Summer Vacations

Saturday, June 25th, 2011

Summers and vacations go hand-in-hand. Growing up, most of us had the good fortune to be taken by our parents on a family vacation. Whether we went to the beach, a resort, on a European tour, enjoyed a cottage in the mountains, or to visit relatives, these experiences have engrained themselves in our minds as some of the happiest of times in our lives.

Summer is the busiest time of year at Amazing Journeys because people equate summer with travel. We have more travel opportunities packed into a few short months than at any other time of the year. Folks always ask us, “Where do you go when you vacation?” “When do you have time to get away?” Well, the staff at Amazing Journeys, along with planning your summer vacations, is taking some time off to enjoy some of our favorite destinations.

Malori and Barry are back at Hershey, Pennsylvania for the 25^th consecutive year. Barry has a conference there each year, and Malori uses these three days to enjoy the surroundings of the landscape as well as the features of the resort. With the exception of the past two years, it was always a family vacation, and all of the kids had been here to share in the experience. Barry sits in a conference room listening to a lecture, while the rest of the family gorged on chocolate and enjoyed Hershey Park, the amusement park across the street from our hotel.

Only a four-hour drive from Pittsburgh (only three from New York City and two from Washington DC), The Hotel Hershey is a gem. An older hotel, it has the grace and style of a Mediterranean villa, with all of the modern features of a 21^st century resort. Some of the hotel features include Jazz on the Veranda on Friday nights, The Circular Dining Room which is a beautiful restaurant overlooking formal gardens and fountains, The Hershey Spa, complete with “chocolate massages, ” a pool with water slides alongside a quiet, adult section and my favorite, a BBQ picnic dinner on the lawn with s’mores for dessert! There is chocolate, chocolate and more chocolate here. From the Hershey bar each guest is presented upon check in at the front desk, to lots of Hershey Kisses on the bed each night, to Dove candies for the taking in all of the restaurants and gift shops, chocolate soup, chocolate bread and chocolate butter served in the restaurant, chocolate martinis in the bar and to the smell of chocolate permeating the air from the nearby Hershey’s Chocolate factory. This is truly the sweetest place on earth!

In addition to the hotel itself, we have visited the surrounding area and always taken one afternoon of our stay to enjoy nearby activities. Historical Gettysburg is just down the road, 30 miles away. We have taken the kids to Amish Country in nearby Lancaster and cute little towns along the way such as Intercourse, PA. Philly is only an hour and a half from here and provided lots of history lessons. We have been to a pretzel factory and Indian Cavern Caves. This place offers so many eye-opening opportunities and is so close to home.

Further afield, Bill is spending his summer vacation on a cruise to Alaska, his little slice of heaven and his favorite spot on earth. This, his 13^th visit to this magical land, he is seeing it without a group in tow. Although we love showing our groups “Our Alaska,” how fun is it to visit a place you love with no schedule? He has no place to be at any given time, no planned activities to carry out. Plus, he is able to experience some new and amazing excursions, hoping to discover something that will be a fun and fabulous experience we can share with our Amazing Journeys passengers on future trips to Alaska.

Michele will spend her summer vacation at the beach with her family and some friends. Who doesn’t love a beach vacation? A familiar surrounding, her family loves the beach for the relaxed atmosphere it provides. Sitting in the warm sunshine, listening to the crashing waves on the sand, and playing in the water provides fun for the entire family. Nights are spent laughing and talking with the people you care most about in your life, while catching up with good friends who you only get to see only once a year.

Sometimes, you don’t have to go far to enjoy a taste of summer. A vacation can be anywhere you don’t have the day-to-day responsibilities of work, home or taking care of others. Once you step out of your daily grind, and away from opening mail, emails and taking phone calls, your vacation has begun.

We look forward to hearing about your summer vacation plans, and hope that whatever you do this summer, that it’s amazing!

