Song of India - XI - Final Impressions

To leave Banaras was sad. I got on the train and scooted across the long bench to the window. The bearer carries my heavy black trunk full of books and things from India and pushes it under the seat. I arrange my packages. All set. An hour late we start on the long trip to Allahabad, then Delhi.

The Allahabad platform is rather sedate and quiet, and mostly educated, higher-class people get on the train from the university. The platform has fruit vendors with piles of fruit and oranges as high as they are, squatting beside them. The tea vendors are doing their usual business jogging along the train with a pot of tea and bucket of cups and there is the push cart of snacks, too.

It is an overnight trip to Delhi and for some reason the train became more and more deserted. Finally the lights go out and I am the only one in the car except for a badly burned lady at the end and her two relatives who are watching her. We speed thru the night.

In Delhi it was harder to get around as most of the people spoke Hindi. It was not as interesting as Banaras, but was newer, and for the first time I saw glass windows in front of places of business. I ate lunch and saw the Red Fort.

Then I took the train to Rishikeah at the foot of the Himalayas and then a bus ride into the mountains. I was still too far away to get a good view, tho. I stayed overnight at a lodge and then went back to Delhi.

Then I went on to Bombay and stayed at the YWCA again. I told the girls of my trip. I stayed for several days. Then I took the boat back to Japan where I again stayed several months before coming home.

India was the greatest experience of my life. She is closer to earth and to heaven than any other place. She is an ancient country full of variety and never-ending interest. Her people are varied and kindly, fascinating. I hope to go again to the land I love.

The End