Inspirational and Uplifting...

Rob_The_Pom · Jun 29th, 2004, 21:25

Some of the things that I most vividly remember from my trips to India are situations when I've been feeling incredibly down and things have happened that have uplifted me beyond belief.
The first was in Hyderabad. I didn't know at the time, but I was having a horrible reaction to Malaria tablets. They had given me a case of the 'Bombay quickstep' and, worse, a very nasty case of depression. I had been in India two weeks and all I wanted to do was go home. Certain things had made the depression far worse. I had come across the body of a man who'd simply keeled over and died in the middle of the street. The corpse was basically being ignored. I'd been ripped off a couple of times. It wasn't anything major, just me not knowing rickshaw prices.
So, after having a rather tearful conversation or three with my parents I decided that the only course of action was to leave India as soon as possible, but before that to head for the nearest bar and get smashed.
Hyderbad has quite a nice pub, I can't remember it's name, but it is under a decent hotel and has an internet cafe.
When I arrived at the bar I order a beer before heading to the internet cafe. I sent a rather sad e-mail to my friends saying that I'd had enough and was heading home, after only two weeks in India.
When I returned to the bar, I found a beer placed in front of me as soon as I sat down. I asked the barman why. He told me that it was present from the gentleman at the other end of the bar. I looked over and a middle-aged Sikh gentleman raised his glass to me. I left my seat and went over to talk to my benefactor. He turned out to be the most charming of individuals. He said that he had seen me come in and that I looked utterly dejected.
I asked him why he bought me a beer.
He told me that I was a guest in his country and that it was his duty to look after me.
So, I poured out my troubles to a stranger. He refused to let me buy him one beer. He must have bought me six or seven.
At the end, he asked if he could take my leave because his family was expecting him home!
As I returned to my hotel I drunkenly telephone my parents, I'd had another four or five after his departure, and explained that this dear man had restored my faith in humanity.
He went a very long way to helping me stay in India and allowing me to have the trip of a lifetime. If it hadn't been for this particular Mr Singh my love and obsession with India might never have happened.
I have one regret and confession though. He talked a lot about his family and how important the family was. I said that if I could I would send him a picture of my family as a token of gratitude. He said that it wasn't necessary, but I said I would try.
Sadly, I never got around to the family photo, as I left England again soon after. I hope that when I return in a few months I will finally fulfil, what I feel is, my obligation.
But, one way or another I'll never forget this particular Mr Singh.

(Oh and this man is one of the reasons why I have such enormous respect and regard for the Sikh people. It is also a family thing, my dear, late, Grandparents would also tell me how much they loved the Sikh people.)

The second is much briefer.
I'd been stuck in Dharamsala for about 3 days with a very unpleasant case of Ameobic Dysentary - 40 'goes' in 24 hours, can any other readers beat that? When I heard a commotion outside my room. I dragged myself off my sickbed and onto my balcony. As I looked down the valley that faces away from the Himalaya, I saw what everyone was getting excited about.
There were hundreds of thousands or maybe even millions of white Butterflies flying up the valley towards us. The cloud of Butterflies that passed us was as dense as David Beckham. It made me feel a million dollars, I was uplifted. I'd had never seen some many butterflies in one place and I don't suppose I will do so again.

Well, that's my piece said. I'd love to hear if anyone else has had a similar experience!

Oh, and if you read to the end, I desperately hope it wasn't too boring.

Regards to all!

Rob_The_Pom

PS I'm sorry about any errors - and I'm supposed to be an English teacher!

lobo · Jun 29th, 2004, 21:28

Nice post I will remember it on my travels

indiadreamn · Jun 29th, 2004, 22:00

Quote:

as dense as David Beckham.

