India & Vietnam (September) SEP 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 7:00 9:00 Train to Jaipur 4:30 Orientation 5:30 Walking Tour Sodala Tour of Jaipur (Amber Fort & Bapu Bazaar) Sunrise Tour of Taj Mahal Arrival in India 9:30 PM 9:00 10:00 Delhi Tour 1:00 Lunch in Delhi Delhi Tour 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 7:30 Visit El Village Visit Amb Nagar & Intro to YDN Meet W/ Young Dreamers (Amb Nagar) 4:00 Relaxation Meet w/young Dreamers (survial Hindi) 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 (cooking lesson) 10:00 Depart for Agra (be sure to bring snacks) 4:30 Backside of Taj Mahal 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 (Bollywood dance) Dinner with local host family
India & Vietnam (October) 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 Free Day (henna workshop) Afternoon Depart for Himalayas 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 Arrive 10:00a All-day Hike in Hike Down Dharamsala Himalayas Mountain Dalai Lama Temple Camp Overnight 3:30 Overnight train to Jaipur (sari & turban workshop) Free Afternoon 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Free Day Diwali Bollywood Movie at the Theatre Pushkar Camel Safari Tour Pushkar Evening Return to Jaipur Free Day 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Depart for Vietnam (puppet show) Farewell Activities
India & Vietnam (November) NOV 01 02 03 04 Arrive in Vietnam Orientation Tour Ho Chi Minh City Tour Ho Chi Minh City 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 Mui Ne Beach Trip 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Mui Ne Beach Trip Free Afternoon 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Free Day Mekong Delta Trip 26 27 28 29 30 DEC 1 2 Mekong Delta Trip Free Afternoon
India & Vietnam (December) DEC 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 Free Day Danang Trip Danang Trip 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Danang Trip Farewell Activities 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 Flight Home 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
While in Jaipur, our work will be varied so as to expose you to multiple types of service work. For example, projects may include the opportunity to support the care of elephants in the elephant village, organize games and activities for children, teach English and match to children and youth, facilitate women s empowerment meetings, do rooftop gardening projects, beautify schools and rooms, and implement water harvesting systems. NEW DELHI New Delhi is India s capital and largest city, and you will begin your experience in India with a peak of all that Delhi has to offer. New Delhi is full of history, architectural wonder, and bustling markets, and during your tour you will get a taste of everything. From Sikh temples that provide headscarfs and delicious free meals for all, to beautiful gardens housing anciet tombs such as Humayun s Tomb and Lodi Park, to Ghandi Smriti, Gandhi s Delhi residence and the site of his assassination, you will be able to begin to immerse yourself in the rich and varied outlets of Indian culture. JAIPUR You will be staying in Jaipur, India s Pink City, and the Capital of Rajasthan, for the majority of your time in India. Jaipur is full of attractions, and during your time there, you will be able to explore the major tourist attractions and the hidden gems alike, both during guided tours and on your own time. The most famous attractions in Jaipur include the Amber Fort and Palace, an 18th century complex that gives you insight into historic noble life in India, the City Palace, home to the current Monarchs of Jaipur (the King is just 15 years old!) and Jantar Mantar, the largest observatory in India, a wonderous collision of science and religion and home to the largest sundial in the world. Less reknown are the Hanuman Sun and Monkey Temples, a temple complex where you can feed wild monkeys, watch the sunset over The Pink City from a hilltop or bathe in the public lakes, the Panna Meena Well, the Royal Ganitor Tumbas, and the Hawa Mahal (the magnificent Palace of the Wind). TAJ MAHAL The Taj Mahal easily the most famous attraction in India is an architectural mystery and wonder, behind which is a love story that has endured the centuries. Mogul Emporar Shah Jehan built the Taj Mahal to honor his beloved wife, Queen Mumtaz Mahal, whose dying wish was for a magestic and beautiful mausoleum. Today, the mausoleum and gardens are still as breathtaking as they were in 1650, and whether you tour the grounds with a guide or take them in by yourself, you will feel the Taj Mahal s almost magical atmosphere. DHARAMSALA Dharamsala is famous for being the home of the Monastery of the Dalai Lama, and the center of Tibetan culture and Buddhism in India. There are several Buddhist and Hindu temples and monasteries to visit, including the Norbulinga institution, a complex dedicated to the preservation of Tibetan culture. In addition, the mountainous region is full breathtaking views of the Himilayas, gorgeous valleys, and other natural splendor. CAMEL SAFARI Explore the deserts of Rajasthan on the back of a camel! With plenty of stops along the way to indulge in authentic Indian cuisine, climb (but more importantly run down) sand dunes, and watch a spectacular desert sunset, the camel safari will be a great way to take a break from city life and get a taste of adventure.
