India 2025

Tag: travel

  • EPILOGUE

    EPILOGUE

    India #6 – The good, the bad, and the ugly.

    We are home! Another memorable adventure! Connie and Todd learned to love India!

    The Good

    The people of India – kind, respectful, happy, often beautiful, many with small children. 

    Our guides and drivers with special mention of Shruti and Jaya. They were always there to help and support us all the time! And ot Banyan and all those behind the scenes making our journey so special.

    The Doctors, the clinic and hospital staff that got Karen up and going in just a day and a half.

    The hotel’s – mostly in historic palaces – were over-the-top fabulous. The stunning shear beauty was only surpassed by the always friendly attentive staff. We remarked many times that we wished we had the time to just “chill out” and simply enjoy each hotel for a few days.

    The food – often different – always good  – many times great. And of course here’s to the Indian version of the DuncanTini.

    The artists, galleries and the art that we were exposed to has always been special. Our India art collection, already among the best in the US, will get even better.  

    The little bit of shopping we had time for was really fun – unusual designs. We are bringing home a few treasures.

    All the photo opportunities first and foremost of the people – their dress and their beautiful smiles. I noticed on one day alone I took 135 photographs. And then there are the animals on the roads and the chaotic traffic scenes, I am thinking of doing a special portfolio of my best of India over the years.

    The Bad

    Not enough time. We tried to do and see too much in our 14 days in India. Internal airline travel usually took all day – we lost 6 or 7 days to internal travel. Air India for our long flights and a couple of internal flights were not good.

    The Ugly

    Nada – None – Nothing

    Special Thanks

    To Karen for hanging in there when the going got tough and for bouncing back from her injury.

    To Connie and Todd for loving India as much as we do. They inherited our sense of adventure and curiosity.

    To our dear friend Birgid for introducing us to contemporary India and Indian art and for encouraging and arranging the frequent returns. 

    To Tessa for editing and publishing the blogs. I take the photos and write the text – she puts it all together in a comprehensive way.

    And to all of you who traveled along with us on India #6. Stay tuned. South America w the LeBaron’s is on the docket for April 2025.

    Robert

  • DAY 12

    DAY 12

    February 8, 2025

    Off for a new adventure this morning!

    We fly from Delhi to Jaisalmer – a City to the Southwest of Delhi near the Pakistan border in the only desert in India. We have never visited this City or this part of India. Our flight is on time, only the second of the many flights in India. Our driver and the van we are used to, are waiting at Jaisalmer airport (he drove the almost 12-hour drive from Delhi.)

    We have a new guide Jaya who we all like immediately. We drive through the city and it’s very famous Fort. It is known as the “Golden City” because of the yellow sandstone architecture. Founded in 1156 – 869 years ago there is much to see and enjoy. Tomorrow we will return for a tour.

    Starting at the airport with numerous fighter hangers (bunkers) and F-118’s parked on the tarmac to numerous large military facilities along the highway it is obvious that this is a military city. We are told they are here to protect India from Pakistan and their many invasions of India

    The drive to our resort is an hour. The more rural we get the more cows, camels and goats we see. They all have priority on the roads.

    Sujǎn – The Sarai is incredible. Tents built in the desert will provide a relaxing unwind from our very hectic India schedule. You must see it to believe it. Click here and go to “Gallery – All” for great photos. We enjoy a late light lunch then off to see our luxury tent. By the time dinner rolls around at 7:00 we are so looking forward to an unusual but wonderful evening. Karen elects to stay back.

    Their DuncanTini’s made with Absolute India Vodka (mango and pepper flavors) were the very best I have ever had. I sincerely hope it will be available at home.

    Next we were escorted to our special dining experience. The photographs tell only part of how magnificent our evening will be. The central attraction is a large movie screen running a movie set in India mid 20th Century. There are candles everywhere. Dinner will be served on individual tables also adorned with candles. Large fires at our back along with wool blankets will keep us warm. There are only three parties totaling 9 guests. The food was incredible – Todd can not stop talking about his.

    On our way back to our tent we see another large outdoor area with many more guests. This place is incredible!

    Robert

  • DAY 9

    DAY 9

    February 5, 2025

    HAPPY BIRTHDAY KAREN – Number 82!

    By the way – June 20 will be our 60th Anniversary – and we fooled around 10 years before that!

    We celebrate all day long. She is gifted bouquets of flowers wherever we go. We started in the morning with a beautiful breakfast on the hotel lawn. Actually this was the former entrance to the Palace. Birgid has arranged a “Cake Cutting” ceremony including “Happy Birthday” spelled out in flowers.