Hillarious! And it was a great post, not boring in the slightest!

seventies'hippy · Jun 29th, 2004, 22:19

I too enjoyed reading your stories Rob,

So,,,,,,,, Angels do exist, I knew they did, Yours just happened to come disguised as Mr Singh.
Or were there a million of them disguised as butterflies

Jun 29th, 2004, 21:25	#1
Rob_The_Pom Infidel in Chief Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Seoul, South Korea Posts: 1,373	Inspirational and Uplifting... Some of the things that I most vividly remember from my trips to India are situations when I've been feeling incredibly down and things have happened that have uplifted me beyond belief. The first was in Hyderabad. I didn't know at the time, but I was having a horrible reaction to Malaria tablets. They had given me a case of the 'Bombay quickstep' and, worse, a very nasty case of depression. I had been in India two weeks and all I wanted to do was go home. Certain things had made the depression far worse. I had come across the body of a man who'd simply keeled over and died in the middle of the street. The corpse was basically being ignored. I'd been ripped off a couple of times. It wasn't anything major, just me not knowing rickshaw prices. So, after having a rather tearful conversation or three with my parents I decided that the only course of action was to leave India as soon as possible, but before that to head for the nearest bar and get smashed. Hyderbad has quite a nice pub, I can't remember it's name, but it is under a decent hotel and has an internet cafe. When I arrived at the bar I order a beer before heading to the internet cafe. I sent a rather sad e-mail to my friends saying that I'd had enough and was heading home, after only two weeks in India. When I returned to the bar, I found a beer placed in front of me as soon as I sat down. I asked the barman why. He told me that it was present from the gentleman at the other end of the bar. I looked over and a middle-aged Sikh gentleman raised his glass to me. I left my seat and went over to talk to my benefactor. He turned out to be the most charming of individuals. He said that he had seen me come in and that I looked utterly dejected. I asked him why he bought me a beer. He told me that I was a guest in his country and that it was his duty to look after me. So, I poured out my troubles to a stranger. He refused to let me buy him one beer. He must have bought me six or seven. At the end, he asked if he could take my leave because his family was expecting him home! As I returned to my hotel I drunkenly telephone my parents, I'd had another four or five after his departure, and explained that this dear man had restored my faith in humanity. He went a very long way to helping me stay in India and allowing me to have the trip of a lifetime. If it hadn't been for this particular Mr Singh my love and obsession with India might never have happened. I have one regret and confession though. He talked a lot about his family and how important the family was. I said that if I could I would send him a picture of my family as a token of gratitude. He said that it wasn't necessary, but I said I would try. Sadly, I never got around to the family photo, as I left England again soon after. I hope that when I return in a few months I will finally fulfil, what I feel is, my obligation. But, one way or another I'll never forget this particular Mr Singh. (Oh and this man is one of the reasons why I have such enormous respect and regard for the Sikh people. It is also a family thing, my dear, late, Grandparents would also tell me how much they loved the Sikh people.) The second is much briefer. I'd been stuck in Dharamsala for about 3 days with a very unpleasant case of Ameobic Dysentary - 40 'goes' in 24 hours, can any other readers beat that? When I heard a commotion outside my room. I dragged myself off my sickbed and onto my balcony. As I looked down the valley that faces away from the Himalaya, I saw what everyone was getting excited about. There were hundreds of thousands or maybe even millions of white Butterflies flying up the valley towards us. The cloud of Butterflies that passed us was as dense as David Beckham. It made me feel a million dollars, I was uplifted. I'd had never seen some many butterflies in one place and I don't suppose I will do so again. Well, that's my piece said. I'd love to hear if anyone else has had a similar experience! Oh, and if you read to the end, I desperately hope it wasn't too boring. Regards to all! Rob_The_Pom PS I'm sorry about any errors - and I'm supposed to be an English teacher! __________________ There is no God but Dawkins and Hitchens is his prophet. Last edited by Rob_The_Pom : Jun 29th, 2004 at 22:03.

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Jun 29th, 2004, 21:28	#2
lobo Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: london Posts: 431	Nice post I will remember it on my travels

Jun 29th, 2004, 22:19	#4
seventies'hippy Maha Guru Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: UK Posts: 2,132	I too enjoyed reading your stories Rob, So,,,,,,,, Angels do exist, I knew they did, Yours just happened to come disguised as Mr Singh. Or were there a million of them disguised as butterflies