#Taj Mahal trips from Cochin

[indianexperience1]

Taj mahal trips from Delhi, Goa, Cochin, Mumbai, Bangalore, Pune, just call us +91 9811171495 (WhatsApp also). For more information visit www.indianexperience.in

#tajmahal #tourism #travel #Agra

[jetsetgounofficial]

Top Destinations for Private Jet Travel in India

India, with its rich cultural heritage, stunning landscapes, and bustling cities, offers a wealth of destinations perfect for private jet travel. Whether you're seeking a luxurious escape, a cultural journey, or a quick business trip, these top destinations in India provide the ideal backdrop for an unforgettable experience. Let’s explore the best places to visit by private jet, where convenience meets exclusivity.

1. Udaipur: The City of Lakes

Known as the "Venice of the East," Udaipur is a dream destination for those who appreciate royal grandeur. Famous for its palaces, lakes, and vibrant markets, Udaipur offers a blend of history and luxury. Flying privately to Udaipur allows you to bypass the crowds and land directly at Maharana Pratap Airport, just a short drive from the city’s iconic Lake Palace and City Palace. Spend your days exploring the majestic forts or taking a serene boat ride on Lake Pichola.

2. Goa: The Beach Paradise

For those looking to unwind by the sea, Goa is the ultimate destination. Known for its golden beaches, lively nightlife, and colonial architecture, Goa has something for everyone. With private jet travel, you can skip the commercial flight hassles and arrive directly at Dabolim Airport, close to both North and South Goa’s popular beaches. Whether you're in the mood for a laid-back beach day or a night out at a trendy beach club, Goa is your go-to destination.

3. Jaipur: The Pink City

Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan, is a city that beautifully marries tradition with modernity. As part of the Golden Triangle, Jaipur is rich in history, with its grand palaces, forts, and vibrant bazaars. Private jet travelers can land at Jaipur International Airport and quickly immerse themselves in the city’s vibrant culture. Visit the Amber Fort, Hawa Mahal, and enjoy an elephant ride, all while soaking in the royal atmosphere.

4. Mumbai: The City of Dreams

Mumbai, India’s financial hub, is a city that never sleeps. It’s a destination for both business and leisure, offering a mix of high-end shopping, fine dining, and cultural landmarks. With private jet travel, you can avoid the bustling Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport's commercial terminals and instead enjoy quick access to the heart of the city. From the Gateway of India to Marine Drive, and the luxury hotels in South Mumbai, everything is within your reach.

5. Delhi: The Capital City

Delhi, the capital of India, is a destination that offers a rich tapestry of history, culture, and modernity. From the iconic India Gate to the bustling markets of Chandni Chowk, Delhi is a city of contrasts. Private jet travelers can land at Indira Gandhi International Airport, which is well-connected to the city’s major attractions. Whether you’re in Delhi for a business meeting or to explore its historical sites, arriving by private jet ensures a seamless and comfortable journey.

6. Kerala: God’s Own Country

Kerala, with its serene backwaters, lush green landscapes, and Ayurvedic retreats, is a haven for those seeking relaxation and rejuvenation. Arriving by private jet allows you to touch down at Cochin International Airport, after which you can quickly escape to the tranquil backwaters of Alleppey or the hill stations of Munnar. Kerala is perfect for those looking to disconnect from the hustle and bustle of daily life.

7. Rishikesh: The Yoga Capital of the World

For spiritual seekers, Rishikesh is a must-visit destination. Located in the foothills of the Himalayas, Rishikesh is renowned for its yoga retreats and ashrams. A private jet can bring you to the nearest airport, Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun, from where you can quickly reach Rishikesh. Whether you’re here for meditation, yoga, or simply to experience the spiritual vibe, Rishikesh offers a peaceful retreat from the world.

8. Agra: Home of the Taj Mahal

Agra is synonymous with the Taj Mahal, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. A visit to Agra is a journey into the Mughal era, with its stunning architecture and rich history. Private jet travelers can fly directly to Agra Airport, avoiding the long drive from Delhi. Spend your day exploring the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, and Fatehpur Sikri, all while enjoying the comfort and privacy of your own schedule.

9. Leh: Gateway to the Himalayas

For the adventure lovers, Leh in Ladakh is a destination like no other. Nestled in the Himalayas, Leh offers breathtaking landscapes, monasteries, and opportunities for trekking and biking. Arriving by private jet at Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport, one of the highest airports in the world, allows you to start your adventure in the mountains with ease. Whether it’s exploring the Pangong Lake or the Nubra Valley, Leh is a unique destination for those who love the outdoors.

10. Hyderabad: The City of Pearls

Hyderabad, with its rich history and booming tech industry, offers a blend of old-world charm and modernity. Known for its iconic Charminar, bustling markets, and delicious biryani, Hyderabad is a city that delights all senses. Private jet travelers can arrive at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, making it easy to explore both the historical and contemporary attractions of the city.

Conclusion

Traveling by private jet in India allows you to experience the country’s diverse destinations in unparalleled comfort and luxury. From the royal palaces of Udaipur to the serene backwaters of Kerala, each destination offers a unique experience. With the ability to land at airports closer to your final destination, private jet travel ensures that you can make the most of your time, whether you're exploring the vibrant cities or the peaceful countryside.

[travel-vlogs]

India is a land of great diversity and culture, and there are many budget-friendly tour options available for those looking to explore the country without breaking the bank. Whether you're interested in visiting historic temples and palaces, experiencing local festivals and markets, or exploring the great outdoors, there is something for everyone.

One budget-friendly option is to take a tour of the Golden Triangle, which includes visits to the cities of Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur. This tour is perfect for those interested in exploring India's rich history and culture, as it includes visits to famous monuments such as the Taj Mahal, the Red Fort, and the Amber Fort. Additionally, many budget tour packages include accommodation, transportation, and meals, making it an affordable way to experience all that India has to offer.

Another budget-friendly option is to take a tour of India's southern states, which are known for their rich history, vibrant culture, and beautiful beaches. This tour includes visits to the cities of Bangalore, Chennai, and Cochin, as well as the famous temples of Madurai and the backwaters of Kerala.

Another budget-friendly tour option is to explore India's wildlife and nature with a trip to one of India's national parks and wildlife sanctuaries. A popular choice is to visit the Kanha National Park in Madhya Pradesh, which is home to tigers, leopards, and a variety of other wildlife.

Finally, a budget-friendly tour to India's northeastern states is a great option to explore the natural beauty, the culture, and the traditions of the region. This tour includes visits to the cities of Guwahati, Shillong, and Tawang, as well as the famous Kamakhya Temple and the Kaziranga National Park.

In conclusion, India is a budget-friendly destination that offers a wide range of options for travelers. From the rich history and culture of the Golden Triangle to the natural beauty and wildlife of India's national parks and wildlife sanctuaries, there are many affordable tour options available to suit every traveler's interests and budget.

[epiconictravel]

Choose India Tour Package for Exploring India

The land of rich and vibrant culture, traditions, and values have a lot of attractions in India, so in this wonderful country of India, there is a lot to discover that it gets complicated to decide where to go and where not because India is a great country which can be seen in a journey. Therefore, to facilitate your tour and for your expediency, there are several India tour packages, which are categorized by the interest and taste of tourists.

One of the most preferred tour options in India is the Golden Triangle Tour which you can choose for a memorable trip to India as this tour option gives tourists Delhi (Capital of India), Agra (Home of Taj Mahal), and Jaipur (Visit Capital). Takes on Rajasthan) where many attractive attractions exist and therefore, tourists visiting India who want to observe the true charism of India, never miss to visit these fascinating cities which are part of North India. So, if you want to know about the historical past of the country and its architectural wonders, then you have to opt for the Golden Triangle Tour because it is the tour package that can give you a different experience of your life. With this tour option, you will come to the undisputed forts, regal palaces and Havelis, and temples of India.

