Trip to Palampur

We had a day to visit Delhi. We caught underground trains to the Red Fort and a few different markets before finding some souvenirs and heading back home for dinner before the trip to Palampur. The overnight bus was an experience for all! Once we had escaped the mosquitoes and found a comfy position, a few of us were able to get some sleep on the bus before arriving at our new home in Palampur. Our little house was nestled in a valley, with beautiful views of the snow-capped Himalayas in the background. A photo of us walking down to our new home for the first time can be seen below. After settling in, we visited our placement sites on Friday for orientation and to get an idea of what the next week and a half had to offer.

Paragliding

Before we knew it, it was the weekend and time for activities. Saturday was the day to experience the local bus ride to visit the traditional Palampur market, a strip of shops catering for all things local; fruit, street food, clothing and toys. We now visit the markets every few afternoons to walk around and usually buy snacks, mainly Nutella! Sunday was a time to conquer fears and get the best view of our surroundings: paragliding over the Himalayas! The drive up to our take off spot was possibly more scary than the paragliding down. A thin road shared by too many cars on the cliff edge left most of us with jelly legs before we even saw where we'd be jumping off! The safety briefing was just that; brief! Before we knew it, we were strapped in with our pilot and running down a hill before the parachute took us up off the ground and we enjoyed 15 minutes of spins and floats down to the town. A photo of the amazing view from the top can be seen below.

Let the Physiotherapy Begin

After a few tourist activities and plenty of sight seeing, it was time to become immersed in the culture by attending our placement sites to see how physiotherapists worked in India. During week 1, 4 of us went to private practices, 4 of us attended the Rotary school for children with special needs and 3 of us carried out home visits to those who had difficulty leaving their house for physiotherapy treatment. During the middle of the second week, a few of us will swap over to experience a different side of physiotherapy in India at a difference site.

The first week and a half has been an amazing whirlwind of activities, new experiences, sight seeing and getting to know each other better. Next week will give you an insight into our day to day experiences at each of the different placement sites.

All the photos in this blog have been taken by myself, other students or our teacher. Thanks to everyone who let me borrow them!

India, I'm in love

COUNTRY: India
PROGRAM: GapBreak
PROJECT: Teaching
WRITTEN BY: Nancy Bucher

As my time volunteering in a teaching placement in India is quickly approaching its end, I have been reflecting on my experience and what I have learnt over the past 4 weeks. I now know that some of the most friendly and happy people I've met have been Indians. No matter the circumstance, happiness shines through. Many are keen to chat and meet a foreigner with a curious grin.

I have a new found appreciation and thankfulness for everything that I have because I have seen that so many people are not as fortunate. Despite that, some of the happiest people we met had so little, which makes me believe that it's not what you have that makes you happy, but what you make out of a situation and your own positive attitude.


I have come to understand that it is the dedicated, continual and sustained hard work of the volunteers in the schools and boys home which results in the students gradual progress of their education. It doesn't happen overnight, unfortunately. I wonder constantly what will happen when I leave and the new volunteers don't arrive for another month. Have I actually made a difference and what will my kids remember? I can only hope that my short time here has given them a small boost in their learning which will be continued by the next didis.

I have seen Pankaj's saying in action- anything is possible in India, and it seems that almost everything does happen. From the boys home to the streets and markets, life here is a crazy, indescribable experience.

I now more than ever know that to travel and see the world is such a rewarding, inspirational and eye opening experience. I've definitely caught the travel bug being surrounded by all the other travel loving and orientated volunteers.

India, its been real! I have loved every moment. I have taught, played, become a mentor, travelled, met amazing people, turned 21, celebrated 2 national days and had the most surreal time. Now it's time to go home and bring on the next adventures!

India's Top 5 Travel and Teaching tips

COUNTRY: India
PROGRAM: GapBreak
PROJECT: Teaching
WRITTEN BY: Nancy Bucher

India has been a whirlwind of culture, traditions, emotions, spirituality and friendship, and going into my last week of placement in this country of endless possibilities, I want to share my top five travel and teaching tips - not from an experienced, travel expert or teacher, but a young girl who has visited India for the first time to teach young kids and travel, and has had indescribable experiences over here.

You have probably heard it before but it's so true - India is a country full of traditions and a culture extremely different to Australia. I can't roam the streets here in clothes that don't cover my entire legs and shoulders, I can't buy alcohol as it is not appropriate for girls to do so, I do say namaste and smile at strangers who are in the same tuk tuk. So my first tip is to come with an open mind and enjoy and embrace everything about the Indian way of life while traveling here.