Tags: Alaska, Amazing Journeys, beach, Hershey, Memories, PA, summer, Travel, Vacation
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The New York Times Top 10 Places To Go This Year

Tuesday, June 21st, 2011

Wanna get away? Whether you’re a world adventurer or feel safer and more content staying closer to home, the world–or the United States–is your oyster. The New York Times recently issued their Top places to see and you might be surprised that while several are exotic and requiring great traveling distance (as they say, ‘the greatest treasures are the one’s longest sought’), some are closer than you think. I’ve added an eleventh – my personal favorite and always a Top Place to visit….even more than once. (I’m actually headed there for the 14th time later this week…)

#1 Santiago, Chile: Less than a year after an 8.8-magnitude earthquake wreaked havoc in Chile, its capital, Santiago, has largely recovered, the economy continues to grow, and tourism is in an upswing.

#2 San Juan Islands, Washington State: what brings tourists out are the landscapes. On islands from Shaw to Decatur, pastoral hills give way to broody forests and scrappy escarpments that overlook fjordlike inlets. Areas are protected from logging or unruly development, and in turn provide fresh terrain for the public to explore.

#3 Koh Samui, Thailand: A toned-down version of Phuket, heavy on wellness and food Koh Samui is Thailand’s third-largest island. But the 95-square-mile tropical gem in the southern Gulf of Thailand, whose white sand beaches, abundant coral reefs and seas of palm trees were once a backpackers’ secret, has emerged as the stylish luxury alternative to crowded Phuket.

#4 Iceland: Where a country’s hardships are a visitor’s gain, Iceland’s economic crash has had an upside, at least for tourists. After the devaluation of the krona that followed the country’s 2008 financial crisis, the breathtakingly beautiful island is a lot more affordable. While traditionally a must-see for nature tourists — who come for thermal springs, glaciers, volcanic landscapes and the Northern Lights — Iceland is now emerging as a cultural phenom.

#5 Milan, Italy: A reborn cathedral joins fashion-forward galleries and hotels. Compared with the Italian troika of tourism — Florence, Venice and Rome — Milan is often an afterthought. But with novel, eye-catching design emerging around the city, that should soon change as the city’s collection of 20th-century art is now showcased at the Museo del Novecento, which opened in December in the restored Palazzo dell’Arengario…plus, outside the historic center former factories have been transformed into design studios, old warehouses have been repurposed as unconventional art venues, and galleries are packed with avant-garde works.

#6 Republic of Georgia: Ski buffs don’t usually think of Soviet Georgia when planning their next backcountry outing. But ambitious plans in the Caucasus are trying to change that fast. Tucked between the Black and Caspian seas and smattered with mountains, Georgia has the kind of terrain adventurous skiers yearn for: peaks reaching 16,000 feet, deep valleys and largely untouched slopes.

#7 London: There is never a bad time to go to London, but this year may be better than most: the 2012 Summer Olympic Games has prompted the construction of 12,000 hotel rooms, and several hotels that have been around for a while are burnishing their appeal with notable new restaurants. (NOTE: Join Amazing Journeys in August for our Jewish Singles Cruise from London through the British Isles)

#8: Loreto, Mexico: Long known for sport fishing, Loreto, on Baja California Sur’s eastern coast, is poised to become one of Mexico’s next luxury destinations. Recently, Villa Group Resorts, one of Mexico’s largest privately owned hotel groups, opened a $60 million Villa del Palmar resort with three restaurants, a 20,000-square-foot turtle-shaped pool and 150 suites from $250 to $1,500 a night. The resort is the first phase of an 1,800-acre development, Danzante Ba. It will add seven resort hotels, restaurants and a Rees Jones golf course.

#9 Park City, Utah: Many film aficionados have been lured to Park City for the annual Sundance festival, missing the slopes entirely, which is a shame. This year, new hotels, expanded terrain and events at area ski resorts make on-mountain exploration imperative.