If you are looking for peace, then Pilgrimage India Tour Package or Yoga and Meditation Tour are the right choices for you as it will meet your need. Famous sites to be discovered with these packages are Varanasi, Khajuraho, Bhopal, Indore, Orchha, Allahabad, Ujjain, Yamunotri, and Haridwar. Other places to be covered include Badrinath, Amarnath, Rishikesh, Gangotri, Gurikund, Chennai, Tanjore, Periyar, Madurai, Cochin, and Trichy.

Since India is home to many amazing attractions, there are many things to do. The perfect destinations that are rarely missed during a tour of India are Ranthambore, Bharatpur, Agra, Kanker, Bastar, Raipur, Bandhavgarh, Kargil, Padum, Marling, Hanupat, and Leh. Thus, a trip to India can fill your life with quick facilities and services.

Visiting India is replete with many spectacular attractions, which never fail to grab the attention of tourists from all over the world. If you are looking for peace, then Pilgrimage India Tour Package or Yoga and Meditation Tour are the right choices for you as it will meet your need. Famous sites to be discovered with these packages are Varanasi, Khajuraho, Bhopal, Indore, Orchha, Allahabad, Ujjain, Yamunotri, and Haridwar.

[catsworldlytravels]

Oman & India

Next up in my series of ‘catch-up’ blog posts – a family trip cruising Oman and India. This trip was December 2016.

We had a direct flight from London Heathrow to Muscat, Oman – approximately 7 hours flight time if I remember rightly. We flew with Oman Air and arrived in Muscat in the early evening. At the time of travel, British citizens were required to purchase a visa on arrival for $17USD to be paid in cash.

We were transferred over to the port area to board our vessel before having dinner and the required life jacket muster.

The next day we remained in Muscat, I went on a Muscat city tour which included a visit to the Sultan Qaboos Mosque. This is one of the very few mosques in Oman which welcome non-Muslim visitors, though visitors are obviously required to be respectful. Women are required to be fully covered apart from the face so be sure to wear trousers/long skirt, and have a cardigan/shawl to cover arms all the way to the wrist. Once inside, it is quite an awe-inspiring sight, with some wonderful, ornate features such as the chandelier below.

Inside Sultan Qaboos Mosque

After we’d finished the mosque visit, we also visited the palace, a museum and a souk before returning to the ship for lunch. I then enjoyed a free afternoon relaxing on the ship whilst some of the other passengers were on a full day trip inland.

The ship sailed east overnight to Sur. Here the ship moored offshore and we got to land via zodiacs, which made for an interesting ride! Once ashore we had a trip visiting a local fish market before heading to a fort with some great views overlooking the city, and finally to a dhow boatyard to see dhows under construction (dhows are traditional fishing boats in this part of the world).

Sights in Sur

Back on the ship at lunchtime before continuing to head east to India. It was a day and a half’s sailing to India, so plenty of time for relaxing on board on the sun deck, and practicing my photography skills.

Sunset in the Arabian Sea

We arrived after lunch the following day at our first port of call in India – Porbander, in Gujarat. Porbander is famous for being the birthplace of Gandhi, and in the afternoon we went on a trip to the house where he was born. It was extremely hot but the inside of the house was surprisingly cool. We also had a tuk tuk ride to a temple in Porbander before returning to the ship.

As first impressions of India go, Porbander was a massive assault on the senses. Of all the places we visit, I felt that this was the ‘real’ India. Bumpy roads, cows on the roadside, hustle and bustle in Porbander itself, and signs of poor living conditions.

Colour and sights in Porbander

We were moored overnight in Porbander, and the next day I went on a trip inland to the fort at Junagadh. Getting there featured the singularly most uncomfortable bus ride of my entire life – 3 hours of being flung around on the back seat of a bus. When we arrived, we visited Uparkot Fort, which had some good views over the city. Later we also stopped at the Mahabat Maqbara Palace, which is one of the most intricate buildings I think I’ve ever seen.

Uparkot Fort and sights over Junagadh (top); Mahabat Maqbara Palace (bottom)

The return bus journey was just as uncomfortable as the outbound journey and I was relieved to be able to stretch out my back when we arrived back at the ship. We sailed south overnight to Diu and arrived at anchor early the next morning. After using the zodiacs again to get to shore, we visited another fort before wandering around the pretty town and visiting a very colourful market.

Diu harbour and coast (top); colour in Diu

We had lunch back onboard and set sail for Mumbai in the afternoon. We arrived the next morning. One of the features of a cruise to India is that we must clear immigration each time we enter the country. Before travelling to India, we had to obtain a ‘multiple entry visa’ which was quite a laborious process requiring a lengthy form and 2-inch square photos to be sent off to the Indian Embassy in London, along with your passport, payment and a stamped addressed envelope. Make sure to leave plenty of time to obtain the right visas before leaving, especially if making multiple entries to the same country.

Once we cleared immigration (again!), we had a tour of some of the main city sights in Mumbai including the Gateway Of India, and the Taj Mahal Hotel. We also visited some markets – I love visiting markets in Asia – so many sights, sounds, colours, and saw some of the Dhaba-wallas at work outside Church Gate Station. After a short ride on a train, during which I noticed that Mumbai uses the same signage for its stations as the London Underground, we also walked passed an open air laundry before having lunch – actual Indian food in India – delicious!

The Gateway of India; Taj Mahal Hotel; Churchgate Station Market sights; Dhaba-walla’s at work; some familiar signage Open air laundry

In the afternoon I took a trip to Elephanta Island, off the coast of Mumbai, which is where the Elephanta Caves are. The caves a dedicated to Shiva and contain many carvings for both Hindu and Buddhist iconography. It’s quite extensive and I really enjoyed this trip – a must-do if you find yourself in Mumbai.

In Elephanta Caves

The following morning was a free morning in Mumbai before we set sail in the afternoon to Goa. We arrived in Goa the next day, and headed off on a trip to a spice plantation, which was very interesting, before visiting old Goa. We visited a basilica and a church. It was extremely hot and I was extremely hungover so I wasn’t able to enjoy it quite as much as I’d hoped!

We sailed overnight to Mangalore, I didn’t partake in any trips in Mangalore and spent the day relaxing on board. We sailed overnight to Cochin.

We had 2 days in the Cochin region. On the first day we had a tuk tuk ride to a village where we learnt about traditional skills such as coconut shelling, crabbing, fishing and weaving – in fact this was very similar to traditional skills I’d learnt about in other regions, particularly the Pacific Islands, which goes to show that these are fundamental skills that humans have developed regardless of where people live.

Fishing in Cochin

After lunch we had a punt across a river which was very relaxing. In the afternoon we went to Fort Kochi and watched some traditional Kathakali dancing. I’ve never seen anything like this before – a lot of the performance was based around eye movement and facial expressions with brightly painted faces to convey the story.

The following day was one of the things I was most looking forward to in India – a cruise on the Kerala Backwaters. We drove for about 90 minutes before getting on our boat and cruising around for around the backwaters for around an hour and a half after which we stopped for lunch at a hotel. One of the noticeable things was the amount of building work going on – lots of new hotels and resorts being constructed. It’s easy to see why – the Kerala Backwaters are a beautiful, peaceful spot, but it seems like that is on the cusp of changing into a very commercialised area. Hopefully it won’t take away too much of the reason that people would like to visit in the first place.

Kerala Backwaters

After lunch we had a shorter boat ride back to our bus, and then travelled back to the ship.

Overnight we continued sailing south, and arrived the next morning at the port of Vizhinjam, for Trivandrum. Immensely hot and sweaty – we did a morning tour of Trivandrum where we visited some more amazing architectural sites including the museum of horses.

Port at Vizhinjam; horse iconography decoration; Trivandrum

In the afternoon we set sail for the last time, and arrived into Colombo in Sri Lanka the following morning. Aside from a drive through Colombo to the airport, we didn’t get to see much of Sri Lanka (that’s for another time!), and after heading to the airport for the long flight home, we arrived in a cold UK in the early hours of Christmas Eve. It was quite the juxtaposition coming from the heat and hustle and bustle of South Asia to the cold festive season in the UK.

