Jain Spirit 2004 10 No 20

Author(s): Jain Spirit UK
Publisher: UK Young Jains

Page 48

46
LIFESTYLE
CARRY YOUR VALUES IN
YOUR BACKPACK
How can we truly turn our holidays into holy-days, where we experience inner peace and tranquillity? Do we always need a lot of money and stay in expensive hotels with anonymous people, or rather in places like dharmashalas where accommodation may be basic but the experience extraordinary? In particular, how do we convey our Jain values when we go on holiday with our children? Living in the UK, we discovered an organisation through our friends which has made a real difference to the quality of our lives - the YHA. For Americans and other foreigners wanting to travel and enjoy the UK, we cannot think of a better way to savour the real countryside.
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ince its birth in 1930, the YHA has grown to become part of the largest budget accommodation network in the world. It is now a world-wide association with over 4500 Youth Hostels in 60 countries. There are 220 hostels in England and Wales, and every time you stay in YHA accommodation, you will enjoy a different experience. From remote camping barns set in spectacular countryside to rambling Victorian mansions and modern, purpose-built venues, every hostel is unique. Surprisingly, many of the guests are vegetarian and often fresh hot vegetarian meals are served at these places. Clean kitchens are always available if you wish to cook, so this flexibility is ideal for families. And guess what - you are free to talk with the other guests without inhibition and may even discover common values and beliefs! Children feel so relaxed in such environments and develop their confidence to relate to adults.
It seems ideal to join the Youth Hostel Association (YHA) if you are after a short break holiday with values. In fact, YHA values are quite similar to the Jain values of sharing, simplicity and living in harmony with nature. For children at a young impressionable age it is better to go to the YHA than staying at modern, expensive, mod-con hotels. It is better to teach our children how to enjoy simplicity and beauty in nature than about wealth and extravagance. In YHA hostels, you will find like-minded families and in the evenings, when the members and families are relaxing in the common room, the children invariably get together and play together. You do not even need to go with other friends or families as you can make new friends with similar interests.
Do not be put off by the name YHA. You do not need to be a youth to join. YHA is for everyone - no matter what age. It has something for everyone - young and old. In the past few years when their membership started declining, YHA actively set out to encourage families to join. In a lot of the hostels today, you will find family friendly rooms rooms with 4, 6 or 8 bunk beds with bathroom and toilet. In the past, hostels had only single sex dormitories, which discouraged families to join, and bathroom and toilets were always shared with other members. But this is now all changing. For family membership, when one or both parents become a member, children between 5 and 17 are enrolled free.
YHA is not just about accommodation. It is about people. It is about unity and about sharing. The unique and friendly atmosphere of a Youth Hostel is part of your experience. Each hostel is run by a warden with an extensive knowledge of the
AJAY & MIRA GUDKA
REFLECT ON THEIR
EXPERIENCE OF
MEMBERSHIP OF
THE YOUTH HOSTEL ASSOCIATION