How to reflect on this trip? It is seldom that advertising hyperbole lives up to its exaggerated language but in this case, the Indian Tourist Board’s “Incredible India”, in fact almost under-sells the country. This is a truly a country’s which inspires awe in every sense of the word. 1.3 billion people, living in relative harmony, with multiple religions, dialect, languages, politics, beliefs, cultures, classes, castes and with huge differences between he wealthiest and the poorest. The words ‘melting pot’ are simply inadequate and I find it very difficult to summarize my reflections about the country.
Granted we stayed at places beyond the reach of many Indians and the staff there were trained to be hotel staff but their universal kindness, attentiveness and smiles were a real tonic in a cynical world. These characteristics were not restricted to hotel and restaurants staff. Everyone we met was courteous and smiled. We had many requests to have pictures taken with complete strangers. The incident with the Post Office in Kovalem was just one such kindness shown to a stranger.
Despite warnings about aggressive vendors trying to sell souvenirs and trinkets, I found that all of them, with a polite “No” and raised hands with palms outward, backed off without persisting.
I think both MAC from what she had read and myself from previous visits to India many years ago, were somewhat afraid of the poverty and dirt and we were both very pleasantly surprised at how much had been cleaned up and how little real poverty we saw. However, there are still ‘ghettoes’ and an area near the airport, although now hidden from the road still houses many hundreds of thousands of people in small area in very poor conditions. Nevertheless, few countries, including the United States are free of poverty and a recent UN report related disturbing figures on conditions in some parts of the USA.
Yes, there probably is corruption and mismanagement in India but it is still a democracy which when one consider the size of the country and the number of people who live there is still almost miraculous.
Much needs to be done in India but much has been achieved in the 70 years since independence from the British. Progress is visibly ongoing and the transition which I saw from the early 1970’s to now will accelerate and I would expect that if I were to return in a couple of years (and I hope that I do), I will see quantum changes. India is a country with every contradiction which can be imagined. It is a young country, just 70 years old as a free sovereign state but a country thousand of years old in history, culture and tradition. Colonists or interlopers, The Persians, Genghis Kahn, the Portuguese, the British, to name a few have had influence on the country and may have introduced some concepts from there lands but Indian as kept the faith with its own culture, religions and ethnicity all along.
One thing I would say most strongly. Before I left I said that the Taj Mahal was not high on my list of things to see in India and that there were other temples, monuments and sights which were going to be even more beautiful and interesting.
WRONG, WRONG, WRONG.
The Taj Mahal simply takes your breath away and the sight of it burns into your retina and I will never forget it. It is the most staggering building I have ever seen. Words and photographs cannot describe for me, what the experience of standing in front of it.
Yes, it is an excessive monument and mausoleum, it probably costs money and lives to build and was the result of the hubris of its builder, but despite all that, it is simply magnificent and even that word is not adequate. My only advice to anyone is 'Go see it and judge for yourself'.
The Trip
Who could have imagined out of what were some almost casual comments at the GSIA 40th class reunion in 2015, that this trip would have been born?? This is the very best example of ‘be careful what you wish for’!!
In three weeks we could only see a small portion of this large and populous country but what a portion!!!! We covered a lot of ground and saw and experienced some life-time memorable things. Hemant and Darshana guided, shepherded, and cared for us every step of the way. The smallest detail was not overlooked, from printing boarding passes, engaging guides, booking restaurants and transport. With delays and other issues, these arrangements often had to be changed or rearranged and this was Donne seamlessly from our perspective. One can only imagine the work and worry which went on. between the two of them when we were not there. I cannot conceive of any travel agent or courier who could have managed this trip in the way it was managed. The way in which Marc’s unfortunate injury was managed with wheelchairs and treatment organized with no interruptions to the schedule for the rest of us was just amazing (a much-used word but in the context of this trip one which is truly applicable). Through it all they remained calm and instilled in us confidence which in a country which is as different from our homes as it could be, was very comforting. Any request was met if it was at all possible and Hemant must have sent some hours reconciling all their expenditures and producing his spread sheets. All the worries of gratuities and on the go expenses were taken care of without our having to be concerned. The only thing we had to worry about was to be where we should be when we should be and who would have thought that we had no laggards and everyone was on time and on cue.