Secondly, say yes to every opportunity you can while you're here and throw yourself into the placement - into teaching, into the sports and games with the kids, into eating traditional food, to the experiences and to the adventures. As cliche as the saying may be, it's really true - the more you put into the experience, the more you'll get out of it. As our leader Pankaj always says, everything is possible in India, which also means I always hold degree of caution when in public and I expect the unexpected.

On a more practical note and something I wish I had done, try to pack as lightly as possible, but still try and be as thorough as you can be. It's definitely better to be over prepared than under in this country. Some staples that will be your lifesavers are all medicines, loads of tissues, hand sanitiser, lip balm and toilet paper. Flowy pants will be your staple outfit, jeans are a no go and maxi skirts are okay when wearing leggings underneath. I wish I packed more coloured pencils and textas for the students and to make the work sheets too! Also save and bring as much money as you can so you have plenty of spending money for shopping and the weekend trips. Last weekend, we visited the small city of Pushkar which had the most amazing markets! I am looking forward to my final weekend trip coming up, visiting India's most iconic monument, the Taj.

On a teaching note, it is important I think to set realistic teaching goals and expectations for your students and for your teaching - my school placement has been with grade 2 students who don't often have volunteers. The language barrier is very strong and it's tricky to teach some students - others pick up on things so fast. The level of differentiation in my class in high. Be prepared to not be able to teach your students everything you wish. I tell myself each time I enter the class, try your best and baby steps are all you can hope for. Nothing happens overnight and continual practice and the hard work of the future volunteers is what will shape the kids English education.

For first time travellers and teachers, it is important I think to prepare yourself to be overwhelmed, both in school and in daily life here. The students are beautiful but they are just like kids everywhere – they can be cheeky or not want to do as they’re told, and on top of that, there can be many kids in your class, 2 teachers, and a varying but prominent language barrier and levels of ability. As for daily life and routines, prepare yourself to be the centre of attention, just walking the streets or sitting in a tuk tuks, there are stares all round, especially at big groups like us. Shop owners will hassle you to check out their store and beggars will ask for money. Just brush it off. Expect the unexpected. You will find yourself not knowing where you are, which is particularly hard for me because I have a natural urge to always know my sense of direction. One of the best things about travelling with our group and Pankaj is that you will always have people looking out for you.

Life in Crazy Crazy Udaipur

COUNTRY: India
PROGRAM: GapBreak
PROJECT: Teaching
WRITTEN BY: Nancy Bucher

I lie in my bed after waking up - the air is still and the sunlight creeps through the cracks in my curtains. There are long streaks of quietness intertwined with the sporadic noises of dogs howling and the colourful and upbeat sound of truck horns.

It's roughly 9am when I am greeted with the familiar voice of Pankaj yelling from downstairs that breakfast is ready. Typically, an array of Indian porridge, spicy omelettes, toast, bananas and chai are spread out ready for us to dig in. A sneaky jar of Vegemite is also hidden in our fridge for us Aussies craving a familiar piece of home.

With bellies full, we hurry upstairs to the collect the bags which we have prepared with lesson activities and games for our students, mine grade 2, and all cram into a van - one van goes to the Aakhriya school and one to Sonariya. The drive is windy and bumpy as we scoot past the local houses, farms, hotels and fruit markets before arriving at our school. I spend roughly one and a half hours teaching my grade 2’s who learn about numbers, letters, writing their name and colours. Each day we sing the hello and goodbye song with all of the kids and volunteers which is the best way to start and finish the school day. Because my school lacks English teaching volunteers, the language barrier between the kids and I is the hardest part of the job, sometimes it's like talking to a brick wall. Everyday, we make the tiniest of improvements, but that's all I can hope for.

It's just past midday now and the group of 18 re-group back at the house. Lunch is served, an assortment of curries, naan bread, yoghurt, rice, papaya or pineapple and cucumber.

After lunch, the daily schedule varies but generally we have a few hours of 'free' time which I use to lesson plan (this takes up a lot of time), visit the local store or markets, chat to the other volunteers, read on the balcony in the warm sunlight and write in my journal.

It hits 4pm and we all gather together with excited grins - it's chai time! Huddled and in need of a pick me up, we all enjoy a cup of this traditional Indian tea of mixed spices and ginger, and a cheeky pack of Parle-g biscuits.

Our short lived break is over as the group make our way to the boys home which was established to care for orphans and destitutes. Because the boys go to school during the day, our role there is to build their confidence through educational games and activities, followed by games of soccer, volleyball or bullrush.

By 7pm, bodies are hungry and exhausted. Dinner is served, the dishes similar to the lunch menu. I retreat upstairs to finish lesson planning for tomorrow, a few hours pass, and then I relax with the other volunteers after the hustle of the day. We're tired, beaten and bruised, eyelids falling down, but I feel the excitement for what the next day brings because as tough as teaching the English lacking grade 2’s and the cheeky boys at the home can be, the joy and smile that glows on their faces as we approach makes everything worth it.