#10 Cali, Colombia: Cafe culture is on the rise while salsa fuels the night life; Cali has always felt like the grittier stepsister of Medellín, but tucked amid the colonial homes of the barrios of San Antonio or Granada are a number of new jewelry boutiques, low-key cafes and salsotecas teeming with crowds as sexy as any in South America.

#11: Alaska: Few places on earth conjure up a better collection of natural beauty, peace on earth, adventure for any level, unpredictable arrays of wildlife, majestic mountains, uncharted territory, imposing glaciers and a culture that reigns more with the land it inhabits, than the people who govern. Its a place you have to see to believe…but where you have to experience again and again to quench your yearning for more.

Tags: Alaska, Chile, Colombia, Iceland, Italy, London, Mexico, Milan, Park City, Republic of Georgia, San Juan Islands, Santiago, Thailand, Washington State
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And you thought the Scots only played bagpipes…

Monday, June 13th, 2011

As Amazing Journeys prepares to take nearly 100 eager and excited travelers to Scotland, Ireland, England and Wales on our Jewish singles cruise to the British Isles, everyone accepts that its simply part of the process to have to find a way to get there. These days flying is such a challenge and potentially full of stories-in-the-making that we, as airline passengers, share an almost-kinship to the whole experience. From fares that change by the minute, to the friendly (right!) customer service, to precarious delays and added charges for anything from luggage to food to snacks and booking fees….you never really know what an airplane ticket will cost you until you finally get off the dang flight.

Well, here’s a little perspective as conveyed entertainingly by a few Scottish ladies. Apropos given our upcoming Amazing Journeys destination that includes Scotland.

Feel free to sing along….or just have a little laugh.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPyl2tOaKxM

Tags: airline, Amazing Journeys, booking fees, British Isles, Cruise, England, Ireland, Jewish Singles, Scotland
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Cruise Ships in Brooklyn Going Green – Plugs In on Shore

Thursday, June 2nd, 2011

The mighty Queen Mary 2 will no longer be belching diesel fumes over Red Hook when it docks at the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal next year. Instead, the cruise ship will shut its engines and plug into a giant electrical outlet built especially for the port.

After about two years of negotiations, the Bloomberg administration announced recently a multiagency agreement to supply cruise ships with “shore power,” The Brooklyn terminal will become the first on the East Coast to adopt the cleaner technology.

Advocates for the environment, who have staged protests and lobbied since 2006, hope the pending agreement will rid the waterfront community of a veil of haze and what they contend are associated health risks.

There has been little controversy about the merits of reducing pollution, mostly sulphuric gases, from cruise ships idling in port. The debate raged, however, over who should foot the bill. Electricity for a 3,000-passenger cruise ship the size of four football fields was not exactly on the rate card for the NYC Power Authority, which provides power for the cruise terminal. But ultimately, the city, state and private sector came to a tentative agreement. and the Economic Development Corp agreed to subsidize some of the cost of the power, as did the power authority.

Under the five-year agreement, Carnival Cruise Lines, which owns the Queen Mary 2, will pay 12 cents per kilowatt hour, while the city economic agency and the power authority will divide the remaining 16 cents, according to one official with knowledge of the deal. Carnival will also have to pay $4 million to retrofit its two ships that use the port — the Queen Mary 2 and the Caribbean Princess. The two ships dock in Brooklyn a total of 40 times a year.

For the cruise line, the deal may cost about $1.7 million more than using the diesel generators that now operate at the port. But the company has already embraced the technology, introducing it 10 years ago in Juneau, Alaska. Electrical power is now used at cruise terminals in Vancouver, Seattle, San Francisco and San Diego and Los Angeles.

A large cruise ship burning diesel emits more than 1,600 tons of air pollutants annually, according to an environmental impact study conducted as part of the project to switch from diesel to electricity. Plugging in to an alternative hydroelectric source would eliminate nearly 1,500 tons of carbon dioxide, 95 tons of nitrous oxide and 6.5 tons of diesel particulate matter annually. Just from the shore powering of these two ships, it will be the equivalent of removing 5,000 cars per year from the road.”