HOME VISITS One of the most poignant experiences of the India portion of the Program is visiting the residents of Ambedkar Nagar, the slum in which we will be working. During these visits, you will experience first hand the living conditions of the people you are serving, and have the opportunity to ask meaningful and direct questions about their lives, experiences and perspectives. This is a great way to respectfully begin to bridge the cultural gap and form powerful relationships with individuals in the community. The cultural exchange will be furthered by a highly competent and compassionate interpreter. LOCAL MARKET While in Jaipur you will get to experience a typical local market with a variety of goods ranging from street food, to saris, to jewelry, to souvenirs, to every day essentials like toothpaste and scissors. There, you will practice communication through a language barrier, sharpen your bartering skills, and find gifts for your whole family! HENNA WORKSHOP A highlight for many is the Henna Workshop, in which and women from the community will decorate your hands and feet with beautiful and original henna designs. They will then show you the techniques of their work, and you will get a chance to try it out on your own, and take some henna home with you, so you can continue to practice! BOLLYWOOD DANCE CLASSES You will learn the ins and outs of Bollywood Dance in these es. Bollywood is easy to learn (no matter what your perceived dancing ability is), good exercise, and tons of fun. PUPPET SHOW Jaipur is famous for its marionette puppet shows! You will get to experience a puppet show first hand along with the, and later have the opportunity to ask questions, and learn how the puppets are made and try out moving them. SARI AND TURBAN WORKSHOP One of the most visibly apparent aspects of Indian cullture is the beautiful saris that the women wear. In this workshop, girls will have the opportunity to learn how to wrap a sari, and then, try one on themselves! Boys will get to learn how to wrap a turban, and tie up traditional men s pants. RELIGIONS OF INDIA India is a religiously diverse nation and the birthplace of several important world religions. You will have the opportunity to learn about the religions of India, such as Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Sikhism, Buddhism and Jainism. Your learning will be furthered and enhanced by firsthand exposure to the different religions when we visit various temples, mosques and other religious sites. HINDI CLASSES While in India, you will have some exposure to Hindi, and the opportunity to take some Hindi es. Hindi is the 4th most widely spoken language in the world, and is one of the official languges of India. Derived from Sandskrit, Hindi is written in Devanagari Script, which has 11 vowels and 33 consonants. You will be focusing on spoken Hindi, but you will have some exposure to the alphabet as well. YOGA Yoga is now a popular form of excerise in the West, but it originated in Ancient India as a set of physical, mental and spiritual practices to help transform the body and mind. In India, you will have the chance to study yoga in a whole new way as we explore topics such as mindfulness and self-awareness. INDIAN COOKING CLASSES Delve into a world of spices and flavors and learn how to make some delicious dishes that will wow your family and friends back home. Indian cooking is varied and nuanced, but at least you ll be able to pick up the basics and become competent at ordering Indian food at restuarants. Cooking es will be engaging and fun, and will result in some tasty treats. YOUNG DREAMER NETWORK YDN currently supports 26 in Jaipur. You will get the chance to engage and work with the group, who are all teens ranging from 12 to 19 years old. Together, you and the will participate in service, cultural exchange and other activities.