But to Hemant and Darshana, the ‘conductors’ of this mobile orchestra of aluminati and their partners goes the everlasting thanks of all of us, I am sure. This was a stimulating and engaging group who, despite different lives and backgrounds got along exceedingly well, due in no small measure to the ‘conductors’ superb organization, the obvious love of their country with which they infused us and the kindness and consideration they showed us. MAC and I thank you both from the bottom of our hearts.
Granted we stayed at places beyond the reach of many Indians and the staff there were trained to be hotel staff but their universal kindness, attentiveness and smiles were a real tonic in a cynical world. These characteristics were not restricted to hotel and restaurants staff. Everyone we met was courteous and smiled. We had many requests to have pictures taken with complete strangers. The incident with the Post Office in Kovalem was just one such kindness shown to a stranger.
Despite warnings about aggressive vendors trying to sell souvenirs and trinkets, I found that all of them, with a polite “No” and raised hands with palms outward, backed off without persisting.
I think both MAC from what she had read and myself from previous visits to India many years ago, were somewhat afraid of the poverty and dirt and we were both very pleasantly surprised at how much had been cleaned up and how little real poverty we saw. However, there are still ‘ghettoes’ and an area near the airport, although now hidden from the road still houses many hundreds of thousands of people in small area in very poor conditions. Nevertheless, few countries, including the United States are free of poverty and a recent UN report related disturbing figures on conditions in some parts of the USA.
Yes, there probably is corruption and mismanagement in India but it is still a democracy which when one consider the size of the country and the number of people who live there is still almost miraculous.
Much needs to be done in India but much has been achieved in the 70 years since independence from the British. Progress is visibly ongoing and the transition which I saw from the early 1970’s to now will accelerate and I would expect that if I were to return in a couple of years (and I hope that I do), I will see quantum changes. India is a country with every contradiction which can be imagined. It is a young country, just 70 years old as a free sovereign state but a country thousand of years old in history, culture and tradition. Colonists or interlopers, The Persians, Genghis Kahn, the Portuguese, the British, to name a few have had influence on the country and may have introduced some concepts from there lands but Indian as kept the faith with its own culture, religions and ethnicity all along.
One thing I would say most strongly. Before I left I said that the Taj Mahal was not high on my list of things to see in India and that there were other temples, monuments and sights which were going to be even more beautiful and interesting.
WRONG, WRONG, WRONG.
The Taj Mahal simply takes your breath away and the sight of it burns into your retina and I will never forget it. It is the most staggering building I have ever seen. Words and photographs cannot describe for me, what the experience of standing in front of it.
Yes, it is an excessive monument and mausoleum, it probably costs money and lives to build and was the result of the hubris of its builder, but despite all that, it is simply magnificent and even that word is not adequate. My only advice to anyone is 'Go see it and judge for yourself'.
The Trip
Who could have imagined out of what were some almost casual comments at the GSIA 40th class reunion in 2015, that this trip would have been born?? This is the very best example of ‘be careful what you wish for’!!
In three weeks we could only see a small portion of this large and populous country but what a portion!!!! We covered a lot of ground and saw and experienced some life-time memorable things. Hemant and Darshana guided, shepherded, and cared for us every step of the way. The smallest detail was not overlooked, from printing boarding passes, engaging guides, booking restaurants and transport. With delays and other issues, these arrangements often had to be changed or rearranged and this was Donne seamlessly from our perspective. One can only imagine the work and worry which went on. between the two of them when we were not there. I cannot conceive of any travel agent or courier who could have managed this trip in the way it was managed. The way in which Marc’s unfortunate injury was managed with wheelchairs and treatment organized with no interruptions to the schedule for the rest of us was just amazing (a much-used word but in the context of this trip one which is truly applicable). Through it all they remained calm and instilled in us confidence which in a country which is as different from our homes as it could be, was very comforting. Any request was met if it was at all possible and Hemant must have sent some hours reconciling all their expenditures and producing his spread sheets. All the worries of gratuities and on the go expenses were taken care of without our having to be concerned. The only thing we had to worry about was to be where we should be when we should be and who would have thought that we had no laggards and everyone was on time and on cue.
But to Hemant and Darshana, the ‘conductors’ of this mobile orchestra of aluminati and their partners goes the everlasting thanks of all of us, I am sure. This was a stimulating and engaging group who, despite different lives and backgrounds got along exceedingly well, due in no small measure to the ‘conductors’ superb organization, the obvious love of their country with which they infused us and the kindness and consideration they showed us. MAC and I thank you both from the bottom of our hearts.
