A Signature Experience from India
Far from the Madding Crowd
“Would you girls like to rough it out …?” asked the General, having somehow discerned an adventurous streak in my friend and me. We had met this stranger barely half-an-hour ago at the stone-built, historic Himalayan Hotel nestling in the heart of Kalimpong. Without any qualms, we emphatically answered “Yes!” to this out-of-world idea of hiking across the awesome Himalayan mountains …
In the wee hours of morning, accompanied by a local Nepalese girl, we started our trip from the halcyon village Lava. I felt like an Alice in Nature’s Wonderland, trudging through a dense, untouched forest of Sal, Oak and Maple with overhanging ferns. Venturing through a world bounded by gigantic trees, we often came across waterfalls cascading into a myriad brooks; the only trace of civilization being the dainty wooden bridges across them. It was sheer ecstasy to see exotic flowers in a riot of colors amidst such wilderness.
After sauntering for good six hours, we reached the idyllic Gitdublin village. We put up at the Convent there. The Sisters were infectiously warm and amiable. They were as lavish with cakes and cookies as with their tales and smiles. The children of the Convent’s orphanage squealed and pranced around us. The invitations to the locals’ homes knew no bounds. The next day, amidst the jingling of the church bells, we bid adieu to the lovely angels …
For the next couple of hours, we were engrossed in evading the tiny, impish leeches that swarmed our way. The endeavor took its toll on us and we halted at a Forest Guest House near Kafir hamlet. The watchman’s wife eagerly scrapped up morsels of food for us. The unoccupied British style retreat featured Himalayan oak ceilings, teak pillars, walnut and teak furniture, open-fire places and Tibetan memorabilia. As the clouds wafted in from somewhere, our spirits too, rose to cloud nine. We called it a day, basking in the glowing embers from the log-fire …
On the third day, we mostly trotted along rice farms on a nearly even hill terrain and reached Samthar later in the day. As we reached our Nepalese hosts’ cottage in the village, we could hear the echoes of an old Beatles number being played on a battery-run stereo system. Imagine the joie de vivre of these people; Lack of electricity did not diminish their penchant for music!
The tiny cottages too, were something just out of a fairy tale – white lace curtains, gladioli in incredible hues and pretty pictures everywhere. Squatting on the kitchen floor, we relished the wholesome, rustic meals. Sipping Jhang, a local beverage, in bamboo glasses while playing a game of carom at the local village club, made us heady with delight.
The next morning dawned bright, lo and behold, with a formidable view of glistening, snow-clad Kanchenjunga peak! We descended down the valley and waded about the Tista river waters for an infinitely long time. The river crossing by means of an antiquated, open-air ropeway was an event in itself. At one vantage point, our feet nearly touched the tree tops underneath! The General was waiting for us at the other end with a savory picnic lunch …
In the hurly-burly of city life, I often feel nostalgic about the poignant warmth of those ever-smiling faces, the vivid splendor of Nature and even those innocuous leech bites; I just cannot wait to be in my element again!
A Signature Experience from Switzerland
Swiss-Bound
My client asked “Are you ok to go on an IT assignment to Switzerland for a year?” I thought my ears were ringing. If I were in a trance, I wanted to continue being there. Yes – it was a dream coming true!
Nestled in a German speaking city – Basel – I found my gypsy soul – spending weekends travelling to different parts of Europe and beyond. Learnt the value of solitude and cherishing opportunities – hiking Swiss Alps, unending train rides, visits to quaint towns, beautiful villages and skiing resorts, among many other things.
I also enjoyed the thrill and humor of the language challenge – I got on pretty fine with a smattering of German. Of course, had my share of anecdotes, like inadvertently buying a hair gel instead of a shampoo – I ended up having to deal with the consequences of a hair disaster, right before a flight! Or, another time, I got mixed up with the words during the daylight time change & missed the train that I intended to take – Saving grace being that Swiss trains are so frequent and thus did not need to wait too long for the next one!
Switzerland also taught me the value of time – everything there works in a clock-wise precision – the trains or trams are always on time. Even a minute late in an office meeting is frowned upon. Also, the servicing mindset – Swiss services in any and every walk of life are unprecedented.
Years have passed by and many revisits since that time to this heaven on earth – I look back on my Swiss stint with fond memories – can still hear cow bells ringing in the Alps, smell the Swiss cheese and relish the taste of Sprungli chocolates!
A Signature Experience from Italy
A View of Juliet’s Balcony
Verona – the name rang a familiar bell – the Italian town that was the backdrop for Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet play. My curiosity got so piqued that I had to stop and visit it, on my way back by train from Venice to Milan. I had the better part of the day to explore this legend of a town.
As a diehard romantic, what intrigued me most was the prospect of viewing “Juliet’s Balcony” at the gothic style 14th century Casa di Giuliett. This is the most famous balcony in the world – where Juliet revealed her love for Romeo, so goes the fairy tale – I had to be there!
As I walked through the cobbled old world marketplace – steeped in history with lovely Roman architecture, fountains, statues, frescoes and shops. It was a frenzy of sorts, bustling with people and pigeons, as I made my way to the charming “Juliet’s Balcony”.
Lo & behold – there it was amidst crowds capturing the moment in awe – taking photos, signing their names on exterior walls or buying mementos. Mentally, I visualized Juliet entering the balcony and leaning down, waiting to be serenaded by Romeo …
Lost in reverie on the way back, I entered a close by café and had a delicious pastry. And then, when it was time for me to pay, I realized that amidst those sea of faces, I had lost my wallet, possibly pick-pocketed – a dramatic twist to the Juliet’s story!