Tags: Alaska, Brooklyn, Caribbean, Carnival, Cruise, going green, New York, Princess, Queen Mary 2, ships
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Landmarks of the World

Wednesday, May 25th, 2011

Are you ready for a trip around the world? Are you? Really??

Sadly, the majority of Americans will rarely see any geography beyond their own borders. The Office of Travel and Tourism Industries published a finding that only about 10% of of US residents have ever traveled to overseas destinations (Canada and Mexico excluded – they’re not overseas. ) Leisure travel is more than a vacation. Its an activity that makes you more worldly, knowledgeable and tolerant of the differences in cultures that make our planet so special. Its an adventure. Its a means to experience “Life” with a capital “L” – a chance to break from the routine…the norm…the grind…the familiararity…the common. Its a purpose, not just an experience. Humans are born to travel; we’ve been given the mobility and dexterity to do so and as Americans we’ve also been given the “land of opportunity’; a means to earn, spend and have plentiful of what most other nations around the world don’t.

Get Out There, America! Whether you’re single or married…Jewish or Christian….in your 30s or in your 60s; don’t do what the regretful elderly do when they say for decades “I’ll travel when I retire” or “I’ll get there someday”. Go now, while you’re able-bodied, healthy and capable! You never know when you might not be, and denying yourself the greatest of life’s givings is a regret of unfathomable proportions. Trust me, the world is an incredible place. America is wonderful…but the world is, well, an Amazing Journey for all to see.

IF NOT NOW….WHEN?

Tags: 30s, 60s, Australia / Pacific, Big Ben, England, Great Wall, Greece, India, Jewish, Little Mermaid, Loch Ness, Machu Piccu, Scotland, single, Taj Mahal
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Mama Mia!! Its Greek to me!

Thursday, April 28th, 2011

Why do so many people feel drawn to Greece? Perhaps its the history of the land that has given us the Acropolis and Delphi and Olympia; places that have been attracting tourists for 200 years since the days of Lord Elgin. Could it be the lure of the Greek Islands: Mykonos, Santorini, Crete, Paros, Naxos and Rhodes, with their beautiful beaches, restaurants, nightlife and archaeological sites? Or, the lesser known islands like Sifnos, Lesvos, Kea that have always been attractive to those looking for a more quiet escape. Maybe it is the call of the Peloponessos with its high mountains and beautiful coast, its rich history and the seaports of Gythion and Napflionwhich have sent sailors all over the world for centuries. Could it be the Greek food (where, by the way, they just call it a “Salad”)? Or, could it be the weather in Greecewhere there are 300 days of sunshine per year…or the spiritual quality of places like Meteora where centuries old monasteries crown giant rocks.

As Amazing Journeys embarks next week on our Jewish singles cruise through the Greek Islands, as well as Turkey, Cyprus and Israel…we would like to share a wonderful resource with you on Greece. Our friend Matt Barrett is a self taught (and totally indulgent) Greece Travel Consultant who writes about what he knows and enjoys. He has written and published many articles and guides on Greece including: Athens Survival Guide, Greece Travel Guide, Greek Island Guide, History of Greece, Lesvos: More Than Just Another Greek Island, and Greek Food Guide.

His website is www.greecetravel.com and here you can find a layman’s collection of everything about Greece you’d like know but were afraid (or didn’t know) to ask. For those of you heading to Greece, either with Amazing Journeys or otherwise, Matt’s website can provide you with a head start on finding the perfect restaurant or to decide on what genre of cuisine you will allow yourself to be tantalized by. There are even some hints on what to eat and how to order it. (exerpt: “Fish and meats are fresh for grilling . It’s not like Mexican. Nothing is so spicy you can’t eat it and the seasonings they use are the very same ones you have on the spice shelf in your kitchen. And unlike the crappy oil that terrorizes the hearts of many Americans, the Greeks use Olive oil is which is good for you…”)

From Matt’s website you can even view some video clips, learn a little history, and read some stories about holidays & festivals, places to go hiking, and even Rembetika music -the music of the Greek Underground.