Marvelling at Marble and A Last Harare in Udaipur

COUNTRY: India
PROGRAM: GapBreak
PROJECT: Teaching
WRITTEN BY: James Rosengren

Rising like smoke billowing from hot coals, the still morning air chilled us to our cores as the misty grey fog settled like a blanket on the grandeur of the Taj Mahal. Enveloped by this mystical cover of opaque air, the ancient building casts a dark shadow, looming menacingly over us. Appearing as if it is erupting from the tender earth below, the enormity of this famed sight is truly exceptional.

So last week saw us settle into a nice routine, a routine which is juxtaposed with the constant bombardment of new and exciting experiences. We continue our morning teaching appearances at the school as well as the more relaxed teaching and sport at the boys home. The school has become more interesting as a number of challenges have arisen. We struggle to keep the excitable children focused for the duration of the extended lesson, as well as having to overcome the complexities that arise while teaching children who speak another language. They do, however, continue to smile and brighten our mornings, leaving us in happy exhaustion as we return for lunch.

The lunch time breaks were filled with trips into the markets and around Udaipur as we shop and stroll through the bustling streets – met by a range of tourists, locals and semi-wild animals.

Yoga commenced this week, and the early morning rise on Monday saw us meet and greet our friendly instructor. The brisk morning air had us all shivering on the roof top as the sun began its daily ascent onwards and upwards. Taking us through a high action warmup, it wasn't long before blood was sent shooting fervently through our veins, heating our bloodstream and warming our souls. Walking us through the numerous exercises and positions, our balance was most strenuously tested while our limbs were indeed stretched to their limits.

Friday came around all too quickly, and we began preparations for our weekend journey to Agra. After lunch, while some headed into the markets for shopping and sleeping bags and others relaxed at home – some headed somewhere else for something different. With the agenda of finding a supermarket to purchase the required snacks for our 13 hour train that would commence in only a number of hours, we jumped in a tuk-tuk and entered busy India. This came to a halt rather abruptly as we found shelter in a little garden and pond centred as a large roundabout. Sitting in the sun of the garden, we enjoyed the serenity for the next couple of hours before again venturing out into the craziness of India for the supermarket and home.

Our final yoga lesson of the week was enjoyed before dinner, and after packing bags we journeyed to the train station, boarding what would be our home for the foreseeable future. Lucky enough to have tickets in a sleeper carriage, we all squeezed in to join the busy bustle with the Indian locals. Our crowded bunks were soon ladled with bags, food and weary bodies. Under the chilly night air, we sheltered in our sleeping bags – keeping ourselves warm and rested.

We pulled into Agra a number of hours later, having enjoyed all the luxuries and thrills of an Indian train – an experience that regardless of it's negatives will always bring a smile to our faces. Making our way to what would be our accommodation for the night, we were dropped by Tuk Tuk at the border of the no vehicle zone that encircles the Taj before walking to Hotel Sheela. A much needed lunch was then enjoyed before we reconvened at Agra Fort - a colossal structure built in the time of the Taj. A tired dinner saw us all collapse exhausted into our beds in preparation for the early rise in the morning.

The splendour of this monument - the declaration of one mans love for his wife - cannot be captured by words, nor by photo as it's raw beauty is matched only by it's immense size. Following our tour guide around the white washed walls of the Taj, we absorbed the beauty with our eyes, and then appreciated it with our smiles.

Awaking early, Tuesday was a special day as we celebrated both Australia Day and India's Republic Day. So making our way to the Boys' Home we were their guests as they marched a parade, made speeches and danced. We then moved to the schools, our little kids performing traditional dances in their traditional clothing. Lunch passed and we enjoyed some relax time before moving to the Boys' Home for a game of cricket.

Thursday saw us reach the eve of the last day at the school and Boys' Home for those volunteers leaving at the end of the four week placement. Commencing the morning with a hike, a number of us journeyed with Pankaj to the top of a nearby mountain/hill temple to view the sunrise - another stunning view coupled with a gorgeous experience. That night, we had organised a farewell dinner and special night for the boys - bringing in a cook to prepare a meal that the boys loved but were not able to enjoy on a regular basis. Gulping down bowls and bowls of rice pudding - the looks of fulfilment and happiness on the boys faces combined with the mixture of theirs and our laughter made the night not a pleasure for us but a worthwhile one.