This was a family holiday, and without it, I’m not sure I’d ever have got to India. But I’m glad I went. An assault on all the senses, and such an interesting country, even if all I saw was a few ports on the west coast. It’s a culture shock, it’s hot, it’s busy and gives you lots of things to think about. I’d also never particularly considered Oman, and didn’t know what to expect. It seems a prosperous country with some interesting sights, and seems to be up-and-coming from a tourism point of view. Certainly somewhere to consider for near year round sunshine in the Middle East.

from WordPress https://catsgreatadventure.com/2020/08/21/oman-india/

[irctcmaharajas]

Palace on wheels India – A Journey with Royal Treatment

Maharaja Express Tour offers the traveller a splendid week long itinerary to the most beautiful and royal destinations in India. IRCTC’s palace on wheels india tours are planned to create Incredible India Vacations that provide a brief insight into Indian History. The royal heritage of India is so captivating that tourists from all over the world are always keen to explore it. Maharajas Express is like a palace on wheels India which provides an unforgettable experience to its esteemed guests and meets all their expectations whether on board or off board. The guests on board can marvel at the scenic beauty through the windows because this train moves slowly as compared to other trains. The extravagant lavish menu of palace on wheels India consists of world class cuisines served in style.

Palace on Wheels India gives its guests a royal treatment with extraordinary hospitality. We provide excursions to the alluring forts indulging the guests in adventurous activities. To explore Indian Heritage, magnificent architectures, sparkling rivers and sprawling forests there are seven packages that one can choose from: The Indian Splendour also known as Palace on Wheels Rajasthan, The Indian Panorama, The Heritage of India, Treasures of India also known as Palace on Wheels Agra, The Southern Sojourn, Gems of India and The Southern Jewels. For a relaxing holiday a guest can choose their own kind of accommodation like Deluxe Cabin, Junior Suite, Presidential Suite and Suite. Under these wonderful journeys passengers will cover India’s royal land Rajasthan, this palace on wheels tours will leave an memorable impact on passengers. 

The Indian Panorama- This package covers majority of Indian destinations that are known for royalty and their pristine history. You can explore Lucknow, Varanasi, Khajuraho, Gwalior, Fatehpur Sikri, Jaipur, Ranthambore, and Agra on this palace on wheels tour.  

The Indian Splendour- Redefining the luxury tour of the state, the package covers prominent cities Jaipur, Bikaner, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Balasinor, Ranthambore, Agra, and Mumbai for a true experience of the princely state of Rajasthan.  Keeping the importance of Rajasthan on this tour in mind it is also referred to as Palace on wheels Rajasthan tour. 

The Heritage of India- This package is uniquely crafted and is a great combination of history and opulence. The package includes excursions to Jaipur, Bikaner, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Ranthambore, Agra and also takes the guests to alluring caves of Ajanta in Maharashtra. 

Treasures of India- A short trip of 4 days, Treasures of India tour package covers the capital city of Rajasthan Jaipur, famous wildlife reserve in Ranthambore and mesmerizing icon of love Taj Mahal. With an extensive tour of Taj Mahal on offer this tour is also known as Palace on Wheels Agra.

Gems of India Tour- Also termed as the Golden Triangle Tour, the package takes the guests on a splendid journey to Agra, Jaipur, and Ranthambore.

The Southern Sojourn- As the name suggests, this palace on wheels India tour covers the exclusive and hidden heritages in South India covering Ratnagiri, Goa, Hampi, Mysore, Cochin, Kumarakom, Trivandrum in its itinerary.

The Southern Jewels- This luxury tour package covers Trivandrum, Chettinad/Karaikudi, Mahabalipuram, Mysore, Hampi, Goa, and Ratnagiri which are all important Palace on wheels India destinations.

Indian culture is vibrant and extraordinarily vast. You can experience the Indian culture and heritage like never before and make memories of lifetime in the comforts and luxury of the Palace on Wheels Tours with the extravagant Maharajas’ Express.

Source:- "https://sites.google.com/view/palace-on-wheels-india/home?authuser=1"

[flightsticketsbooking-blog]

BEST TOURIST PLACES TO VISIT IN INDIA

India is a nation with different assorted varieties and that can be seen even in the delightful land ponders. Every district is extraordinary and remarkable in its own specific manner. There are such a large number of amazing spots to visit and cool activities India that a solitary trek is just insufficient to appreciate them all! You can, be that as it may, begin with the most well-known attractions first and make a few different treks to cover the rest. Investigate the absolute best, most lovely and prevalent spots to visit in India during your trek!

AGRA, TAJ MAHAL AND AGRA FORT

Taj Mahal, a catacomb, is one among of the Seven Wonders of the World. It was worked by Shah Jahan, the Mughal Emperor, in the memory of his adored spouse Mumtaz. To visit Taj Mahal, you need to get onto a plane to Delhi. On the off chance that you are landing legitimately into India from USA, at that point pick any of your preferred worldwide carriers to fly here. From that point, it is possible that you can take a corresponding flight to Agra or travel via train, transport, or taxi. We offer shoddy air tickets to India from USA all during that time so book whenever advantageous to you. The least expensive flights to India from USA can be found in our Eagle Deals area so make a point to look at it when booking flights.

GOA, THE SANDY BEACHES

The Portuguese structures and the superb palm tree-lined shorelines make Goa a one of a kind place of interest. The beautiful areas along the course of Mondovi River, which streams between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea, are nature's treat. Obviously, the kinds of Goa most likely entice to break the goals once again. Taste the Konkanese dish Vindaloo and let your taste buds move in joy. Give them a chance to tell your mind that currently isn't an ideal opportunity to book modest flights from USA to India. Give them a chance to disclose to you that currently isn't an ideal opportunity to return home. Give them a chance to induce you to remain back with us so we don't miss you so soon. Give them a chance to make you book shoddy flights to India from USA.

KOCHI, THE BACKWATERS AND HOUSE BOATS

The lovely lakes, tidal ponds and innumerable palm trees, that is the thing that Kochi to offer you. Nicknamed as the Queen of the Arabian Sea it splendidly mirrors the variance of the province of Kerala. Jump on houseboat to get the flavor of natural field in the God's Own Country. Disregarding the hypnotizing Arabian Sea, the port city of Kochi, or Cochin, is among the most beautiful goals in South India. Watching anglers cast the exceptional Chinese angling nets into the ocean is a unique encounter unquestionably worth having. Untamed life lovers will colossally appreciate a visit to Kodanand Elephant Training Center. Top attractions incorporate Fort Kochi, Mattancherry Palace, Vypeen Island, Marine Drive, and Cherai Beach among others. Top attractions incorporate Fort Kochi, Mattancherry Palace, Vypeen Island, Marine Drive, and Cherai Beach among others. With these gathering of excellent attractions all set to captivate guests, Kochi has demonstrated over and over why it's outstanding among-st other sentimental goals in India. Simply recollect that, for your outing, booking flights with Bookflightstickets is the least expensive approach to get to India. Fly to International Airport in Kochi with shabby flights to India from USA from Bookflightstickets.

MUMBAI, THE FINANCIAL CITY

The city of dreams, as it is called, has to a great extent been worked by the British around one of the characteristic harbors on the planet. In addition, Mumbai has turned into India's vital financial focus. The economy, yet with notable tourist spots, design, expressions, film industry of Bollywood make the city comparable to the top city on the planet. Numerous voyagers book shabby flight tickets to India from USA with Bookflightstickets for an excursion to Mumbai. Extra advantages of consistently reserving shabby flights from USA to India with us incorporate the opportunity to acquire important reward focuses. You can utilize these focuses to make future flight appointments considerably less expensive.