Matt can be e-mailed directly at matt@greecetravel.com

Tags: Amazing Journeys, Greece, Greek Islands, Jewish Singles, Mykonos, Santorini
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India, Part 5 – Khajuraho and Varanasi

Monday, April 25th, 2011

We’ve had a meaningful and fast paced last few days of our tour, first visiting Khajuraho, and then to Varanasi. We left Agra by train, and continued to Occhra to visit a fort. This huge palace, hand carved and built for one of the kings, was used by him only for one night. That’s it! The day we saw it, they were filming a movie there called Trees Speaking. Not sure if we got the title right but we asked our guide a few times and this is all we got. Watch for it coming to a theater soon. Rudyard Kipling (Jungle Book) stayed at the guest house at this palace for a while. Glad it got some use, since the King obviously didn’t get his money’s worth after building it.

Khajuraho was a hoot. Our “Kama Sutra Expert” showed us these uniquely carved temples (22 of them in all) built over a thousand years ago with tens of thousands of depictions of elephants, armies and sex, basically. Lots of questions and comments from the group…mostly from Barry.

Next we were off to Varanasi, the holiest city for Hindus. This is the place where the Ganges meets the Varuna River, and devout Hindus make pilgramages so that they can bathe in the Ganges, and many come to die here as well. Once a person has died, they march them through the streets of town and bring them down to the river banks to wash them and to have them creamated. We went to the cremation sight in the evening where several fires were burning. It is an erie feeling, and I was most concerned about seeing this on my trip. It is so foreign to what I know…what I have brought up with, that is was uncomfortable and scary, actually. Had it been our first stop in India, it would have been very hard to handle as our understanding of this country would not have unfolded yet. But by the time we had arrived here, and having had a lecture upon our arrival in Hinduism, we were somewhat prepared for what we were about to see.

The streets of Varanasi were filled with organized chaos, as is most of India. Walking down the street to get back to our bus, we walked in a single line as busses, cars, rickshaws, motorbikes, bicycles, livestock and mobs of people all were moving in various directions at different times. It was dizzying and provided sensory overload! Cows, goats, priests with bells, even a man walking with a staff followed by four huge geese were out in the streets walking with us. Crazy!

Early this morning, we came back to this sight, and it was a very different scene at sunrise. The streets were not as crazy, and we saw the pre-dawn scene unfolding, just as it has for a thousand years. All along the sides of the roads there were people sleeping, right next to sleeping cows. Goats and dogs were walking along the side of the road, and a monkey here and there as well. Along the Ganges, people were bathing in this holy water. It is a ritual that has been performed throughout the ages. In this same water, people were washing clothes, washing themselves and still, cremations were going on. Priests were praying. Monks were doing yoga and dogs were barking at monkeys in the trees. It was a very enlightening scene, and one that I will never forget.

This afternoon, we visited the birthplace of Buddhism, which had its beginnings in Hinduism. We learned about its beginnings, and saw the place that Buddha himself spoke to his followers. For the record, he was not fat. He was well proportioned. The Far East, never having seen Buddha, they gave him a huge tummy as they portrayed him as a prosperous soul.

My random visual moment of the day was of the local watering hole. People came to get clean water. They came with buckets, jugs and canisters so that they could have water. They pumped the water from below. As they were filling up their buckets, a dog was standing on a table, at the top of the water supply, lapping up the water with his tongue, just as happy as he could be. So much for clean water.

We have been here now for two weeks. I took a nap this afternoon (we got up at 4:30 am to watch the sun rise over the Ganges) and my dream included livestock walking down the street, just like in the streets below. I think it’s time to leave.

