Dr. Jean-Yves Marion and Dr. Sylvain Contassot-Vivier, both of them computer scientists in France, drove to Yamunanagar soon after landing in India at New Delhi. At Yamunanagar, they began their walking expedition. In six days time, walking entirely on foot, they covered the distance of about 100 km, and reached Haridwar.
They had several happy experiences on the way. During the first day of walk, they made a break and put off their backpacks. There was an Indian family not far from them eating all together. The family came to see them and they shared their meals. It was a precious moment.
Dr. Marion considers the walk to be first a discovery of another India. He says, “…(Another India) the one that you discover a bit with your feet : the kindness of the Indian people. The walk was also a time to discuss with our friends and to laugh all together. At the end of each day, I just felt good.”
Dr. Marion Jean-Yves and Dr. Contassot-Vivier arrived at the outskirts of Haridwar. 
They were received by Tarun Kumar and together they traveled the last kilometre of the journey.
They found Haridwar to be quite a magical place.
Dr. Jean-Yves Marion is the Head of LORIA (Lorraine Research Laboratory in Computer Science and its Applications), France.
Dr. Sylvain Contassot-Vivier is professor of computer science at the University of Lorraine, France.
Dr. Contassot-Vivier felt that the walk was a total discovery of India and it was a complete change of scene. He thinks To travel by foot is probably the best way to visit a country and meet people.
He says, “The traversal of the Rajaji National Park was a kind of magic, with its beautiful jungle atmosphere. Such landscapes are particularly favorable to introspection and awareness of the beauty and diversity of our planet. But also, its fragility.”
“I am a computer science professor. Research and walking are two friends !”, says Dr. Marion. Dr. Contassot-Vivier adds, “It is difficult for me to identify common points (in computer science and walking), but rather duality. High technology is only valuable if it does not make mankind forget itself.”
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