Sat Sri Akal

If I were blindfolded, unknowingly led to the Southall, and turned loose in the center of the town, I would have guessed that I was in the heart of India. I was very much the minority in such a foreign place. It was a completely new cultural experience, with unique clothing, strong religious ties, and even interesting smells.

We visited two Hindu temples and one Sikh temple. I enjoyed being able to take part in their worship at the Sikh temple and being able to observe the religion so closely. We had to cover our heads with scarves while in the temple to show respect . 

It impressed me how open the Sikhs were to having visitors and assuring us that they would feed us in any of their temples around the world. It certainly wasn’t on my “Top 10 List of Amazing Meals” but the gesture was very kind. I really liked what one Sikh man told us: “Whatever faith you are in, you should be the best that you can be."

These porcelain statues of gods and goddesses adorned the insides of the Hindu temples. These temples had a very different feel compared to the Sikh temple. Their décor was much more gaudy and the noise level was much higher.

I bought my own Henna kit from a shop on the streets and tried to throw together an artsy Indian design on my hand. It turned out much darker than expected and looked a lot more like a jet-black sharpie gone wild than an intricate Henna decoration. 

My Canterbury Tale

Touring the Canterbury Cathedral was a great experience for me. I was in awe of the intricate architecture forms, the religious significance, the stunning stained glass windows, and the magnificence of the building as a whole.

I was very appreciative to have a tour guide that was so knowledgeable of Canterbury's history and who seemed very passionate about it his job. It got me excited to learn and explore the history of church. No, he was not posing for this picture, it was purely candid. Natural GQ model right there.

We began our tour in the nave and made our way through the transepts, the chapter house, the choir, and even down to the crypt. 

Meetings were held in the chapter house to discuss secular matters. The ceiling is wagon vaulted and made from Irish oak trees.

Monks used the used the cloister to take evening strolls or to sit outside and enjoy the outdoors while copy manuscripts but still have protection from the wind. In 1936, an Anglo-Saxon sundial that was dated to over 1000 years old.was found in this cloister.

Monks generally used the choir eight times a day. It's rib vaulting, pointed arches, and absence of walls give it a Gothic architectural feel.

This stained glass represents the Six Ages of Man, from birth to death. I learned that if light is shining through stained glass and projects color onto the ground, the glass is probably a modern replica, not medieval glass.

Monks used the used the cloister to take evening strolls or to sit outside and enjoy the outdoors while copy manuscripts but still have protection from the wind.

A Day in Dover

For our first day trip as a group, we traveled to Dover to see Dover Castle and the famous White Cliffs.

William the Conqueror built a number of castles after the Norman Invasion, including Dover Castle.

Henry II, the great-grandson of William the Conqueror, largely expanded the castle in the late 12th Century. The castle was built as a defense against domestic violence and foreign invasion, but also served as a status symbol showing power and wealth.

I loved the leaves that were taking over the stone wall in front of the castle and the amazing view of the town and water below.

We drove to a beach to get a better view of the White Cliffs. The beach was unlike any other beach I have ever been to. The sand was made up of huge pebbles and seashells and the water was a beautiful bright turquoise.

"The tide is full, the moon lies fair

Upon the straits; on the French coast the light

Gleams and is gone; the cliffs of England stand,

Glimmering and vast, out in the tranquil bay."

-Matthew Arnold, Dover Beach

The pier also provided some nice shots with the White Cliffs in the background.