Our experience here in India will be life-changing, no doubt. We’ve formed some opinions now, however the true picture of what we saw and did, and the images of the people, the poverty, and the magic will unfold as we look at photos and relive our experiences. India is not for the casual traveler. It’s exotic, thought provoking and incredible, all at the same time. But both Barry and I agree this was one of the most memorable places we have seen to date, and will stay forever in our minds and in our hearts.

Tags: Ganges, India, Jewish singles tours, Khajuraho, Varanasi
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India, Part 4 – Agra

Friday, April 22nd, 2011

Taj Mahal

We arrived in Agra yesterday, home of the Taj Mahal. We woke up just before sunrise this morning, and left our hotel in the dark, headed for what was to be the highlight of the trip, the Taj Mahal. I was particularly excited about seeing this great work of art, from the architectural detail I had studied so many years ago while in college. And, in addition, knowing it was one of the 7 New Wonders of the World, and has graced the front covers of so many travel magazines and brochures throughout my career. With each step we took closer to the main gates, I was hoping it wouldn’t be disappointing, after the years of build up. It did not disappoint. After getting a brief history of the love story between a king who created it for his queen after her death, our guide prepared us for what we were about to see. As we walked forward through the main gates, the Taj Mahal at first appeared to be shrinking. It was an optical illusion, made to look that way so that it fit visually inside of the arch of the gateway to the structure. Once through the gate, it was perfectly symmetrical in every way. Aside from the amazingly balanced façade, the inlay of fine pieces of lapis, onyx, jasper and other stones and semi precious materials was absolutely breathtaking. I had heard it said that seeing the Taj Mahal in a book or magazine or photograph didn’t do it justice, and now I know why. You have to see it to believe it. 20,000 laborers worked for 22 years ’round the clock until the project was finished. I’m looking forward to seeing it again in February!

We also went to Mother Teresa’s Charity that the Collette Foundation supports. It was so sad to see all the disparity and sadness of the orphans and the special needs kids and adults that this charity supports. The babies and toddlers were so happy to have us there to smile at them, to touch them and to hold them. I brought lots of school supplies and others brought medical supplies. Next time I come, I want to bring some children’s clothing and books as I think they could really use it.

Driving through the streets of Agra you realize this is a country with it’s own way of life. To best sum it up, as we were driving through town today, I saw two goats standing on a bed (the bed was outside in the open) with a hula hoop on the bed and one of the goats standing in the middle of the hula hoop. Yup, that just about says it all…livestock walking everywhere, goats, roosters, monkeys, cows, dogs, donkeys, camels. This was all on just one city block! Add to it men getting haircuts and shaves right out on the city streets, men using a wall as a public toilet, baby’s without any pants playing out near the street, cars and moterbikes racing everywhere, on the wrong side of the street, through red lights and stop signs, in front of pedestrians, all the while, horns honking. We are certainly not in Kansas anymore!

I hope you’ve been enjoying the wonderful photos that Barry has been taking. He is amazed that each time he holds up the camera, he sees a unique opportunity for a photograph, as you can see by the looks on the faces of the people, as well as the scenery.

Tags: Agra, India, Jewish singles tours, Jewish singles travel, Taj Mahal
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A Taste of India, Part 2 – Jaipur

Wednesday, April 13th, 2011

This is the second part from my experiences from India ~

Elephant ride to the Red Fort

India is keeping us very busy! From morning until late in the evening, we are discovering a country and a culture that is so different from what we know, or what we could have ever imagined! There’s a warmth to the people, and whether they live on the street, are merchants in the stores or those we are meeting along the way, the people of India have a desire to learn about western culture and want to know everything about us. Yesterday, one of the managers of the restaurant we were having dinner in came up to us to start a conversation. After our “hellos and namastes,” he said, “who do you think is the best, better and worst presidents: Bill Clinton, George W. Bush or Obama (why does nobody ever say Barack Omama?)? Vowing to never get into political discussions with the locals, I did feel compelled to answer the question. After Barry and I both gave our answers (we gave the same answer), he said, “correct.” I didn’t think it was a quiz but rather an opinion! Then we told him why we believed what we said to be true, and he said, “that’s correct.” I wanted to ask him what he thought about his King, or was it a Prime Minister? But didn’t we see the home of the President of India in Delhi? Which one is right? Oh never mind, I couldn’t even ask him about his political leaders because not only didn’t I know their names, I didn’t know who actually ruled his country. I obviously have a lot more to learn about the country.