Saturday morning was filled with final trips to the market for last minute shopping and a heart to heart goodbye to the markets we had become so accustomed to. Following lunch we made our way to the monsoon palace, a building perched precariously upon the precipice of the largest mountain in the Udaipur area. Stunning 360 degree views met our arrival as we slowly took in the expansive city we had come to call our home over the duration of our volunteer experience. As the sun began to leave it's daily perch in the sky, we made our way back into the centre of town for an Indian dance program. An array of colours followed as men and women moved their bodies in the traditional dance styles of time past. At it's conclusion we retired to the lakeside restaurant – enjoying a final meal in the gorgeous city we had spent the last month in. This breaking of bread with the people we had grown so close to was a lovely way in which we could say our goodbyes – but saddening to know the experience had come to an end.

The trip has been an amazing one, because of the culture we have immersed ourselves in; the effect we have had on the children and the lifetime friendships we have forged.

The Lohri Festival, Treks and Teaching in India

COUNTRY: India
PROGRAM: GapBreak
PROJECT: Teaching
WRITTEN BY: James Rosengren

Emerging from our first week in India and the weekend Jodhpur desert trip, we began our first real lesson with our little kids at the school and the 'too cool for school' teen boys at the Boys' Home. We began at first with some basic testing in attempt to determine their academic level and hence tailor our lesson plans to suit their literary and numerical needs.

We are always bombarded by our gorgeous little cuties as we arrive in the morning, and have to move from the usual morning song to our rug outside the classrooms or inside a room to begin teaching. Our class size varies as attendance rates for the kids at school is always interrupted by differing family requirements.

Finishing at school, small groups often journey into the markets for a bit of an escape from the house and some time in the busy city centre. Squeezing into the already packed public rickshaw, we make our way into Udaipur's market for shopping, strolling and whatever the day decides to throw at us. Eventually arriving in Haithpole, we wander the streets before returning home to Bedla for chai time and the boys home.

We are tested to the boundaries of our teaching skill as we attempt to keep them entertained with educational type games. The teaching, however, is always followed by the usual sport routine – and heading for the volleyball court, soccer dirt or for some handball – we greet the older boys we have grown friendly with. Friendly banter flies left, right and centre as the ball soars in similar directions. Some of the girls are starting to learn that the ball isn't too scary of an object, and as a result of the reduction in the number of screams, are becoming vital members of our mixed teams.

A number of us awake earlier then the rest each morning in an attempt to burn off the mountain sized portions of bread and rice we are served daily. As such, we all do running, skipping and body circuits.

School and lunch went by as normal the following day, and after packing 115 bags of snacks for the Boys' Home festival celebration we would attend that night, a number of us made our way into the markets. Jam-packed with exotic elephants, tumbling turbans and a cacophony of crazy cows, shopping was great fun and the smaller sized group made the experience all the more enjoyable.

After a few of us purchased some low priced leather journal/diary type things, the friendly shop owner asked us for our names. Translating them into Hindi, he told us that when we returned next he would have leather bracelets waiting for us. And, indeed, as we strolled by on our way back to the Tuk Tuk, he called out from his shop. And so we now can show the kids our bracelets to remind them of our names.

As it was the Lohri Festival celebration, we moved to the Boy's Home later then usual and launched straight into sport. At the festival we each take turns to place a burning branch into the kindling fire, the flames leaped and jumped in unexplainable spasms of nature. Licking at the wood with the greediness of a bear before hibernation, the hungry flames climb up the branches just as a tiger stalks it's prey at night, silent but with an orange glow radiating outwards.

Then the dancing began, and things got wild. Kids hit the tiled floor with groovy moves before we were dragged out to show the youngsters how dancing was meant to be done (We were out danced for sure).

And so it was that Saturday morning arrived, and a 5:30 alarm had 11 of us up and drinking chai in preparation for our 6 hour bus ride to Pushkar – the destination of our second weekend excursion. A popular pilgrimage, Pushkar is a small city with little to do except relax and enjoy the serenity. Arriving at our Luxury Accommodation we relaxed, and enjoyed the sunlit gardens and green grass.

Another early morning saw us walk 40 minutes through the dark streets of Pushkar to the base of a mountain. Then next period of time is a bit hazy as we attempted to ascend the steep stairs before the sun graced the sky with it's luminescent presence. Our chests burned as we battled to reach the top - and as with all things in life – the best things come from hard work, and the sunrise was indeed stunning, the suns rays stretching their long arms over the orange tint of the horizon. Met by a bundle of monkeys as we reached the summit, we shared the gorgeous skyline with our not so distant cousins.

The week moves by at an ever increasing speed and the 4 weeks of the uni break placement is almost coming to an all too early conclusion.

A Stunning Journey Through the Desert – Adventures in Udaipur

COUNTRY: India
PROGRAM: UBKV/GapBreak
PROJECT: Teaching
WRITTEN BY: James Rosengren

Second after second, minute after minute, hour after hour and day after day. Time flows with a speed that is both exhilarating and constant as we move through our daily motions – activities that appear the same and yet throw at us new, exciting and often challenging experiences.

