Are you wondering what your next vacation will be? I suggest India. Many people have been to Europe and want to try something new. The trip is economical and gives you a new cultural view. My friend Mary, just returned from a 12 day trip. Here is her story.
As I walked through the gates and caught my first glimpse of the Taj Mahal, I teared up. The shrine was obscured in a thick, white veil of smog, but was still the most beautiful building I had ever seen. As the morning progressed, visibility improved and I was able to get my picture taken on the bench where Princess Diana posed in 1992.
Incredible India. It wasn’t my first choice for a vacation, but my husband had talked about it for years. Then I ran across a package tour on the Internet at a fantastic price.
There is so much beauty in India. And so much poverty. The country offers a dizzying contrast of cultures and sights. Fabulous castles, forts, mosques, and temples which are bigger and as impressive as any you’d see in Europe. But the streets are full of garbage and the air pollution in the big cities is so bad that many tourists wear masks. Traffic is ridiculous with lanes being “merely a suggestion”, our tour guide advised. The street peddlers and beggars are unrelentingly persistent. The tour took us to five cities including the holy city of Varanasi where we witnessed cremation ceremonies on the Ganges. In Jaipur, we beheld the spectacle of an Indian wedding. We also saw gorgeous rugs and silks being woven on hand looms, a craft that has been practiced for centuries.
Everything was first class. The guide was knowledgeable and accommodating. The hotels were clean and comfortable. Provided meals were excellent although mainly curries and naan bread, of course. The pace of the tour was hectic with early mornings starts every day, lots of walking and not much down time. But the sights that were crammed into the twelve day tour were breathtaking and eye opening. It was an adventure of a lifetime.
THINGS TO BRING: Lots of $1 bills; hand sanitizer; slip on shoes; power bars; a head scarf; face masks if you are sensitive to pollution, a package or two of wet wipes. You can’t get Indian rupees until you arrive, but your hotel can exchange a modest amount of currency. Also, be aware that you cannot get more than 10,000 rupees a day at an ATM (about $150).
I can help you plan your next trip. Judy Peterson
Story: Mary McDowell