Episode 8

On Monday we set out for Chandigarh, which is about a 4 hr train ride from Delhi. It was such a nice surprise when we arrived, as Chandigarh is much cleaner and a bit more modern than Delhi. The air is much less polluted and does not have that distinct odor, the roads are far less congested, and the houses and buildings are quite modern. Although I love Delhi’s character, Chandigarh was a very nice break. For the rest of the day we met with our NGO, Survival for Women and Children’s Health (SWACH), and they gave us a presentation on the different programs that they are running.

Later in the afternoon, we went to the Chandigarh Rock Garden, which at first appeared to literally be just that, a bunch of rocks in a garden. But in fact it was quite neat. The artist made all of the sculptures from trash and waste, such as old plates, used charcoal, old electrical sockets, and even discarded bangles. There were numerous sculptures of animals and people as well as a number of architectural works. A very crafty way of using trash…

We then retired to our guest house, where we met our host family. Our host family also runs their own NGO, providing education to slum children, and they are quite possibly the nicest people you could imagine. They have 2 children and a large house, where they rent out the rest of the rooms to students or young professionals at an affordable price. But most of all they bring you in as part of their family. They have made us feel so welcome, and their work in education is truly inspiring.