In addition, Mumbai is the entryway to make a trip into India and to fly abroad. Chhatrapati Sivaji International Airport obliges the movement needs of a huge number of explorers, the two Indians and outsiders, who fly abroad from here. The world-class air terminal is among the busiest ones in India and offers a wide range of solaces just as extravagant enhancements to make travel an unbelievably simple and bother free understanding. You likewise have simple flight network from Mumbai to other real urban communities in India. Truth be told, you can channel scans for multi-city flights when booking with us. So on the off chance that you're visiting India, at that point get modest flights from USA to India with Bookflightstickets at the most punctual!

SHIMLA, THE HILL STATION TO COOL THE HEELS

A renowned slope station since the season of British pioneer rule, Shimla is a perfect passage to cool your heels. Be it vacation, a break from work, or just recreation trip. The slope station can be an ideal spot for experience sports like trekking, climbing, and skiing in the winter. To reach Shimla, you need to initially travel to Delhi, at that point take a corresponding flight or utilize other method of transportation as per your accommodation. You will discover non-stop flights to India thus simply take advantage of the lucky break. Book a least expensive trip to India from USA and begin voyaging through the mists.

Since you know a considerable amount about India? Its urban communities, slope stations, culture and the travel industry, why not design a trek to the nation to live it seriously? Book modest flights to India from USA immediately!

[optimatravels]

Take a Golden Triangle Group Tour with Optima Travels

India is the oldest living civilization, embracing all modern developments along with preserving its rich cultural heritage. India is sub-continental, geographically. Every region of India is endowed with glorious history, rich bio-diversity and exuberant cultural colours. To explore whole of India in a few days time is nearly impossible but Golden Triangle Tour Packages present some of world famous highlights of north India in a short duration. A Golden Triangle Tour, covering Delhi, Agra & Jaipur, is perfectly customizable. The Golden Triangle circuit is enjoyed by the tourists either on private tours or group tours, depending upon their choices. Golden Triangle Group Tour commences from New Delhi, the national capital of Indian Republic and a historical site. After visiting all ancient and historic monuments of Delhi, known in ancient Hindu literature as Indraprastha, drive towards Agra to see the famous Taj Mahal and Agra Fort.

 During Golden Triangle Group Tour, A five-hour drive from here takes you to Jaipur. En route, stop at the red sandstone city of Fatehpur Sikri, the erstwhile capital city of the Mughals. In Jaipur, the land of palaces and all things historic, savour a blend of the past and the present. Enjoy the delectable cuisine and the wonderful shopping here.

 If you have time for a bit longer duration holiday and wish to enjoy real leisure, amidst lush green nature, luxury of all sorts and ages-old Ayurvedic rejuvenation therapy, allow Kerala to be added as an extension. The exotic, tropical, lovely, lush and gorgeous Kerala is home to millions of tourists every year. In God’s own country, you’ll get to see all types of Nature—lush vegetation, unspoiled beaches, coral reefs, sere backwaters, miles and miles of tea plantations, wildlife sanctuaries and heritage temples.

Does this inspire you to visit Kerala? With a 500 km coastline, it is home all beach lovers, so pack your bags and land here as soon as you can. Here, you can indulge in all kinds of water sports like swimming, surfing and kayaking and relaxing at a spa resort. Another kind of holiday you can take here is the Golden Triangle with Kerala Tour.

Kerala’s vibrancy, serene backwaters and majestic forts and palaces beckon you to spend some time here. Before you come to Kerala, you can begin your Golden Triangle tour in Delhi. Your first stop in Kerala is Cochin or Kochi. Visit Fort Kochi, see the Chinese fishing nets and take a tour of the famous Dutch Palace and the Jewish Synagogue. Pay homage at St. Francis Church. Next morning, drive down to Kumarakom, about two hours away.

This is the beautiful land of emerald and serene backwaters that every tourist must experience with Golden Triangle India Tour Package Price. After a hectic day of sightseeing, rejuvenate yourself with a typical Ayurvedic massage. Next morning, head over to the Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary tour where you will spend the whole day revelling in the migratory birds here.

The following day, drive down to Alleppey, 90 minutes away to experience floating on a houseboat and seeing the sights here. The beautiful landscapes here, the paddy fields and the rustic villages have their own charm. Spend a day here and then return to Kochi from where you can fly back to Delhi and make your onward journey home.

Does this tour grab your imagination? Do you wish to do this trip as soon as possible? Well, with Optima Travels as your travel agent, it’s possible. After all, we go all out to please our customers in their choice of travels. So, if you want to take any one of our tour, sure why not?

Our customers are always satisfied with our Kerala Tour Packages and have many times referred us to others too. Once you discuss your travel plans with us, we will make our own suggestions and finalize your tour. And, if you book early with us, you stand to get early bird discounts. So, don’t lose this opportunity. Book early and enjoy more. To know more about this trip, reach us at optimatravels.com today.

[globetrottinggeordie]

19th February 2019

We decided to stop off at an Irish Bar in Delhi Airport before heading to the gate for our BA flight to London. It’s thirsty work travelling around India, and after our non-alcoholic Business Class experience on the Vistara flight, we were ready for a G&T!

Afterwards we walked through to Gate 19 and sat waiting to be called. Eventually we boarded the flight and took our seats in the World Traveller Plus section, and waited for take off. Once airborne the cabin crew came around to ask if we wanted any food. Despite the fact that it was about 4.00 am, I decided to try the Indian vegetarian option, which was a bad decision, as the food was awful. It had been overheated in the microwave, it had no taste and was hugely disappointing.

This summed up our BA experience, as there did not appear to be sufficient staff dealing with our part of the cabin, and our experience was little better than Standard Economy, apart from the slightly wider seat with the additional leg room. The breakfast was ok, but was probably not a great deal better than what was provided in Economy. After our good experience on the outbound journey, this experience was very disappointing, and we will probably avoid travelling with BA in future if we can help it.

Eventually we landed at Heathrow, and passed through immigration quickly and, thanks to Vistara putting our luggage through from Cochin with a “Priority” label, our bags were one the first few to come through on the belt.

We met up with Richard who was going to drive us back to Sandhurst, and as there was not a great deal of traffic on the roads, we were in the house by about 10.15 am, and our Epic Adventure to India had come to an end.

After many years of trying to persuade Joan that we should visit India on holiday, she is now a convert and thoroughly enjoyed our four week Epic Adventure. The highlights were probably the Golden Temple at Amritsar, the Taj Mahal, the extreme assault on the senses in Varanasi, and our house boat trip on the backwaters of Kerala, but we have great memories from all of the places that we visited during our tour. Trailfinders and their Indian agents certainly put together an amazing trip for us, based upon our suggested itinerary, and the logistics worked brilliantly in each of the locations we stopped at. The problem with the Park Hotel in Calcutta was irritating at the time, but the local representatives dealt with it very well, and it worked out in our favour.

So where will our Epic Adventures take us next time? Watch this space!

[holidaysatindia]

Discover North and South India Tour

https://zurl.co/PMel

Tour Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival at New Delhi On the day of arrival at the New Delhi airport, our Holidays At representative will assist you at the airport and later transfer to the hotel for night stay. Relax at the hotel or day free to leisure activities. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 2: At New Delhi Today morning after breakfast at the hotel, later proceed for a full day guided tour to New & Old Delhi, visit Rashtrapati Bhavan, India Gate, Laxmi Narayan Temple, Humayun’s Tomb, Lotus Temple (Bahai’s Temple) and Qutub Minar.

After lunch at a local city restaurant, later proceed for Old Delhi sightseeing tour visit Raj Ghat, Jama Masjid and Red Fort also take a short rickshaw ride at Chandni Chowk spice market and a huge market for clothes. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 3: New Delhi - Jodhpur (By Flight) Today morning after breakfast at the hotel, later our Holidays At representative will meet you and transfer to New Delhi airport to board the flight for Jodhpur. Upon arrival at Jodhpur airport, our Holidays At representative will meet you and transfer to the hotel for night stay.