    Off to the airport by 10 for our 1 hour flight to Delhi. I am curious – how many motor scooters/motorcycles in India? The trusty internet (by the way we 5g everywhere) says 260 million. It always looks like all the 260 million are on the street with us each time we go out. Another interesting fact – India is 1/3 the land mass of the United States. We have 300 million people – they have almost 1.5 billion.

    We climb two flights of stairs (the elevator is inoperative) to our gate – wait almost an hour – then back down those same stairs for a gate change. We are on Air India Express today. I took a photo of the checkin area of IndiGo across from us – check out the clever titles.

    I also took a photo of the baggage collection area in the Delhi airport. We are belt number 4. Looking the other way I cannot even see the end. This is a HUGE terminal!

    As always, Shruti briefs us about the history and monuments of Delhi. One thing that stuck with me was the huge monument of Gandhi leading his followers to the coast to gather salt, which the Government had banned. I will include a writing about Gandhi that Karen had previously written. 

    Delhi is so different from Mumbai. Although there are 24 million residents Delhi is spread out – horizontal rather than vertical Mumbai. There are so many trees – truly a green city. It is the political center of India vrs the business center. Many streets are tree lined vrs lined with an endless stream of small shops.

    Although our flight was only one hour it was almost 4:00 when we arrived at our hotel. Total elapsed time 6 hours. We should have taken the 4 hour drive in our van. I am ready for something to eat and a Long Island Iced Tea. NOPE – the last two days have been local elections – no alcohol until 7:00.  

    The Imperial Hotel is our home away from home in India. This may be our fourth stay. I always remember the tall Sikhs wearing their red turbans. This is another elegant hotel – modern elegance rather than the old world elegance we have previously enjoyed. If I had to choose the old world would be my choice. We very much enjoy “high tea” in a new private lounge.

    Dinner and cocktails in the “Spice Market” Asian restaurant is over-the-top great! We are so very very fortunate!

    R

  • DAY 7

    DAY 7

    February 3, 2025

    We began our 6:00 AM departure with news that Todd as sick and vomiting all night. He certainly is not the bright and happy man we know. Everyone is quick to blame the street food he enjoyed yesterday however, Shurti had the same food. Perhaps it is just so different from what we are used to. In fact, we know some Mexicans that got sick on the food in the United States – not bad food – just different.

    On the hours drive to the airport we see something new for this journey – an elephant on the roadside. We love this country!

    All our internal India flights have been on their largest carrier IndiGo. It is a fun experience – great graphics – marketing that makes you smile. Today we have an ATR turboprop to Jaipur. Our travel company – Banyon, is worried about the lack of business class seats so they have purchased an empty seat next to each of us. Talk about spoiling us.

    Todd elected to go directly to the hotel with the luggage van to rest.

    Jaipur – the “pink city” is one of our favorites. Actually so far each city has been our “favorite”. The walled city was built for a population of 50,000 in 1727 – now there are 1,000,000. The metropolitan area is 4,000,000. Lots and lots of people everywhere.

    Our first stop is the Jewlery Business/Museum that we visited two years ago. The deceased Father/founder built a substantial art/antique collection. Much of the second floor of the business is a Museum. They employ 250 designing, cutting, polishing fine jewelry. The building is very contemporary designed by a French architect.The two sons that currently rum the business were extremely attentive to our ladies. Both Karen and Connie found some beautiful pieces.

    Once again our hotel is over-the—top located on large beautiful grounds I will say it again – the hotels in India are consistently among the finest in the World. We enjoyed a relaxed lunch on their spacious lawn. Life is good for the Duncans (well except for Todd at the moment).

    In the afternoon we journeyed outside the City to an old fort high on a hill and the site of a temporary art show. The fort is a terrific venue for both sculpture and two dimensional work. There were many small rooms surrounding a courtyard and the starkness of it all really makes the art shine. We asked Birgid to follow-up on a couple of pieces.

    Back to the hotel and drinks at the Polo Bar an exquisite large room. Hotel’s today cannot replicate the splendor of these historic palaces. And the DuncanTini’s were great! A wonderful dinner then off to bed – tomorrow will be a busy day.

    Robert

  • DAY 6

    DAY 6

    February 2, 2025

    A DAY OF REST

    After they had “the best breakfast yet” the Kids departed with Shurti for a day of adventure in Udaipur – the City Palace – the Crystal Palace – a Hindi temple – a Muslim food market – dining on street food. Lots of walking

    Karen and I relaxed in certainly one of the beautiful hotels we have experienced. The service at all the hotels has been the best ever. Everything is spotless. And, of course the food is excellent. The kids plan to come back some day and just “hole up” at this and most of our other hotels. So far, all the hotels were palaces of Maharajas in the past.