Note the "no honking" sign

We left Udaipur for what was supposed to be a short plane ride to Jaipur. Before we left the US, we were told the flight was cancelled and we would be driving the 6 ½ hours. But not to worry, they would provide us with lunch along the way. Ten hours later, we arrived in Jaipur. Traffic jams, getting lost on the way to lunch and “Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride” were all part of the adventure. Oh, and did I mention the bus driver honked his horn the entire way? When I’m leading a group, I never use my ipod. Because I was a tourist on this journey, I turned up that volume and enjoyed the music…for 10 hours.

We arrived in Jaipur, the Pink City, late in the day. We went to a Buddhist Temple that incorporated all religions. There was an Islam dome on the structure, a Hindu shape to the roof. Yes, even Moses was there on the relief sculpture work, right next to Jesus. No one was left out. We stayed for the sunset service and just when we were about to leave, the monk sprinkled the entire crowd with holy water. I tried to dodge the flying water droplets but he was a really good aim. I have now been anointed or christened or baptised or something.

We walked through the market of the Old City and saw the flower market, the milk market (where the women test the milk to see whether it has been mixed with water by the merchants and stick their fingers in it – ewe!), the bangle market and more. Fascinating. There was even a cow walking around in the market! Everyone just walks around them as if they were not there – like they’re invisible! And the cows have an attitude, like they own the place. Actually, I believe they do!

Snake Charmer

Today we visited the incredible Amber Fort. After riding an elephant to the top entrance and entering through the gate of the palace, we toured the richly appointed and architecturally interesting structure. There was so much opulence during the time of the Raj, from marble inlay to hand painted walls and ceilings to hand woven rugs…it gives you a real understanding of what life must have been like for the kings and moguls of India during that time. Taking a jeep back down the hill, we felt like we were in the middle of an Indiana Jones movie. Again, our jeep driving honking his horn the entire way down.

Another palace, another temple and a snake charmer (yes, really!) and the day was nearly over.
But wait – a dip in the pool, a quick shower, and we were off again!

Tonight we had dinner with a local family of noble descent. They toured us through their 250 year old home, given to them by the Raj and we learned about some of their traditions and how they came to live in their house. Four brothers and their wifes all share this home, along with their kids and grandkids. Twenty something people shared the same house together – like one big, happy family! We had dinner on the patio and enjoyed speaking with some of the family members. They weren’t all outside with us as the family were all trying to watch a huge cricket match pairing Pakistan and India. These rivals who are often at war with each other are still playing at this moment. Even the Prime Minister is India is there (but does he rule the country?). We can’t figure out how to play this game, but is has been going on for the past eight hours, and the score is 210 – 9/4–whatever that means! We can hear chants and roaring of support in the streets, along with fireworks – at least I hope I’m hearing fireworks!

More to follow…

Tags: elephant rides, India, Jaipur, palaces, Raj
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A Taste of India – Delhi and Udaipur

Sunday, April 10th, 2011

Namaste!

Amazing Journeys is heading to India in 2012. Malori and Barry just returned from a “fact finding mission” and to put the finishing touches on what will be an incredible experience. Following are their observations:

Namaste! We arrived in India Friday night, after two different eight hour flights – Pittsburgh – Paris and Paris – Delhi. We were in Paris just long enough to have a very expensive café au lait and pastry (how expensive? Two coffees and one muffin were $20 USD!).