After relax at the hotel, later proceed for a guided tour to Jodhpur, visit the massive Mehrangarh Fort, Jaswant Thada, Umaid Bhawan Palace (Now converted into luxury the hotel), Rao Jodha Desert Rock Park, Clock Tower, Old City Markets, Mandore Temple and Mandore Gardens, Balsamand Lake and Kailana Lake. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 4: Jodhpur - Ranakpur - Udaipur (260 Km/5:30 Hrs) Today morning after breakfast at the hotel, later check out from the hotel and drive to Udaipur via an en-route visit to Ranakpur Jain Temples, built in 12 Century.

After finish, your temples visit at Ranakpur, later continue drive to Udaipur. Upon arrival at Udaipur check in the hotel for night stay. Relax at the hotel or day free to leisure activities. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 5: At Udaipur Today morning after breakfast at the hotel, later proceed for a full day guided tour to Udaipur, visit City Palace, Bagore Ki Haveli, Fateh Sagar Lake, Ambrai Ghat, Jagdish Temple, Udaipur Ropeway, Shilpgram, Vintage collection of classic car museum, Eklingji and Nagda Temples. Enjoy a boat ride at Lake Pichola. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 6: Udaipur - Chittorgarh - Pushkar (325 Km/6:30 Hrs) Today morning after breakfast at the hotel, later check out from the hotel and drive to Pushkar via an en-route visit to Chittorgarh Fort, Rana Kumbha's Palace, Kumbha Shyam Temple, Victory Tower, Meerabai Temple, Meerabai Temple, Tower of Fame, Padmini's Palace, Chittaurgarh Museum & Jaimal and Patta Palaces.

After finish, your tour to Chittorgarh, later drive to Pushkar. Upon arrival at Pushkar check in the hotel for night stay. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 7: Pushkar - Ajmer - Jaipur (150 Km/3 Hrs) Today morning after breakfast at the hotel, later proceed half day guided tour to Pushkar, visit Pushkar Lake, Brahma temple, Savitri temple Mahadev Temple, Varah Temple, Ramavaikunth Temple, Rangji Temple and the Apteshwar Temple.

Later afternoon checks out from the hotel and drives to Jaipur via an en-route visit to Ajmer Dargah Shareef “shrine of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti” and Adhey-Din-Ka Jhonpara - a mosque. Later continue drive to Jaipur. Upon arrival at Jaipur check in the hotel for night stay. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 8: At Jaipur Today morning after breakfast at the hotel, later proceed for full day guided tour of Jaipur, visit Amber Fort with elephant ride, Nahargarh Fort, Jaigarh Fort, Jal Mahal, Hawa Mahal (Palace of Winds), City Palace, Jantar Mantar, Birla Temple, Central Museum and Laxmi Narayan Temple.

After finish, your sightseeing tour to Jaipur later drives back to the hotel for night stay. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 9: Jaipur - Fatehpur Sikri - Agra (238 Km/5 Hrs) Today morning after breakfast at the hotel, later check out from the hotel and drive to Agra “City of Love”. Via en-route visit to Fatehpur Sikri, the oldest deserted town built by the Mughal Kingdom in 1571 and built by red stone in honour of Saint Salim Chisti also visit Diwane e Khas, Punch Mahal, the Tomb of Salim Chisti, and the Buland Darwaza, one of the largest and tallest gateways in the world.

After finish, your sightseeing tour to Fatehpur Sikri later proceeds for Agra. Upon arrival at Agra Check in the hotel for night stay. Evening enjoys the light and sound show “Mohabbat-the-Taj - the saga of love”, in Agra. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 10: Agra - New Delhi (220 Km/3:30 Hrs) Early morning before breakfast Sunrise visit the world’s most popular and beautiful monument Taj Mahal and Mehtab Bagh.

After finishing your guided tour to Taj Mahal, later back to the hotel and enjoy your breakfast. After breakfast at the hotel, later check out from the hotel and proceed for half day guided tour to Agra, visit Agra Fort, Itmad-Ud-Daulah's Tomb, Akbar's Tomb, Jama Masjid, Moti Masjid, Octagonal Tower, Jahangir's Palace, Chini ka Rauza and Sikandra Fort.

After finish, your sightseeing tour at Agra later drives to New Delhi. Upon arrival at New Delhi Check in the hotel for night stay. Relax at the hotel or day free to leisure activities. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 11: New Delhi - Cochin (By Flight) Today morning after breakfast at the hotel, later our Holidays At representative will meet you at the hotel and transfer to New Delhi airport to board the flight for Cochin. Upon arrival at Cochin airport, our Holidays At representative will assist you at the airport and later transfer to the hotel for night stay.

After relaxing at the hotel, later proceed for half day guided tour at Cochin, visit Fort Kochi, Marine Drive, Hill Palace, St.Francis Church, Dutch Palace, Pareekshith Thampuran Museum, Pallipuram Fort, Santa Cruz Basilica, Bolgatty Island, Indo Portuguese Museum. Relax at the hotel or day free to leisure activities. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 12: Cochin - Munnar (130 Km/4 Hrs) Today morning after breakfast at the hotel, later check out from the hotel and drive to Munnar “Scenic hills of Kerala” and en-route enjoy the scenic beauty & the marvellous waterfalls of Kerala, with high mountains and the low flying clouds passing by.

Upon arrival at Munnar check in the hotel for night stay. Relax at the hotel or day free to leisure activities. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 13: At Munnar Today morning after breakfast at the hotel, later proceed for a sightseeing tour to Munnar visiting the Eravikulam National Park, Mattupetty Dam, Old Munnar Town and the town market.

Evening enjoys the walk at Tea Estate or frees for own activities. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 14: Munnar - Periyar (98 Km/3.30 Hrs) Today morning after breakfast at the hotel, later check out from the hotel and drive to Periyar. Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary is one of biggest wildlife sanctuaries in India's which covers 777 Sq. Km (300 Sq. miles) for a Tiger Reserve.

Upon arrival at Periyar check in the hotel for night stay. Later proceed for short trip to Periyar visit Bamboo Rafting & Border Hiking. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 15: Periyar - Kumarakom (113 Km/3 Hrs) Today morning after breakfast at the hotel, later check out from the hotel and drive to Kumarakom “Town of Backwaters”. Upon arrival at Kumarakom check in the hotel for night stay.

Later proceed for Kumarakom sightseeing tour visit Vembanad Lake, Aruvikkuzhi Waterfalls, Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary, Kumarakom Beach, Kumarakom Backwaters, Bay Island Driftwood Museum, Pathiramanal Island, Juma Masjid and Ettumanoor Mahadeva Temple. Relax at the hotel or day free to leisure activities. Overnight at the hotel.

Day 16: Kumarakom - Alleppey (32 Km/1 Hrs) Today morning after breakfast at the hotel, later check out from the hotel and proceed for backwater to enjoy the houseboat journey for day and night.

Upon arrival at Alleppey check in your houseboat for night stay. Later proceed for backwaters & lagoons on Alappuzha, later lunch at the houseboat.

Enjoy the evening with dinner at the houseboat and rest of the day and night at the houseboat. Overnight at the Houseboat.

Day 17: Alleppey - Cochin (60 Km/1:30 Hrs) and Departure Today morning after breakfast at the houseboat, later check out from the houseboat and drive to Cochin airport to board the flight to your home.