    The Kids return midafternoon in time for our private boat ride around the lake. The City Palace dominates the landscape on one side. We see two other luxury hotels, a restaurant we had lunch at previously. Then there were a variety of birds from giant pelicans to tiny ducks. A very pleasant and serene experience.

    Our hotel featured an evening Indian entertainment – music on strange instruments and beautiful (both the women and the elaborate costumes) young’s female dancers. There are three restaurants in the hotel – we chose the simplest. External music is extremely loud. There is a party on the second level roof top. Todd had checked it out earlier – they were celebrating the birthday of a one year old. There must have been fifty or more attendees. Any excuse for a party right. Indians love to party. Weddings in India are a huge deal, lasting four days and often ultra expensive. Over the years we have witnessed several on the fringes.

    Another super fine day!

    Robert

  • DAY 5

    DAY 5

    February 1, 2025

    Another travel day.

    We really hate saying goodbye to Varanasi and our beautiful hotel – however we know more great adventures lie ahead. Todd decides to join Shruti for a “street food” breakfast. He reported the it was delicious and it cost only $1.50.

    The hours ride to the airport is full of sights and sounds that are a World apart from what we know and experience. A man getting a shave and haircut outside by the road – cattle sleeping by the roadside – unbelievable congestion. Still, life goes on.

    We have two flights today – Varanasi to New Delhi then New Delhi to Udaipur. We leave our hotel at 10:00 and do not arrive at our new hotel until almost 9:00 that evening. So far the airlines in India have a perfect record – always late! The kids are hungry. They try KFC and Pizza Hut in the Delhi airport with moderate success. I am fortunate to get a few pictures of the people, but nowhere near the number I would like.

    We have a luxury van pick us up at the Udaipur airport for the hours drive (they are always an hours drive). Shruti spends the time talking about families in India, the arranged marriages, and the cast system which was outlawed many years ago but continues to function. In some ways it provides more family stability yet in other ways it restricts individual incentive and success. As our Grandson Duncan would say “it’s complicated.”

    Karen and I have visited Udaipur twice before staying at one of our very favorite hotels in an ancient castle 20 minutes out of the city. This time we are booked at the Lake Palace, the former Summer Palace of the Maharaja. Of course we had observed the hotel on an island out in the lake but had never visited. As our little Girl on the airplane said “OMG”.

    This is certainly one of the very most beautiful hotels we have ever seen. Again words cannot do it justice. I will keep taking pictures. We retire to the bar for one more hour of enjoying fabulous bar food – great DuncanTinis – and spirited conversations. The hotel has turned a long boring travel day into another unforgettable experience.

    Robert

  • DAY 3

    DAY 3

    January 30, 2025

    Today is a travel day – from Mumbai to Varanasi. We are using a tour company – Banyan – throughout this entire venture. They always have a private car(s) with a driver and a guide. Our very favorite guide, from, past India adventures, Shruti is with us on the entire trip. Life is easy and good in India for the Duncan Family.

    It seems, so far, that every journey to and from the airport takes an hour. Today is no exception. Actually the traffic in Mumbai moved very well – Varanasi traffic did not. Once again we flew Air India. The airline used to be owned by the Indian Government and had a bad reputation. Tata, one of Indias huge conglomerates, purchased Air India a couple of years ago. They are rebuilding and modernizing the fleet. Both flights we have experienced were late but felt safe and good.

    The Mumbai airport is huge – really huge and quite beautiful. We had to pass through security twice.

    The traffic from the Varanasi airport into the city was terrible. The two lane road was jammed with at least three lanes of vehicles plus often another lane of motor scooters. It seemed like there was less than a foot of space between vehicles. They use the horns often – a real cacophony! Several cattle slowed the traffic. The roadsides are jammed with all kinds of small business, vendors selling fruits and vegetables – you name it!

    After the prerequisite hour we turn into an oasis of green where our hotel is located. The Nadesar Palace Varanasi is “a luxurious hotel nestled amidst verdant gardens and mango orchards, offering a serene retreat in the heart of India’s spiritual capital”. We unpack just in time to enjoy another wonderful dinner and an “almost prefect” DuncanTini.

    Just in case you have not not read enough about India – below are the other four blogs that I have posted in previous years:

    Art India 2023

    India 2019

    The Grans Tour 2017

    World Art Adventure 2015

    Robert