We have been fully initiated into our teaching schedule – school in the morning, and home in the evening. But the weekend itself proved to be a very new experience as we went on an expedition to the wilderness of the desert. 

Upon our return from our morning at the school on Friday, we began our journey in a mini-bus towards the dry sparseness of Jodhpur's Osian desert. Halfway, chai time was a well needed break to the monotony of road travel – and after stretching our legs we returned to the minibus and recommenced our journey.

Arriving in Jodhpur, we were taken to the fancy 'On The Rocks' restaurant, where we were placed at a long table under the flickering luminescent shadows of candle light. After placing our order and having some drinks Pankaj took us to their little disco floor. Some of our favourite Indian songs were blasted to the flashing lights of a disco ball – 'Saturday Saturday', a Punjabi dance song in Hindi.

The next morning, a quick breakfast followed a cold shower for us guys (the girls had used up all the hot water), and we made our way to a royal memorial and then onto another famous fort – the Mehrangarh Fort. Strolling through as our large group all entranced by the mixture of voices blaring through the audio guide headphones, we saw the fort in all it's ancient glory.

We then began stage two of our desert journey, the bus taking us out into the desert. Met by two jeeps an hour or so later, we transferred our luggage and began a bumpy, fast and exhilarating journey through the scraggly dunes towards the small house of the family that would host us for the night.

Remounting our jeeps we were taken on a small jeep safari to the main sand dunes, giving us a stunning view of the setting sun, the red rays bouncing off the orange sand in array of colour that dazzled our eyes with the simplicity of it's beauty. Nature at it's finest is revealed at the conclusion and beginning of each and every day – the sun the source of all life on this small planet in the immeasurability of the universe.

Following this we sat around the fire as music played – talking and drinking a little liqueur to keep warm in the freezing desert night (rum and wine). So some dancing around the fire, chatting to each other and fun games became the schedule of the night, and it wasn't long before we had all retired to our beds under the stars, snuggling up in sleeping bags and under blankets as we added the layers to protect against the cold that would only drop as the night continued.

As I looked up thousands of pinpricks of light stared back at me, the everlasting glow of their eternal light blasting through the layers of superficiality that surround our lives. We passed into the oblivion of unconsciousness after the raw exhaustion of the day.

The next day it was time for camel rides. Strolling along with a hip thrusting gait, the camels seemed to be a good pack of guys – tame and not too antsy. However, appearances are apparently deceptive and partway into our expedience to the dunes one decided to bolt and tip side ways, sending two volunteers tumbling down in a chaotic twisting of limbs and bodies - falling like sacks of potatoes to the hard desert floor. Landing on a mixture of body parts, they were quickly acquainted to this harsh desert floor, unsure whether they would be persuaded to leave it's relative safety.

Arriving back in Jodhpur, we saw some of the markets before lunch at the same Guest house and a quick trip to a jewellery shop for the girls. Climbing back into the bus we began the six hour road journey home.

And so it was that we returned home to our humble abode in outer Udaipur. Dinner was had, and lesson planning for the next day began as we had to map out the class structure and format of testing for our kids, so with good old carbon paper we planned accordingly.

We are having a great time, always learning new things and meeting new people. The Indian people are always very friendly and return our greetings and head bobbles as we pass.  All is well with us as we reach Wednesday night – hectic teaching followed by intense lesson planning leaving us all weary eyed and yawning as the warm and comforting encompassment of sleep draws ever near.

India Week One – An Explosion of the Senses

COUNTRY: India
PROGRAM: GapBreak
PROJECT: Teaching
WRITTEN BY: James Rosengren

Spicy curries, colourful fabrics and blaring horns. These are the multitude of elements that bombarded our foreign senses as we entered the culturally rich India.

Jumping off planes and trains, we all arrived in this foreign continent to the smiling face of our friend Mr Pancake – the happy but serious Pankaj. Scooting through the bustling streets of India, the truck weaved between the busy traffic as Tuk Tuks, cars and bikes careened dangerously around us. Making it to our outer Udaipur residence, we were greeted warmly by Pankaj's family and whichever volunteers had already arrived.

Walks around the local area, opening visits to the school and boys home followed – in between exhaustion-fuelled sleep and the ravenous consumption of our superb Indian food. During the influx of volunteers on Tuesday, a number of those already arrived journeyed into the center of Udaipur. Hit by waves of sounds, smells and sights – our senses struggled against being completely overwhelmed. The joys of our trip are truly revealed in these chaotic moments. The tumultuous journey of our own lives seems to ebb and flow inconsequentially when compared to the abject poverty that we witness here daily.