[czechclaudia]

As a last part of my 2017 recap I decided to share with you my 2017 Best nine moments according to Instagram😊🙌🏼📸❤ I had amazing time in Jordan with @lorochkamuratova 😊😍❤ Thank you to all the beautiful hotels for the incredible stays & amazing hospitality. To @holidayinamman , @hiltondeadsea , @cpdeadsea , @suncitycamp , @icaqabajordan , @movenpickjo , you all made my stay really unforgettable😍🙏🏼❤ We did such amazing road trip around Jordan from Amman to Dead Sea, back to Amman & again to Dead Sea, to Petra, to Aqaba, then to Wadi Rum, back to Aqaba & back to Amman☺😎🙌🏼🚘❤ I will definitely be back to Jordan soon😍🙌🏼✈ In October I also did pink Macbook Air & iPhone & camera giveaway with @myloopsforyou 😊❤ I am always happy to give away to all of you as a thank you for all of your support, so I will definitely do some more giveaways next year🙌🏼 In November I was invited by Ministry of Tourism - Government of India @incredibleindia , @mamodelsdubai , @diamontejets , @my_attiitude , @cdescapes as one of the Beauty Queens as Quest of honour to fly to India for the Hampi Festival 2017😊👸🏼👑🙌🏼✈❤ I had great time with all the other Beauty Queens especially @melodyselvon , @dorisdollyx in Hampi & Bangalore😊👸🏼👸🏽👭💃🏼❤ Thank you to @shangrilablr @hyattplacehampi for amazing hotel stays😊 After my trip to India I had 2 very busy weeks in Dubai full of amazing events such as Arab Fashion Week, restaurants reviews & exhibitions such as Dubai Air Show. Then I returned back to India this time with my manager @jay_agency for another fashion show, Beauty Queen appearances, magazine covers & editorial photoshoots, this time to Cochin & New Delhi & I also made it to beautiful Munnar in God's own country Kerala😊😍⛰❤ I spent almost 2 months in India during my 2 visits & ended up my trip beginning of 2018 by visiting one of the New 7 Wonders of the world - Taj Mahal, which has been for so long time ik my Travel Bucket list😊😍🕌❤ It was really amazing start of 2018 for me😊🙏🏼❤ I can't wait for everything what New year 2018 will bring😊👸🏼🙌🏼😍💃🏼✈❤ #2017recap #bestmoments2017 #2017bestnine #2017bestninemoments #thetravellingbeautyqueen #jordan #india (at ALL OVER the World)

[goldbergjonblog]

Mr. Smiley In The Hut With A Rope

Here are the facts:

1. I'm in a hut.

2. I'm lying on a mat laid across a dirt floor.

3. I'm completely naked.

4. I am oiled from head to toe.

5. There's a barefoot man in a loincloth standing above me, smiling.

6. This is not a story about when I was kidnapped.

7. I've agreed to this, and paid for it, willingly.

8. I'm staring at a rope hanging above me from the ceiling.

9. I'm laughing uncontrollably.

10. I'm in India.

Was it a crime? Not really. Did I feel violated? Completely.

We've all had those "how did I get here" moments. Where you skip gigantic amounts of circumstantial evidence and proof that made it very obvious how you got there. Like agreeing to go to India with your friends. Like actually purchasing tickets for planes, trains and boats to, and in, India. So based on those facts I had a pretty good idea that at some point I would be in India. But you still stand there, or in this case lie there, balls out, and you ask yourself "what the hell am I doing here"? It's like when you're on a roller coaster and it's climbing to its highest point. Tick, tick, tick, tick.... And you reach that pause when you look down at the drop and say to yourself - why? I could've just stayed down there and had another corn dog. This is like that - times ten. Because you never actually drop. You're just always hanging there asking why.

When you get the chance to go to India you go. You don't question it, you just go. When will that opportunity ever come up again? I'm not taking my kids to India any time soon. There are a thousand places that would come first. So I ended up going to India. I was in my “barely working” days at the time, so I wasn't a necessity in my office. They could find someone else to pick up and deliver the footage for a Stephen King miniseries. Stephen King wasn't asked if it was okay that I go to India.

Producer - "Umm Stephen, we've got an issue. The Goldberg kid is going to India for about ten days. Some kind of self discovery bullshit.”

Stephen King - (long pause and an even longer sigh) "So tell me...who's going to pick up the film and deliver it across town to Manhattan Transfer? This is why my work doesn't translate to the screen."

That conversation didn't happen.

A group of my friends had an annual tradition of picking an exotic locale to go to for a couple of weeks over the holidays. Previous trips included South Africa, Thailand and Australia. This is back when few of us were married or even seriously attached so we could just leave for two weeks without too much fanfare. This particular year they mentioned it to me and said they were going to India. Surprisingly, to me and them, I said I was in. Because I had some kind of prescience, at a time in my life when prescience was low, I realized this was probably my one and only chance to go to India. We had the added benefit of a close friend who was living there with his wife. He was going to show us around the country as a tour guide, but a tour guide that I could say "that sounds horrible" to. I have been called a curmudgeon before (and since), and if you ask the others who had the worst time on this trip, there's no question that the unanimous answer would be "Jon," "Goldberg," "definitely Jon," "he was miserable the whole time." The truth is this was a very complex trip. I was miserable for much of it but I was also in amazement at the things I saw, touched and tasted. I'm sure it's been said before but I’ll say it again, India is a place of extremes. The Taj Mahal is one of the most incredible sights to behold and the poverty throughout the country is the most gut wrenching imaginable. After I got back to New York, when I saw the homeless I almost scoffed at them. I wanted to say, "I've seen the pros and you, sir, are lucky. Come talk to me when you're seven years-old, have a club foot and are wearing nothing but underpants."

The food in India could be unbelievable and inedible during the same meal. On one leg of the trip we took a boat overnight down a river. There was a three-man crew and they made us a dinner of chicken and some coconut sauce on a banana leaf. After my first bite I thought it was one of the best things I had ever eaten. I could taste all of these spices and flavors that I've never had before. It was rich, sweet and salty. But about halfway through the meal I thought, and said out loud,  "This is disgusting. It's too rich, too sweet and too salty. I can't have another bite.” About twenty minutes later as I was throwing up off of the side of the boat I heard, in between violent wretches, laughing. Was I hallucinating? It was the crew who were just on the other side of the thatched separation. Glad I could entertain. To this day, that sauce, spice or flavor (it’s like a smoky coconut type thing) has joined peppermint schnapps on my no fly list.

As the trip progressed, we headed farther and farther south, I was being stripped of many things including my clothes and, at times, my dignity. But there was also a freedom, a welcomed lack of complete control and understanding, which eventually led to my willingness to be completely naked and staring at a rope.

Halfway through the trip we stopped in the port town of Cochin. As we walked toward the small village we saw a handwritten wooden sign that said - Jewtown. We all jumped at that and thought it can't be what we think it is but we have to investigate. We climbed on a rundown ferry across a canal to a small town, which apparently contained Jewtown. We got off the ferry and followed the signs through windy streets until a narrow alley ended at the front door of a tiny synagogue. We walked into the synagogue and there was one man in his seventies there. He looked Indian and, through some back and forth gesturing, he let us know that he was Jewish and that there were a few Jews still around. I guess if I were squinting he could look like one of my grandparents’ “Florida friends.” He showed us inside the synagogue, which had a few benches, a Torah and some artifacts. Eventually we started to leave but he stopped us and asked if we were coming back for services that night. We said that we weren't planning on it but then he held up four fingers on his hand. Was it the time the services started? No. Was it a date? No. He then pointed to himself, then he pointed to us and held up both hands, fingers splayed out - ten. Someone called out "a minyan", 10 is a minyan. The number needed to have a legit ceremony. He wanted us to come back because they haven't had a true minyan in years and it would mean a lot. Being that there were four Jews he could round up and six of us were bar mitzvah boys we really could help him out. We agreed to come back that night. The rest of the group stayed in the area and I said I'd meet the minyan back at the synagogue that evening, as I wanted to go back to the hotel. I walked to the ferry on my own, and we're not talking double decker ferry, it's more like a tug boat with a roof, flat bottomed and crowded, sinking very low in the water. I felt this odd adrenaline rush. As I got on the boat and sat down, I looked up and realized that everyone was looking at me. It was like I had some food on the side of my mouth and everyone on the boat wanted to tell me but they didn’t know me well enough so they kept staring. I wasn't just a minority, I was an oddity. I now had some concept of what it felt like to completely stand out in a crowd and it was extremely powerful and almost overwhelming. I was being studied. The rush came from the feeling of isolation, compounded by the animal in a zoo focus on me. As I got off the boat and saw the rest of the minyan, there was so much relief. Just that experience on the boat was enough to justify the trip. I don't think I will ever have that feeling again.

