Mother and son posing

Mother and son posing for a photograph at Floriade, the Canberra flower show in Canberra in October 2011

Incredible India

The monorail with an Incredible India advert at Darling Harbour, Sydney, in May 2011

Clean oasis

This is the end of my Dera photos. The last one. Sorry, but all good things have to come to an end sometime, somewhere and somehow. And so my Dera journey also came to an end, not that I knew it at the time. But my abiding memories of the Dera and its associated philosophy are neatly encapsulated in this picture; The cleanliness and orderliness of the colony which contrasted with the dirt and decay found elsewhere in India, and the warm radiant smiles born of a philosophy where one receives by giving. This final photo was taken at the Dera Radha Soami Colony in Beas, Punjab, India in January 1990.

Shy woman

This woman was very shy and bashful and didn't want to be photographed. But she was so pretty and sweet that I gently insisted and she eventually agreed. Well worth it! The photo was taken at the Dera Radha Soami Colony in Beas, Punjab, India in December 1989.

Turbaned warrior

A dramatic Indian man, turbaned with a tightly wrapped shawl to ward off the cold. The photo was taken at the Dera Radha Soami Colony in Beas, Punjab, India in December 1989.

Food factory

Another out of focus shot but who cares when the photo itself is so interesting and the woman's clothes so vibrant. She was helping prepare for dinner at the Dera Radha Soami Colony in Beas, Punjab, India on one December 1989 day.

Preparing dinner

Women cutting up vegetables at the the Dera Radha Soami Colony in Beas, Punjab, India in December 1989.

Special old man

Technically a very poor photo as it is out of focus, but the man's character is priceless, and well worth recording. Such a saintly face. The photo was taken at the Dera Radha Soami Colony in Beas, Punjab, India in December 1989.

Dera portrait

A lovely group portrait. Such a fantastic mixture of people and expressions and clothes. The photo was taken at the Dera Radha Soami Colony in Beas, Punjab, India in December 1989.

Bed time

Relaxing in bed at the Dera Radha Soami Colony in Beas, Punjab, India. The photo was taken in December 1989. This man has the most wonderful face, full of life and light and laughter

Child

A child at the Dera Radha Soami Colony in Beas, Punjab, India. The photo was taken in December 1989.

A penny for your thoughts?

What are these woman thinking about or looking at? Photo taken at the Dera Radha Soami Colony in Beas, Punjab, India in December 1989.

Dera street

 One of the many street at the Dera Radha Soami Colony in Beas, Punjab, India in December 1989.

Potatoes anyone?

Cutting up potatoes for dinner at the Dera Radha Soami Colony in Beas, Punjab, India in December 1989. These photos give some idea of how many people are fed there each meal. It is a truly impressive operation.

Smiling Sadhu

This is a poor quality picture but I have included it because of the smiling Sadhu dressed in white in the middle. I took this picture from the roof of the Western Guest House at the Dera Radha Soami Colony in Beas, Punjab, India in December 1989.

The Dera brickworks

These photos were taken at the Dera Radha Soami Colony brickworks in Beas, Punjab, India in December 1989.

Where are you?

This is a very special photo because of the man second from the left. Where is he? He appears to be somewhere else, deep, deep in meditative bliss. Something for the Westerners; Stuart from Los Angeles, Lynda from Seattle and Anita from Townsville, to aspire to. Taken on the banks of the Beas River at the Dera Radha Soami Colony in Beas, Punjab, India in December 1989.

Happiness plus

A smiling young woman outside her home at the Dera Radha Soami Colony in Beas, Punjab, India in December 1989. What a beautiful smile and the other two women have.

Journey's end

happy and excited Satsangis off to see their Master. The photo was taken at the Dera Radha Soami Colony in Beas, Punjab, India in December 1989.

New guest house

The Western Guest house was too small, so it was time to build another one. Many hands make light work. The photo was taken at the Dera Radha Soami Colony in Beas, Punjab, India in December 1989.