However, for these native Indian people life is full – good friends, close family and warm smiles are all that is required for the purity of happiness that we can often lose sight of in our busy Western lives.

We are all loving our time here, and constant excitement is ever ready –India always waiting to throw at us new and interesting experiences. Our first day united, Wednesday, saw all eighteen of the volunteers brought together as one large group. We journeyed to the school, passing through the small community in which it is situated. Moving through these mud and brick homes, we had kids jumping in and on us for a lift to the school. Smiles were large as we all cramped into the back of the van, the kids settling easily into the small places we didn't know were there.

Arriving at the school, we were met by a crowd of laughing young children, swarming us with their giggles and cheeky grins. Settling them down, they were left happily drawing with their paper and pencils as Pankaj commenced our tour of the little community. Life is indeed of the simplest kind in communities such as these, all life itself rotating around water. Whether it be women spending hours a day carrying buckets of this life sustaining liquid to their homes, or farmers breathing life into their crops through their watery fuel - water is the staple upon which their life revolves. In these locations, nothing can go to waste, and even cows’ feces get used as a fuel for cooking fires. It was indeed an interesting experience as Pankaj explained how they live their daily lives and the channels through which the government aid those living in absolute poverty, as per the UN's millennium goals outlined in 1998.

As we walked through their narrow street we were greeted warmly with many children circling us in excitement and even a baby goat saying hello for the first time. Gorgeous valley views concluded our short tour, and we returned to the school to play some games with the kids, and of course take some photos.

We said out goodbyes for the morning, returning home for lunch and orientation. Did you know that 36% of NASA's scientists are Indians? No? Well we all learnt something new today. Pankaj the wonder man led us through India's history and culture, before moving on to explaining an overview of the trips that would be available to us on the weekends. Then, after enjoying another afternoon of Chai we made our way to the Boy's home. It is here that we will teach and play with boys of varying ages. Due to the holiday period, there were a reduced number of boys – only 30 rather than the usual 100. Playing a variety of different games, we were all transported back to our own days as children while attempting to recollect activities such as “Duck, Duck, Goose”, “Simon Says” and “What's the time Mr Woolf?” Some volleyball, a tour of the boys’ home itself and dancing followed before we all returned home for lunch and Pankaj's City Tour.

Everyone loves their time in this exciting new place with only more adventures to come.

Top five experiences to have while volunteering in Palampur

COUNTRY: Nepal
PROGRAM: UniBreak
PROJECT: Health care
WRITTEN BY: Riona Ashworth O'Callaghan

Today, our intrepid blogger brings you five things worth doing before, during and after volunteering in Palampur.

1. Elefantastic in Jaipur:
Whether before or after heading to Palampur from Delhi, a trip to Jaipur is needed. This was one of my favourite places in India and one of the main reasons was due to our experience with Elefantastic. A few of us from NZ booked an elephant experience with this company and were able to spend a large part of our day with the elephants, feeding, washing (including climbing onto the elephants back) and going for a ride. The moment you arrive, you can really tell the elephants are loved and well cared for here with each elephant only having to work with visitors every second day. It is well worth a visit and you can even book a driver and tour of Jaipur through this company for a reasonable price if you like to be well organised.

2. Paragliding at Bir Billing:
You have a few free weekends while volunteering in Palampur and a day trip to Bir Billing for paragliding is a must do for those of us with an adventurous side. You are in very safe hands as Bobby and Amit (who look after you in Palampur) ensure your pilots are licensed and everything goes smoothly. It was one of my favourite things we have done so far on the trip! The town is decorated with prayer flags and filled with a mixture of people from all different backgrounds including tourists, thrill seekers and Tibetan monks.

3. McLeod Ganj:
Another worthwhile day trip from Palampur is to McLeod Ganj. Even though Dharamsala is known as the home of the Dalai Lama, this is where they actually mean according to the Lonely Planet guides. McLeod Ganj is central to the Tibetan government in exile and as a result, a large Tibetan community lives in the town, evident by the beautiful maroon robes around the streets. Prepare yourself for wanting to buy everything from each stall and shop throughout the town, and keep an eye out for a lady with a stall selling momos on the side of the street - delicious!

4. Akshardham, Delhi: The beautiful Hindu temple situated in the outer eastern suburbs of Delhi is something to tick off on the bucket list. There is free entry with a requirement to leave all your valuables in the secure cloakroom. The temple is peaceful, free from the constant 'click' of cameras, and worrying that someone nicking your things that can happen at some tourist monuments. Inside the building, the detail is absolutely spectacular and, as you explore, you read the information plaques which make you notice so much more detail. As an added extra, try to catch the water and light show at 6.45pm for a small charge of 80 rupees. The show is amazing and I still don't understand how they made the light and water do all those fancy tricks!