The ferry experience did something to me. It changed my approach for the rest of the trip and I began to stop questioning everything. I began going with the flow a bit more. Relaxing on the beach without questioning the fact that there were cows lying a few feet away. I was actually open, enjoying myself (not to mention the thinnest I’ve ever been). Which is why a few days later when Alan suggested an Ayurvedic massage as one of our activities, my response was, "That sounds horrible but okay." At this point we were at a “spa” at the very southern tip of India, staying in wooden huts deep in a forest overlooking a beach where fishermen threw huge nets out into the water and dragged them back in, gathering up the flopping silver bounty. I think the group was a bit shocked that I was game. If this were the beginning of the trip, there's no way I would’ve agreed to a massage of any kind. But after having gone through multiple bouts of digestion issues, including hallucinatory diarrhea in a hotel room where I almost cried out of joy because a comforting NBA game was being shown live at four AM, having to tote around my own toilet paper as you never know when it would hit, and a transcendent moment of isolation, I was up for anything. I'm not a big massage guy. I've had them and I've liked them. I'm just not that into them. But Alan said, “This is not like any other massage. They use their feet."

I bit. ”How do they use their feet?”

"It's hard to describe but it's amazing."

"Why not?" Which was my other response besides "that sounds horrible". "Why not" was my general feeling about the whole trip and I got many answers to that question during the massage.

Four of us agreed to get this unique experience. Again, I was just going with the when-will-I-ever-get-this-chance-again instincts. But that guy is sometimes confronted by the how-did-I-get-here guy and they end up not really communicating very well. Many times it ends up in a big fight in my stomach where there is no winner, just lots and lots of losing. The time for the massage had come and the four of us were escorted down a path in the forest to two separate huts with two doors on each. Steve and Andy went in one hut and Matt and I went in another. Matt walked through the other door in our hut and disappeared. I soon learned that the attractive female escort was not the masseuse. The smiling tan man wearing the loincloth waiting for me in the hut was. He pointed to a chair opposite me. I sat down and quickly did some reconnaissance. The layout wasn’t too informative. The massage table and oils next to it screamed massage, which was familiar and somewhat a relief. It smelled right. Coconut and I'm guessing something like hibiscus. But the big cauldron of oil seemed a bit off, more Macbeth or Bugs Bunny in the jungle than Ritz Carlton. And then I stopped, frozen by the thing that was truly out of place. This was what Alan meant by "it's hard to explain." The thing he didn’t mention as to not “ruin it” for us. On the dirt floor, next to the cauldron, was a big mat. And right above the middle of the mat, hanging from the thatched roof like a giant question mark, was a thick rope that you'd see in gym class scenes from The Wonder Years. Until I learned what that rope was for it was always in my peripheral vision, as if at some point it was going to jump at me and I wanted to be ready. I was mesmerized by that rope. My masseur, still smiling, gestured for me to take my clothes off. I stripped down to my underwear and had that big decision to make, the same one you have in doctor's offices or locker rooms. Do I or don't I. I looked at him for a cue and he just nodded and smiled. Was he doing the yes nod or the no nod? Maybe you are aware of this, but in case you aren’t, the difference between someone gesturing yes and gesturing no in India is the slightest bobble on the yes and the slightest head turn on the no. So for a no it's a fairly typical motion - your chin basically moving from your left collarbone to your right collarbone - and the yes gesture is more your left ear almost touching your left collarbone and your right ear touching your right collarbone and doing it rapidly. It sounds completely different but when done quickly it's almost impossible to decipher a difference. And just to add to the confusion a full on head bobble like a bobble head means maybe. When we arrived at the Mumbai airport we were stymied by a security guard for about 2 minutes, asking him if the way to baggage claim was to the right. He did the bobble. Some of us thought he said no and some thought yes. We asked again, same thing. It was an Abbott and Costello routine if there were one Abbott and eight Costellos.

As I stared at the masseuse he added a slight hand gesture, both hands, palms up at a slight angle directed towards my underwear. He did the slight bobble again and smiled. It was a clear yes. I could hear Matt in the room next door going through the same non-verbal motions. The room next door was just a curtain, so you could hear the same odd silences and shuffling on Matt's side. In a very helpless voice I eeked out "Matt....are you-" and he cut me off, "yes Jon...and this is a solitary experience". A nice way of saying "fuck off, I'm naked too, just go with it." I was on my own. And I went with it. Once again, anywhere else in the world and I was gone but hey when will I get a chance to be naked in an Indian hut standing in front of a strange smiling man in a diaper again? The answer was definitely never. No bobble. This was an ear to ear violent shake of my head. No!

Down came the briefs. It was freeing. I instinctually moved toward the table but my man waggled his finger and pointed to the mat, the mat next to the cauldron, the mat next to the cauldron under the rope. Really? We're going right to the mat? No massage foreplay? You know a little shoulder rub to get to know me? Nope, this was right to the "good" stuff. My masseuse/violator was still nodding and gesturing for me to drop down to the mat. As I lay on the mat, chin to chest to follow his every move while keeping an eye on that rope just above me, he walked over to the cauldron and spooned some hot oil into a ladle. He made a move for me and began to pour the oil on my chest and stomach. As it hit my body and I felt the burning of the oil on my skin I remembered one of my greatest epiphanies. I was in my late teens, flying back from college and it was a horrible flight, bumpy, lots of up and down, just miserable. And I'm not a great flyer as it is but as I left the plane I saw the pilot and co-pilot. They were both a bit shaken, not confident. That's when it hit me. They may be pilots but they're humans first. Humans with emotions, drinking problems, sleep disorders and depression. They were flawed. I have never flown with any kind of confidence since. Just purely playing a numbers game. As the hot oil began to flow on to me, I was initially confident that they would never make it too hot as to burn me, but then I recalled my pilot epiphany, which later spread to doctors, teachers, bosses, chefs and now...half naked Indian masseuses. So when the oil confirmed my mistrust and burned like hell I just shook my head in disbelief. I stayed calm and the oil cooled down, not reaching second-degree burn status, and it was quite soothing. But I’d put myself down as someone who likes his massage oil on the tepid sign.

Now that my front side was fully oiled, my guy took hold of the rope, and it happened so fast I couldn't prepare. There was no movie moment where he looked at the rope and I looked at the rope and in slow motion he grabbed it and I yelled out "noooooo." I immediately got the one answer I had been looking for since Alan first brought up the idea. In one quick move of grace, athleticism and sadism, he pulled on the rope, floated for an instant and was up on my belly with one foot, using the rope for stability. Almost as if the rope were a hand he used to pull himself up onto a boat. He started gliding on me with one foot, pushing off of the other like he was going uphill on a skateboard, my body being the hill. He was swinging all around and really not paying any mind to any of my more sensitive parts, which I assumed Mr. Tarzan here possessed under his loincloth. I wanted to say "Why would you do that to another guy?" But instead I held back, eventually releasing my anxiety and tension through pure guttural, uncontrollable laughter. I just started thinking of the scenario and I couldn't stop. He then looks down at me and he starts laughing. We were actually bonding on the most ridiculous level, stupidity. I finally stopped laughing as the fear and discomfort came back. He continued to polish my body, eventually getting me to turn over and doing the same to my back. This wasn’t too bad. Eventually I got to the table, partially dazed, as he started working my arms, neck and shoulders, his feet firmly on the ground now. I relaxed, and enjoyed it. Not sure if it was relief that it was over or that it felt good. Kind of like the feeling when a painful brain freeze goes away. It's almost worth the pain to feel the relief.