After a good night sleep, we began our tour the next morning. We met our group of 20. Barry and I were the last ones to get on the bus and the only seats left were right up in front. Naturally, we felt right at home.

Delhi is a big, bustling city of roughly 18 million people and a lot of cows. Imagine a city just slightly less populated than LA with cows everywhere! In the streets, on the sidewalk… they have the right of way. We saw the largest mosque in India, took a ricksahaw tour through the streets of Old Delhi, saw the Parliament, Supreme Court, President’s house and the largest minaret in India. We saw where Gandhi was buried (his ashes) and a monument that was the inspiration for the Taj Mahal. It was a typical city tour in an atypical city. There were those who crowded into shops and restaurants, and those who were so poor they lived in ramshackle houses built with boxes and corrogated steel in neighborhoods with others who lived the same way, under a freeway or in a bare spot of undeveloped land.

Rickshaw ride through Old Delhi

Back at the hotel, Barry and I sat by the pool and fell fast asleep in our lounge chairs. Dinner was served at the hotel with the rest of the group. Everyone was on time for dinner at 7pm, and at 9pm everyone left and went to bed, exhausted.

This morning, Barry and I got to breakfast at 9am as the bus was going to be leaving at 10am for the airport. Where was everyone? Did we mis-hear the time of departure from the hotel? No, I was sure I had that right. And so we ate alone. Turns out, when you’re from Iowa as most of our group is, and when you go to bed at 9pm, you wake up early and have breakfast as soon as you hear the roosters! The rest of the group ate at 7am, as soon as the breakfast buffet opened.

Off to the brand new airport in Delhi (only six months old), we went through four security checks and were finally flying over the desert to the state of Rajastan, the “Kingdom State.“ With a stop along the way, and another security check before taking off again, we soon realized that we were flying very close to the border between India and Pakistan. One more security check before being allowed to disembark the aircraft, and we were on our way into the town of Udaipur. The lesson here is to save your boarding pass because you have to have it to disembark the aircraft! One women couldn’t find hers, the guide had already gone into the terminal and so I went into “Tour Guide mode” and talked the security guard into believing that she was with me and that we are all westerners traveling together in a group. It worked!

The weather outside was a balmy 41C. That’s about 110F!!! Driving through the mountains and desert, we saw castles, forts and palaces. This is where the real India began to unfold. This is the area of the Maharaja. The kings. Palaces with hundreds of rooms, and kings with hundreds of wifes is how I can sum up what this place was all about. Jewels, gemstones, gold…more wealth in the 16th century than any country on earth…combined! These guys had it all. We’ll get back to that in future posts.

This afternoon, we took a boat ride around the lake where these palaces all face. Many former palaces are now hotels. It was a nice and breezy ride as we sailed past the beautiful architecture of the palaces surrounding the lake and “in” the lake. We saw people bathing in the lake, washing clothes and saw cows who were watching us from the shore, as well as keeping an eye on the bathers and laundresses. We got off at one of the former palaces – turned hotel to walk around and take some photos. This hotel was also the inspiration for the Taj Mahal. I’m beginning to recognize a pattern here.

Palaces on the lake in Udaipur

Back on the bus, we climbed a mountain until we reached our hilltop hotel, an property built from a palace that was moved, piece-by-piece so that was made to look like the original palaces of the Raj. With only 48 rooms, the hotel is absolutely breathtaking as well as luxurious. Surrounded by mountains and overlooking farmland below, we were high above it all with pools, a spa and more.

Hotel Fatah Garh - Udaipur

Dinner tonight was outside, under the stars, overlooking the city of Udaipur with it’s sparkling lights down below us. We felt like kings and queens. Our buffet was a combination of Indian foods, both spicy and milder for the tourist palate, as well as an array of Italian dishes. I have been here two days and have had lasagna three times! The good news for vegetarians and those who don’t eat meat due to kosher concerns is that there are lots and lots of vege options – more than meat choices!