5. Use tuk tuks and rickshaws:
What a thrill! Initially the thought of jumping into a tuk tuk as a form of travel might be daunting, when you see all the chaos on the roads, (especially in Delhi). But they provide super cheap transport and good bartering practice. As we all travelled, we found that tuk tuks allow you to properly experience India with all its sights, smells and charming locals. My choice of transport in the main cities, but for Palampur the buses are the go!

First day of health placement in India

COUNTRY: Nepal
PROGRAM: UniBreak
PROJECT: Health care
WRITTEN BY: Riona Ashworth O'Callaghan

As we round another corner, we all eagerly look to see the signs.
"Palampur? Is this the right stop or is it the next one or even the next?"
Once at the volunteer house, we meet Bobby who allows us all to take a breath as we have made it safely to our destination!

The volunteer house is beautiful, bordered by the Himalayas and surrounded by lush greenery - it's like something you’d see on a postcard or tourism brochure. Compared to Delhi, the air is heaven to our lungs!

We slid into a routine easily. This is how it went:

7am: Rise and shine to get ready for placement. A few of us pop outside to watch the sunrise over the mountains or to do some light exercise on the rooftop.

8am: Breakfast. This was my favourite time of the day in India. We had choices of toast, porridge, cornflakes, eggs, fruit and freshly made chai by Joginder in the kitchen.

8.20am: Off to the bus station where we catch a bus to Palampur township and walk to our placements. On the second day, we accidentally caught the wrong bus and, despite being cheaper, the usual 10 minute ride took around half an hour. On the plus side we got to see the rural side of Palampur that we hadn't seen before!

9am: Begin placement. Lucky for me, my original placement was based directly across from the bus station, so my journey to and from placement was quick hop and a jump over the road.

From 9am til around 2pm: Continuous consultations about a range of conditions. In Palampur, the primary conditions are hypertension and type-2 Diabetes so knowledge about these conditions is very beneficial while on placement. The placements were very welcoming of us all and there is a vast amount to learn over the four weeks.

2pm: Most of us finish placement around 2pm, so some explore a bit of Palampur, do some shopping (especially for toilet paper - a rarity in India), practice Hindi with the locals, avoid the local dog population (despite how cute the puppies are), and some of those chocolate biscuits before heading to the bus station and asking the bus driver to take us to "ARLA?" (our local bus stop).

Once back at the house, we all do as we please; we debrief from placement, read books, play badminton, write in our journals, soak up the sun of the roof, go for walks, shower, tidy and -majority of the time - eat.

6.30pm: Dinner is served thanks to Joginder in the kitchen, and we all sit around the dining table and discuss whatever comes up. Our first night, we discussed our plans for the upcoming weekends and had some Hindi lessons with Bobby which was a great help as we now know some basics for placement such as: "Beemar" = sick and "Dura" = pain

Around 10pm: We all retire to our rooms and hit the hay in order to wake up for the next day of what Palampur has to offer!

Welcome To Udaipur

COUNTRY: India
PROGRAM: GapBreak
PROJECT: Teaching
WRITTEN BY: Sean West

I’ve been thinking about how to begin this blog for many weeks now; perhaps even months.
Venturing through India, whether on foot through the market places or by our supposedly fifteen-seater family truck or even by Pankaj’s Honda Hero; traveling in any way provides you with glimpses, snippets of imagery and pulsating language you pray won’t run away with the pixies before you can get your hands on pen and paper.

I suppose I could start with the airplane ride out of Brisbane, through a brief Singapore stop-over, on to Mumbai, then finally north to Udaipur, where Pankaj awaited me, all smiles, at the glass doors of the modest domestic airport.

But there’s not much else to tell there besides my onslaught of questions hurled at Pankaj on the ride to the house; my feverish cultural curiosity slowed in stride by the sudden language barrier; the repeated questions, then repeated again, then repeated once more for good measure.
That has been one of the enduring struggles on this journey; coming to realise just how inaudible a rough Aussie accent is to the outside world.
The outside world.

It feels like another world entirely, especially since India has been the first overseas adventure in my life. Before arrival, this simple fact was quite daunting. But after just a few days in this house, any sort of culture shock or anxiety starts to subsist; in part thanks to the glorious thrill of finally really being here, in part also because you’re sharing this experience with young people just like you.
No matter how different you are, as individuals, there is a deep-abiding understanding there, as immediate as the exhilaration you feel when you take off on your first international flight.