He finished the whole process with my fingers and he just walked away, leaving me to lie there for I don't know how long, my body buzzing. Eventually I sat up and he returned, walking a towel the size of two sheets of bounty over to me. I was glistening with oil everywhere. Like I had an orgy with a bucket of KFC original recipe. This towel was not going to do the job. This is where I would miss the après massage routine common amongst all spas. Most importantly the part that involves showering. I don't need the robe, the comfy chairs and magazines, or even the endless bowl of fresh fruit. But a shower, a bucket of water, a wet sponge would’ve been nice. But here I get a ratty towel to just wipe the oil off or, more precisely, rub it in. I put my clothes back on right there, looking and feeling victimized. I stepped out of the tent, thanking my friend for our moment of intimacy. I wonder if he laughed when I was gone. As I got back to my hut, I saw myself in a mirror and I looked like Nick Nolte's mug shot. I was greasy and dirty and my hair was mussed up like I just finished wrestling a bear. When we all met for dinner that night in our grubby, oil soaked clothes, there was very little talk about it. It was more like an incident that needed to be thought through and reflected on. Not casual dinner discussion.

I think the massage was the end for me. We spent another day or two at a lovely resort, but all I could think about was going home. I had enough, slightly defeated by the masseuse, the minyan, the begging, the barfing, the crapping and just the lack of any normalcy. I loved India. It will always have a special place in my heart, my mind and my stomach. On the final night before our flight the 9 of us were sitting in a hotel room in Mumbai. This was Jeremy's room as he was staying for another week. I looked at him with such pity, that he had to stay. He started laughing because it was incomprehensible to me that he wanted to stay. He could try to explain but I wouldn't believe him. We said goodbye and left him there as we headed to the airport.

When our flight from India arrived at Heathrow I started thinking about one thing. What can I eat to get back to normalcy? I was like an animal set free. The other guys did not have the same enthusiasm as I did. Now I realize the question "where's the best meal you ever ate" is a completely relative one. I've eaten in some of the best restaurants in Paris, Florence, New York. Just some great meals. But my answer to the question is "the Burger King at Heathrow on my way home from India." In fact, I told my friends that I was going to eat by myself. "This is a solitary experience”. I took my whopper, my fries, my other whopper and my coke and tucked into a corner of the airport for some culinary masturbation. That was truly an out of body experience. I didn't want to be seen because I think I was actually crying. All the angst, the discomfort, the extremes that I experienced during that trip came out as I was devouring that symbol of home. Still in a foreign country, and even with their ketchup that's not exactly right, I did get the feeling of privilege and honor to have had the opportunity to spend 10 days in India. So when someone asks what I think of India I would answer this way - "It's not like anything you've ever experienced. A little strange and hard to describe. You have to do it to understand it. It may be a little uncomfortable while you're there but when you leave you'll never forget it." I guess it's the same answer I would give if someone asked me to describe an Ayurvedic massage. Except, remember, they use their feet.

[escapworldwide]

Our Top Trips in 2016 - Mark in India, October 2016

Mark was in India in October last year and spent a week exploring the sights of the famous 'Golden Triangle' of the North, and a few days discovering the charms of laid-back Kerala in the South. Here's why it was his somewhat unexpected top trip of 2016 . . . .

Exploring India's Historic North

I visited two sides of India in October in two different ways, combined in to one trip. The first part of my trip was a group tour of the classic sights of the 'Golden Triangle ' - Delhi, Agra and Jaipur - which was arranged by our friends at G Adventures, who run amazing escorted tours with an adventurous streak. I then said goodbye to my group of fellow G Adventurers and headed to Kerala to spend a few days exploring the beaches, backwaters and history of this charming area, in the company of the fabulous folks at Kerala Travel Centre. Being an independent company ourselves we love working with other independent companies around the world. In all honesty an 'adventure' tour isn't really my kind of thing - my days of roughing it are well past me (I wouldn't say I'm a travel snob, but I do like a few nice touches at the end of the day!) but my friends at G Adventures were sure I'd love it - and they were spot on! To my mind I was expecting a trip more geared towards backpackers, with a young age group and basic accommodation - not exactly my thing. Some of the accommodation was fairly simple, but some were excellent and almost all were well located and charming. The itinerary of the tour was excellent - all of North India's classic sights, plenty of experiences away from the history, and just enough downtime to take it all in. Our group gelled exceptionally well, and our CEO - Chief Experience Officer - brilliantly balanced things to keep everyone happy. The trip had many highlights - India's sights are incredible and the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, Fatephur Sikri and Jaipur's Amber Fort are amongst the most impressive historic sites I've ever been to. However, for me it was the experiences of the trip that will last long in my memory, just as much as the sights. One night was spent at Dhula, a small village outside of Jaipur and just off the well beaten 'Golden Triangle' route. G Adventures have worked closely with a local landowner who has opened a small tented property on his family land - simple but well equipped tents (more glamping than camping) plus great vegetarian meals and a fab pool to cool off in, all set around historic monuments that tell the family history. A few of us wandered around the village in the morning, and the untouched nature of the place, located just a few miles off the main road to Jaipur, was astounding. We were genuinely welcomed by young kids and old villagers alike, and popping our heads in to the local school brought huge smiles from the school kids - and everyone in our group! FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THIS DESTINATION

More than just the Taj Mahal​

It was also great to see a few places that aren't on every single itinerary of this area, and I think G Adventures are great at doing this - one afternoon we went to the Abhaneri step well, which I can't even find in the Lonely Planet guidebook. It's a thousand year old hole in the ground, part water tank and part temple, and beautifully restored. It’s unusual to get 'off the beaten track' these days, but along with Dhula village, this was one of those moments where I found myself thinking 'where am I?!' Two other highlights were all about the group - one of the optional activities on the tour (most things are included) was a Bollywood dance class on the roof of our Jaipur hotel. Almost all the group joined in (one looked after the music and the other kept the beer flowing), and while we're not holding our breath for a call from a Bollywood studio just yet, it was incredible fun. Next evening in Jaipur was a walk around the old city as the sun went down, then we were whisked off in rickshaws through the crowded streets, stopping at a local lassi shop and various food vendors for a local snack or two. Take a look at my high-speed Jaipur rickshaw video here!

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THIS DESTINATION

Charming Kerala​

From Jaipur I flew south to Trivandrum, the gateway to the beaches of Kerala - and to a completely different world ! The big cities of Northern India are crowded and noisy, bursting with life, whereas the South is far more relaxed and laid back - the perfect antidote to the hectic North. The main beach resort is Kovalam and the area has a very traditional feel - low-key restaurants line the beachfront where fishermen bring their catches to shore each morning, for dinner that night. I then headed a little further north to the Backwaters, a vast area of tranquil waterways, where I spend a day and a night on a traditional house boat - this is seriously one of the best travel experiences I've ever had, I adored it! The boat took two guests and came with a crew of three (someone to steer, someone to cook and someone to generally look after us), simple but fantastically tasty meals were served on deck and we stopped once or twice to explore local villages. The boat moored overnight as the sun went down and the peace and tranquility of this magical area will live long in my memory - just incredible. Have a look at my video as the houseboat floatsaround the Backwaters!

Finally, I finished my Indian journey in the city of Cochin, which has a long history of seafarers and traders, all of which can still be seen today. A local historian walked me around the sights of Fort Cochin, taking in the Chinese fishing nets, St Francis Church with the original burial site of Vasco Da Gama, Jew Town with its historic Synagogue, and the old bazaar district of Mattancherry (where I picked up a fab huge cooking pot for next to nothing!) On my last evening I saw a traditional Kathakali dance (in all honesty I had no idea what was going on!) and finished off with a few beers and a superb meal at the fabulous Old Harbour Hotel. Cochin's appeal is immediate and obvious, and I could easily have spent longer here. FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THIS DESTINATION This was my fourth visit to India and my second taking in the classic sights of the Golden Triangle, but on this trip I discovered a different side of the North, and fell in love with the charms of the South - which is why it was my Top Trip of 2016! Escape Worldwide - Home of Long Haul Holidays http://www.escapeworldwide.co.uk