What I know and can say about the Sikhs is that they are an unparallel race on this earth. Sikhs are the most brave and bold people, full of pride and self-esteem, most warm and kind hearted of all, uniquely handsome with their attire, well built; all this makes them unique. The self-esteem and pride is unmatched – you will never find a Sikh beggar on roads. They are the best when you request them for a photograph, no questions asked from photographers and ever-willing to be photographed with smile on their face.

The Sikh soldiers enjoy very special place in the Indian army, they are known as the `THE BRAVEST OF BRAVE’ and have the highest gallantry awards to their honour, won in all the battle field. The stories of Sikh gallantry are unmatched in the world. Though, I did not serve with Sikh troops, but had close interaction with them in Sri Lanka, where I served as an IPKF member for 18 months. They were bold like no one ! Their military history is full of unmatched valour and grit.  Their contribution to the British Empire, as soldiers is very much appreciated by the British, even today.

They are traditionally generous to travellers and there is no bar to caste and creed or religion, when it comes to hosting a traveller. Though, materialism and modern `rat race’ have taken its toll of that unique feature of Sikhs to great extent in modern times. If one is travelling and finds a Gurudwara (Sikh temple), and one needs shelter and food even at odd hours, just walk in and you will be welcome to be their guest. I have never enjoyed photographing any other place as much as I have at the Golden Temple; its open 24 hours, no restrictions, free kitchen, cleanliness of the highest grade, water, bathrooms, rooms to stay, etc. Since, Sikhs are very prone to political interference in their religious places as well. Most political parties reach the people of Punjab via religion and have political offices in Gurudwaras.  Off late, when I went to Golden Temple, I was shocked to face the irrational restriction for the use of tripods in Golden Temple, which is really sad.

Sikhs are workaholic, this trait has made them the most successful farmers in India and have proved it even overseas. They believe in this philosophy `work like a horse and enjoy like a king’. Also, they have acumen as transporters and they dominate transport business all over the country, they are leaders in the automobile spare-parts business as well. They are bold to explore any place on earth to make wealth.

The biggest worry of the custodians of this religion is that young generations are diluting the values which were well guarded for centuries. The menace of drugs is engulfing the health of youth in Punjab, which is affecting Sikhs as well. It has lead the youth to be casual towards values and respect for the teachings of their Gurus.

They are very interesting people to know, till you do not get on to their wrong side !!!

DISCLAIMER : This post is NOT to promote or support any religion. Sikhs are like any other subject to me, as a photographer. I have not written anything about religion here, so NO controversies please. These are my own views. Do not try to dig things out of a mole hill. All religions are respect worthy. My religion is ONLY to be a `good human-being’.

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One day in the summer of 2006, Ms Bharti Sharma, our family friend, who is a graphic designer, came to visit us. She had just returned from Egypt, after spending about a year on her professional assignment. Rajbir and me were glued to our chairs, with all ears to her travelogue narration. We got so engrossed listening to Bharti, we even forgot to offer any customary drink or something to eat to her. While listening to her, my wife and me realised that a visit to Egypt was our common dream, which remained only in our subconscious minds. Somehow, we never got around to ponder over the subject together. May be considering it a bit far fetched in our minds, or simply it just never came up for discussion. I think, most of us do drift into dreamy wishes occassionaly while chatting, but even that never happened over the numerous cups of tea, which we both love sharing to discuss life and its goodies, twice a day. We both were quite amazed over the mystery of our hidden common desire for a visit to Egypt. We discovered our intense love for Egypt only through Bharti, when we both poured our hearts to her about Egypt. Moreover, I think, we are so used to travelling in total comfort, onboard our Kingcobra (motorhome) that we never put our minds together to plan any trip to Egypt. Also, the most tricky thing is the process of choosing a tour operator, who can either shatter your dreams and make it as the most bitter travel of lifetime, or make it wonderfully memorable trip of life time. Probably, did not have the courage to go through that.

