INDIA India is the worlds seventh largest country and is located in southern Asia. To the north are the worlds largest mountains and on it's east and west there oceans. There are about one billion people living in India making it one of the most populated countries in the world. There are many cultures and religions. 15% of Indians are Hindu, 12% are Muslim, 6% are Christian, 2% are Sikhs, 0.7% are Buddhist and 0.4% are Jains. It has a 9,000 year history. There are eighteen major languages spoken in India but they come from two major family of languages; Indo-Irainian, and Indo European. There are at least 1,500 Indian mother tongues. Eighteen of these are official languages recognized by the federal government. English is one of them. Hindi is spoken by 40% of the population. English is spoken by 5% of Indians.

There are three major rivers that flow throught India, and the Ganges is the most sacred to it's people. There is an abundance of plant and animal life. The climate is also diverse. The northern plains has cool winters and hot summers. There is a big population problem in India that doesn't seem to be getting any better.

Many people in India die of diseases like malaria, typhoid, cholera and diarrhea because of poor sanitation in the water supply. India has a rich history of arts, literature architecture, music, dance and now theater and film. The economy is gradually evolving from agrarian to industrial and commercial. India is a democracy and has a government similar to the United Kingdom and the United States. It's armed forces is all volunteer. India is a country of vast contrasts in geography, religion, people, history and life styles. You will find it all here.

September 13, 2006 - I made it to New Dehli last night after a five hour flight from Singapore. I was met at the airport by the travel agency and took a 40 minute ride to the hotel where I am now staying. I spent the day touring with a guide and a driver. We went to many sites. First of all we toured the Red Fort which was built by the Mogul dynasty. The guide explained everything to me, but when I get back I will have to look up the history. It was very facinating. We went to a large Muslims Mosque, then Gandi's memorial and finally to a Hindu Temple. I enjoyed that the most. We also went to many other places of
interest.

After having a drink of lime soda in a resturant we went outside and found a snake charmer sitting next to a wall acrossed the courtyard. The man invited me to sit down next to him. Then he wanted to drape one of his cobras around me and have me hold it. I didn't want to do that and had to be very firm with him as he was very persistent about it. I just wanted to get some pictures of this guy with his snakes. These are just a few of many things that happened today.

It is very hot here. It reminds me of the good old days in Vietnam. I had to ask the guide to slow down. At my age I just cannot go at a fast rate in this oppressive heat. More later.

September 16, 2006 - I am here in Jaipur. I've been here the the last couple of days. My driver Subhash and I drove here 2 days ago from New Dehli. Yesterday I took the elephant ride at the Amber Fort. It was built a few centuries back. A tour guide took me through the palace and explained the history of the place.

I also visited the Hawa Mahal, the city palace and the observatory next to it. This city is a very great place. I will never forget what it is like in the city. It is jammed with people, auto rickshaws and cycle rickshaws, cars, trucks, shops, resturants and temples in the middle of the street. It's just a beehive of activity. It will take me a while before I can adaquately describe it.

This morning I had breakfast of scrambled eggs, tomato & cauliflauer, Asian pear sliced, toast, black tea and curd, which is yogart. I am now waiting for Subhash to arrive. I will be checking out of this hotel and me and Subhash will be on our way to the city of Agar, and tomorrow I will see the Taj Mahal, which some say is the most beautiful building in the world. This is all for now. I will write more as time allows. Signing off, Mike Bailey

Sept 20, 2006 - As I left off writing the last time I wrote I was on my way to see the Taj Mahal. I saw it and touched it with my own hands and now know how to get there and what the town of Agra is like.

After the Taj Mahal we went to the Fort in Agra and learned many things about it. Then later in the evening I wanted to try some betelnut, so Subhash found a good place and a man made some.

That night I took a train to Varanasi. This is the place where all Hindus desire to come to bathe in the Ganges River. Once there I took a tour of the place where Buddha preached his first sermon after being enlightened. Then the next day I took a boat ride on the Ganges to view the people in the morning bathing in the Ganges, and going through their rituals. I saw a few people being cremated in a funeral pyre. A man took me to the place where this was happening, so I saw it up close. Then I saw Vishnu's foot prints. He is a high god in the Hindu religion. Then after that I saw the Golden Temple, which is the most important temple in this area.

Then later in the day my new driver Raja and I started out for Bodhgaya. This is the place where Buddha was enlightened. That evening I met my new guide and he took me to the ancester of the tree where Buddha had that experience. I can remember as a small child when I first heard of Buddha, I wanted to go to that tree and sit under it. My dream came true last night when I sat under it.

This morning The guide and driver came at 0830 and we spent a few hours going to the different monastaries in the area. I went to the Vietnam one since this is the place where I was first exposed to Buddhism. I'm afraid to say I could never become a Buddhist, becasue they don't believe in God. Buddha didn't believe in God and thought that this belief was the result of superstition. Even though he didn't believe in God, some of his teachings were good, and he was a great example in being peaceful and living a peaceful life. So I don't mind spending the money for this trip. I believe it was well worth it.

Tomorrow we leave for Kushinger. This was the place where Buddha died. I will try to write again as I am able. Mike Bailey