The streets of India can be described in many ways and with innumerable words. Just a few that come to mind: crowded, colourful , filthy, noisy, bustling , odoriferous and so on. Just use your imagination viewing the following pictures and I am sure you will come up with your own adjectives. We spent hours roaming the streets of many of the towns, villages or cities visited and never felt intimidated. There were occasions when a firm "NO THANK YOU" may have been required, but if so, became the norm of street browsing. Depending where, some merchants were aggressive wanting you to buy while just as many were content to let you browse and even answer questions on their wares. Not being a true shopper and bargainer, I contented myself more in the "I'm just here for the ride mode". The Streets are alive with a varied culture of people (Locals and tourists) and you will find that they are friendly and curious about you, as you are about their world. People are that way..No? PEOPLE...Who's more fun than people? The Indian populace while huge in numbers deserve humongous praise. The History, Geography and Social science student would have a hay day in India. The people work hard for very little pay, just to eke out a life. Mind you there are the very wealthy, but this mix is generally true around this planet. It was indeed humbling to walk the streets of India. It was indeed an inspiration to walk their streets. It was indeed an education to walk their streets. It was indeed simply mind boggling to walk their streets. Indeed It Made Me Feel ...."While this was their home....WOW how Great IS OURS?" PLEASE WALK THEIR STREETS........... BEAUTIFUL HUMANS.Tuesday, December 9, 2008
INDIA STREETS... "TYPICALLY PICTORIALLY"
The streets of India can be described in many ways and with innumerable words. Just a few that come to mind: crowded, colourful , filthy, noisy, bustling , odoriferous and so on. Just use your imagination viewing the following pictures and I am sure you will come up with your own adjectives. We spent hours roaming the streets of many of the towns, villages or cities visited and never felt intimidated. There were occasions when a firm "NO THANK YOU" may have been required, but if so, became the norm of street browsing. Depending where, some merchants were aggressive wanting you to buy while just as many were content to let you browse and even answer questions on their wares. Not being a true shopper and bargainer, I contented myself more in the "I'm just here for the ride mode". The Streets are alive with a varied culture of people (Locals and tourists) and you will find that they are friendly and curious about you, as you are about their world. People are that way..No? PEOPLE...Who's more fun than people? The Indian populace while huge in numbers deserve humongous praise. The History, Geography and Social science student would have a hay day in India. The people work hard for very little pay, just to eke out a life. Mind you there are the very wealthy, but this mix is generally true around this planet. It was indeed humbling to walk the streets of India. It was indeed an inspiration to walk their streets. It was indeed an education to walk their streets. It was indeed simply mind boggling to walk their streets. Indeed It Made Me Feel ...."While this was their home....WOW how Great IS OURS?" PLEASE WALK THEIR STREETS........... BEAUTIFUL HUMANS.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
INDIA'S HERITAGE HOTELS
Our five week Indian Adventure obviously required many nights accommodation. We stayed in 3 to 5 star hotels all with local flavour, except , the Radisson Hotel . Our only detour from India on our trip was to Kathmandu, Nepal. While the room there was most comfortable, you could have been in any North American city. Well what's in that? Why venture away from home only to stay at home? You have to get a feel for the local culture. So that is where the Heritage Hotels come in.
What are Heritage Hotels?
My definition is they are former residences of Royalty. They are generally large structures on generous properties. They are former palaces, forts, mansions or private clubs, such as sporting clubs. Places for kings, queens, maharajahs and the like. In other words, for people with more money than I will ever know.
They provide a unique and distinctive experience for historical and/or locale value. Sometimes located in remote very picturesque surroundings ("Hill Top" in Kesroli a prime example) or in the central urban confines of the city ("Alsisar Haveli" in Jaipur). By the way a city in India ranges from populations of 50,000 to 19,000,000. Yes 19 million. So when one drives into the smaller city it is akin (or relative) to driving into a town in Canada.
Heritage Hotel service is friendly and helpful. Language never an issue. Their motto reportedly is:
"ATITHI DEVO BHAVA".....Roughly translated....Treat your guest as if they were God.
All in all I would recommend, that is if you don't want the experience of a Holiday Inn. Oh and Yes....Heritage Hotels do have indoor facilities, so forget the idea that it's right to squat. It's only right.. what you make of your experience. The pictures that follow try and capture just some of the Heritage Hotel ambience that you may enjoy.
What are Heritage Hotels?
My definition is they are former residences of Royalty. They are generally large structures on generous properties. They are former palaces, forts, mansions or private clubs, such as sporting clubs. Places for kings, queens, maharajahs and the like. In other words, for people with more money than I will ever know.
They provide a unique and distinctive experience for historical and/or locale value. Sometimes located in remote very picturesque surroundings ("Hill Top" in Kesroli a prime example) or in the central urban confines of the city ("Alsisar Haveli" in Jaipur). By the way a city in India ranges from populations of 50,000 to 19,000,000. Yes 19 million. So when one drives into the smaller city it is akin (or relative) to driving into a town in Canada.
Heritage Hotel service is friendly and helpful. Language never an issue. Their motto reportedly is:
"ATITHI DEVO BHAVA".....Roughly translated....Treat your guest as if they were God.
All in all I would recommend, that is if you don't want the experience of a Holiday Inn. Oh and Yes....Heritage Hotels do have indoor facilities, so forget the idea that it's right to squat. It's only right.. what you make of your experience. The pictures that follow try and capture just some of the Heritage Hotel ambience that you may enjoy.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
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