Touring To Connect: My Perspective As A Sikh

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I was taking a short break away from my keyboard to interact with society elsewhere with divergent languages, foods, and social systems, yet mirroring the generic human race.
I visited the beautiful city of Lisbon in Portugal with my hubby for a few days. Although this was my third visit to the country, it was my first time in Lisbon, so I aimed to expand my experience further.   
We booked a day tour to Sintra, as part of a small group of eight people.   It was a diverse mix from different countries, cultures, and speaking varied languages. Great! I thought.
There was an elderly Spanish couple who spoke with smiles and nods, mostly. The Brazilian gentleman in the group could communicate in Portuguese with the elderly couple due to historic language overlap- so he was our interpreter, but only when he understood our English himself. There was a lovely American couple; the husband was originally from South America, and the wife had one parent from that origin. And finally, it was I, originally from Panjab and multi-lingual, with my husband, who is UK born, and his first language is English, with verbal Panjabi expertise. Our driver could speak all our languages, barring Panjabi. Overall, we formed one congenial group and despite the diversity, we were all happily aboard, travelling in the same direction, together. I was already loving it.
Small talk helped to break the ice with weather speculations and taking pictures of one another. At every interim stop, the women formed a sub-group and the men their own, mingling and making small talk about sports, or recipes, or favourite movie genres, etc., etc.
Our first stop was Coba da Roca, an absolutely mesmerising sight which is also the ultimate westernmost point, where the steep cliffs descend into the Atlantic Ocean. The sea horizon was invisible and blended perfectly with the cobalt blue of the sky. The wind too seemed to have a celestial feel about it. The mind is very susceptible to visualising what is not apparent when surrounded by nature’s enchantment.
There was an analogical affinity between the scenery and our group- we were beginning to bond and blend into one another’s similarities as people.
Our next stop was the charming coastal town of Cascais with an enticing beach and calm summer sea. It was a delightful scene to see families enjoying together with parents coaching children canoeing, or swimming in the vast waters, even little dogs were enjoying a dip in the sea with their owners. Most were soaking up the sun, but a few were saturating it at a great risk of sunburn. However, everyone was just chilling out. Why couldn’t the whole earth be like Cascais beach, where we could live in complete harmony?
Never mind the fancy of paradise, at least our group was joining in the chilling out experience. We had progressed to the next stage of friendship, where we were buying coffees for one another now.      
Pena Palace was the last attraction of the tour. We were walking the steep cobbled paths and at times lending a hand to the other person if a foot wobbled, but no one could prevent the Brazilian gentleman from slipping. The entire group rushed to his side, and even though he was not actually hurt, everyone was making a fuss over him- ‘Are you alright?’, ‘Can I hold your bag for you?’, ‘Do you want some water?’, or ‘Do you want us to stay here for a bit so you can rest your leg?’. Anyway, Carlos reassured us that he was perfectly fine and that his trousers took the brunt of the fall rather than his knee. Our tour guide/driver was relieved that we all got on so well. Antonio told us that once on a similar tour, a man took a dislike to another in the group for a random reason. The taller and heavier man seemed to bully the other, who had a slighter build. He was a real troublemaker and could convert a simple chat into an argument. Antonio had to intervene continuously and tactfully to avoid the friction getting any nastier. A lady in the group who was pregnant wanted to stop for a toilet break, and this triggered the bully’s irritation. He protested that women should not be allowed on such tours as they waste a lot of time, and he demanded extra time to get his money’s worth. Everyone was upset as one person apparently managed to detract from the experience for the whole group. It seemed that lovely Antonio really had his work cut out that day. How one person could spoil the fun for all, I thought. I asked Antonio why the group didn’t stand up to the bully collectively. He replied that the man was well built and loud, so no one in the group wished to take him on.
Isn’t it true of the world we all live in as well?
Whoever has the power, the clout, the network, the influence can dominate the other person, the other culture, the other religion, and the other nationality. As if having read my mind, Jessica (the lady from the US) spoke- ‘If everyone had confronted him together, I bet he wouldn’t be such a nuisance, as bullies are mostly cowards.’ Bravo, Jessica! No amount of brawn can withstand the united voice of reason. My group reinstated hope in mankind.
Sightseeing had concluded, sadly. Everyone was dropped off in turns at their respective hotels on the way back. Parting consisted of smiles, thanks, handshakes, and hugs. We knew we would probably not see one another again, but Jessica and I exchanged mobile numbers. I am so looking forward to speaking with my new friend from the diverse world of acceptance.
Life is all about the quality of the journey; the destination is the corresponding outcome.  
Obviously, I thought to share this experience with my readers, as I can draw affinity of the co-touring group with the fellowship that we, the bloggers, have created through exchange of thoughts, adventures, sentiments, and receptivity.
Now, I completely understand why the Sikh Gurus journeyed widely to carry the message of peace and love to the wider shores of the world. Making connections and linking the chain of human beings, I believe. Love roots in tolerance, and once acceptance sprouts from the grounds of patience, peace and understanding blooms.
We are the farmers who must plough the fields of goodwill; we toil to harvest humaneness.  
To step out of the restrictive boundaries of the mind, one must step into the wider world of humanity.  
I look forward to my next venture and report back.    
In the meantime, as an update on the journey of the Sikhs to reach a harmonious world of freedom and cooperation, I herewith attach a link to a podcast by Angus Scott and James Cousineau via Satluj TV.