I was quite amazed when Rajbir was expressing her wish to visit Egypt repeatedly, like a child does, to Bharti. And we pulled our chairs closer to Bharti to hear her with curiosity, like babies hear interesting story of fairies, and it gave us a feeling as if we were inching towards Egypt. I looked at Rajbir in amazement that how come I never knew about her this dream and wish for a visit to Egypt. As we had set out on a journey through Egypt, day dreaming, with lively narration by Bharti, we often interrupted her with volley of questions. I am sure, many times Bharti must have had headaches with us, as our questions and curiosity were that of kids. Now, I did not want to have a rush trip to Egypt, which is usually organised by a tour operator, you miss so much in that regimented group tour. So, I was trying to discover if there were other options like that of staying with one of Bharti’s friends in Egypt, who could accept us as `paying guests’ for two to three months. Bharti also gave us a brilliant idea of hiring an apartment in Cairo and stay there for three to four months and capture Egypt in our minds and with cameras as much as we wanted and at our own pace. This plan swept me off my feet and I was already soaring high in that dreamy world, day dreaming like I never did before in my life. I was gasping in awe and dream, I was getting restless and wanted to fly to Egypt anytime. All of sudden, Bharti got a call from her mother and she left for home, abruptly. We could not conclude anything concrete about our plans for Egypt, as we wanted some more info from Bharti. And thereafter, we could not meet Bharti till she got married. Should I say `Bharti left us in doldrums about Egypt’. That night, I could not sleep as I only dreamt about Egypt the whole night. But it seems, when you are passionate and madly in love for something, God gets on your side. Exactly, at this point a miracle took place. One day, I got a mail from Mr Sushil Gaur, whom I had met briefly at Haldwani (now in Uttrakhand state of India) at my cousin’s place, while travelling in our Kingcobra. After few months or a year, Sushil wrote me a mail that  eversince he saw me at Haldwani, he has been wanting to communicate with me. He said that he envys our life style, as he sees us swaying with the wind of life and enjoyed every whiff that came our way. Sometimes, even we wonder and enjoy about the will of God, that how exhilarating life we have been blessed with, so far, indeed.

Finally, Sushil fixed up a photography assignment for me with Eastmar Tours. The notice was too short to organise myself and my family for the Egypt tour. I realised that our small kids did not have passports and my own passport had expired. As I mentioned, when God is happy with your work, if passionately done, He decides to be on your side always. I wanted passports in four days and I could not dream of getting our passports before two weeks at least, by any means. As I was wondering how I will get all the passports, I got a phone call from Mr Ashwani Attri, a good photographer friend, who was the Accountant General of Haryana at that time, to meet him for something. On meeting, I asked if he could help me in getting the passports and he did, as he helped me in a proper legal way through proper channel and got me passports within four days, in `urgent category’. As it had happened too soon and too quick, Rajbir often said that she will believe about it only when our aircraft for Egypt will take off from Delhi. And one day soon, we were airborne for Egypt!

We, as a family, did a great memorable trip to Egypt, stayed in Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, the best was Nile Cruise. It was organised by Eastmar Tours. They have superb Nile cruise ships named as RA-I and RA-II. On our arrival on-board RA-II, we were pleasantly surprised, we had not expected it to be so mesmerising atmosphere on the ship. We had great views of the River Nile, right from our cabin itself. I must say Nile cruise is really an experience which one should never miss in life. I met many wetsern tourists on the same ship, who told me that its `dream come true’ tour for them. They all had heard a lot about Egypt and dreamt about the River Nile all their life.

I must appreciate that Eastmar has a great Chef and his team in the kitchen on board RA-II; food is superb and very hygienic (in fact certified). And that is what one wants on a tour, good safe food, good comfortable room!

I am told Eastmar Tours is the oldest tour operator company in Egypt, since 1939.

I am planning to organise photo tours to Egypt, soon, alongwith Eastmar. I have proposed Eastmar Tours to make all the arrangements for a good photo tours. If anyone desires, please contact via email wildhiss@gmail.com

In the photo galleries below, you will see all the photos of Egypt by me. I must say, its a highly recommended tour for anyone, even a 90 years old can do these tours.

Dervish Dance/ Sufi Dance Video

MORE ABOUT EGYPT

Nile is a dream river for every visitor and photographers love to photograph everything around this great river.  Egypt presents the visitor with many striking contrasts, particularly in its landscape and in the ancient, Christian and Islamic elements of its heritage. Signs of Westernization and tradition are sometimes found in startlingly incongruous juxtaposition, bur more usually the new is adapted to blend harmoniously with the old.

Nile – the great river which flows down its entire length has united Egypt, and which indeed is the creator of the country. Without the Nile, Egypt would not exist.  The great majority of its estimated 80 million live along the banks of the Nile River, in an area of about 40,000 square kilometers (15,000 sq mi), where the only arable agricultural land is found. And cultivate the land as their ancestors have done for thousands of year. This narrow, fertile valley is flanked by the desert- a desert which is always threatening to take over the cultivation. Today, controlled by dams and barrages, the Nile no longer floods the country every year. The building of the High Dam at Aswan flooded the whole of the Nile valley between Aswan and the frontier with Sudan, creating Lake Nasser. Preserved from the threat of devastating floods, Egypt is now protected from the dangers of famine by the regulation of the water.

Egypt has a landscape which is surprisingly varied, but all of the terrain derives from a combination of water and sky, cultivation and desert.

Dervish Dance/ Sufi Dance Video

MORE INFO ABOUT EGYPT

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