And then there are the kids.
Sure you’ve been granted a few days rest to nurse the fatigue of your first bona fide taste of jetlag, but then you’re thrown headlong into that sea of little, smiling faces; and their startlingly strong hands bombard you with high-fives, low-fives, hugs and hand-holds. You wish you had more than just the two, so you could shoot them all up into the air the way they beg you to every day.

But make no mistake, there are lessons to teach, worksheets to distribute, pencils to sharpen and naughty behaviour to weed out (oddly, the most mischievous kids are often the most capable learners, always yelling out the right answers with cheeky zealous). Yes, we’ve volunteered in this far-away to teach these children.

But having fun was always on the agenda.
And that’s just at the school, which takes up the majority of our weekday mornings. After an always gorgeous, sumptuous lunch prepared by the ever-lovely Meenaji and an hour or two devoted to planning work for tomorrow’s teaching, we all cram into the truck.

Our destination, an all-boy orphanage nestled tight between a load of humble shop fronts to one side and a number of marble construction sites to the other; the orphanage known more commonly, and sensitively, as The Boy’s Home.

The boys, themselves, are mostly adolescents, wrapped in the tangles of puberty, although a range of both younger and older boys move about among them as if to imitate the family many of them have lost or never known. Despite this underlying melancholy, these boys are as fun as they come.

Mischief, it seems, is not solely prevalent in the wee ones, but perhaps flourishes and embellishes itself with age. These guys know not even Pankaj can interpret their unique tribal-area language, so they mumble the occasional jest or mockery on the sly, though it never strikes you as withholding any real malice. These kids are the same as those boys and girls you held this morning. It is only a handful of years or so that distinguishes the two.

Just like school, fun is the undercurrent here, running at the ankles of education – one cannot exist without the other in these places.
However, perhaps teaching at The Boy’s Home is the greater challenge due to the more demanding content of the work, as well as the simple fact that the students have stronger, more robust personalities.

It’s a much more challenging to rein in a student who has had far superior experience in dealing with ‘the new teach.’ But, all in all you get back from this place exactly what you put in. That sounds like a tired cliché, but it’s the driving force for all of us here. Every kid can feel when you’re making an effort, and likewise, they can just as easily pick up on when you’ve given up the fight.
So we dive in heads-first every afternoon and ride home soaking in our success.

Last of all I think I should mention all the marvelous free time we are granted here. After just three short weeks, my fellow volunteers and I have crammed in as much of India as we could possibly manage.
Visits to the market places, a weekend trip away to Jodhpur and the desert to ride camels and bask in the bliss of a traditional Hindu way of living; a day trip up through mountains to explore the Monsoon Palace, greeted (or not-so-greeted) by the temperamental monkeys at the steps.

But the experience that has stood out the most for me has been the temples we’ve visited, at least a trio now, with many more on the horizon. Each of the three thusfar has, without fail, stolen my breath away like you can’t imagine.

The feeling of standing beneath a ceiling that could, in all likelihood, be several centuries old is indescribable.
And your bare feet slide over the marble floors, sharing the same steps with some of the holiest and wisest men to have lived. Through history we re-discover old revelations and step back in awe at the sheer beauty and significance that dwells around every corner.

Visits to these temples are experiences to be cherished, even if you have lived a mostly secular life.
In these places of worship you can’t help but feel like there are gods smiling down upon you. Brahma grins knowingly, while Shiva stamps her feet and Vishnu is there, mending the broken ground behind her. Hanuman the monkey winks, Durga waves her many hands and Ganesh salutes his trunk of almighty fortune.
You are here and living every day as if each morning you are reborn anew.

5 must do's In Palampur

COUNTRY: Peru
PROGRAM: UniBreak
PROJECT: Healthcare
WRITTEN BY: Shannon Hickey

Top 5 ‘must-dos’ when volunteering in Palampur


- A long weekend trip to Manali – Have dinner at Johnsons and spend a day at Solang Valley. Don’t pass up the horse ride to the temple; for 500 rupees it’ll be a definite highlight of the entire trip.

- Buy a big box of mixed sweets at Gobind Sweets – The Gulab Jamun and Coconut Burfi were crowd favourites. While you’re there grab a few samosas as well!

- Market shopping at Dharamsala – The scarves are particularly beautiful but don’t forget to barter! A walk to the waterfall while you’re there is well worth the effort for the magnificent photo opportunities.

- Hang out on the rooftop of the volunteer house – When the sky is clear grab a yoga mat and your camera to practice your downward dog with a Himalayan backdrop.

- Embrace everything as a learning experience – It’s really easy to get stressed by how different life is in Palampur to Australia and many of us found our expectations quite different to the reality. The most essential ‘must-do’ of all while you are here is to leave your expectations at home and enjoy India for everything that it is, rather than becoming fixated on what you had thought it would be.