The lady at the café was kind enough to give the pastry as a gift to me and I ambled my way, in the reality of the moment, back to Verona train station …
A Signature Experience from Austria
Uncovering Ice Caves Near Salzburg
“I will always remember you – my very first and only customer on day one of the first ever public tour to ice caves. How did you find about these caves – not even locals know of. I was not even expecting any customer today!” exclaimed my tour guide, an Australian who had come to Salzburg fifteen years earlier for a visit and never left!
This was my second time around in Salzburg, the city of onion domes, where Sound of Music had been filmed. I had fallen in love with it instantly with the very first visit during Christmas break the previous year. Being an avid armchair traveler, I had read about the ice caves in a Reader Digest’s travel encyclopedia and wanted to figure out a way to visit, the caves being only accessible from May to September.
The drive from Salzburg to Werfen is a feast to the eyes – breathtakingly beautiful panoramic views of Austrian Alps, including an imposing castle on a mountain top! Being the only one, I got a royal treatment from the tour guide. He went out of his way to show me around and took detours whenever I wished to take photo shots.
The Werfen Ice Caves are the largest labyrinth in the world. At the mouth of the caves, one is sucked in instantly due to the vacuum created because of temperature difference in the air. Only one kilometer or so is accessible to people, even though the overall length of these caves is 40+ kilometers.
The interior of the ice caves is like an amazingly beautiful palace of naturally sculptured ice. The tour guide lit up a candle and the ice palace sparkled brilliantly, like a huge chandelier!
After such an awesome day trip to the ice caves, I was graciously dropped back at the Salzburg train station for my onward journey!
A Signature Experience from Greece
Limping across Samarian Gorge
Athens and various dream-worthy Greek islands had already been such a delight the past few days – a heady mix of ancient temples of Greek Gods & Goddesses, glorious ruins, the delectable olive flavored Greek food, the breathtaking views, happy people, and much more …
It felt as if I was on a mission, as I landed in Crete – a mesmerizing island in Greece. I was glad that I chose to fly instead, as I learnt later on that the alternate way to reach this island through an overnight ferry would not have happened due to a sea storm that night.
After an hour long flight from Athens, I headed straight to my hotel to rest, as I had a unique adventure waiting for me the very next day – my “raison d’être” for visiting Crete. As I chatted with the lady at the hotel reception, she forewarned me that the day-long hiking across Samarian Gorge is not for faint of heart and I had better be mentally ready for it; It may be even difficult to climb the stairs to my room on the next floor upon return …
Very early next morning, the bus driver dropped the avid hikers at the entrance of Samarian Gorge – the Grand Canyon of Europe. From there, we were on our own. We had to carry our own water, food etc. as there are no amenities or even any medical attention around. It is a few hours steep descend to the floor of the gorge and then becomes a very intense hike across rocks, boulders and stones along the 16 kilometer long gorge in the White mountains.
The first three hours were fine. After that, my feet started to wobble on the rocky, uneven surface, as the October sun begin to warm up. For better part of the hike, I limped across this tough terrain and kept myself hydrated throughout. I did rest intermittently, sitting on rocks or occasionally munching snacks, while admiring the lovely views.
There is a raw beauty about the long, white cliffs and needle-like narrow passages along the canyon. It felt as if I had been trotting along forever. The last-mile was the toughest – I could not even walk properly – stumbled on the rocks along the way so many times. At the end of the all-day hike, finally the gorge joined the beautiful turquoise sea. I was so heartened to see the last ship of the day, waiting to ferry us back.
It took many weeks for me to get my gait back – I was bruised, with swollen legs and feet and body aches all over. Noticeably, my spirit had grown stronger with every step and I unearthed my uncanny ability to persist, against all odds!
A Signature Experience from Algeria
Amidst Atlas Mountains
Every time I drink fresh mint tea or partake delicious Mediterranean food, my memories go back to the one year stay in Algeria during my teens, where my father was posted on an Indian government assignment at the time.
We were based in a very small township near a city named Tlemcen, close to Mediterranean sea, next to Gibraltar. The nearest town was over an hour drive and we would typically visit once a week for groceries and shopping. We would also often visit pristine beaches, beautiful French architecture influenced buildings and intricate Berber tombs nearby.
Our neighbors would often connect or visit us, despite the language barrier. We could easily communicate with sign language and I remember having picked up some Spanish and French quickly. We would often share cooking recipes and gifts, eat together or just spend time in good company! A beautiful, authentic human connection …
I vividly remember taking long walks or hiking the nearby hill and admiring the beautiful rolling hills from the top! This was an amazing confluence of Atlas mountains, Sahara desert and Mediterranean sea. During summer, the shopkeepers would close down for some hours for siesta. In winter, it would snow a little and then the sun would shine bright as well – a wonderful Mediterranean-like weather all year around!
We would take trips to Europe from time to time. Distinctly recollect visiting England, including picnicking at Stratford-on-Avon, the birthplace of Shakespeare; Crossing the English Channel by ship to Paris, train journey to Brussels and so on.
This was my very first experience living outside India and a turning point as well. In hindsight, the seed of wanderlust, intrigue of foreign languages and cultures seem to have sub-consciously got sown in me there. Cherish this as a microcosm of the travel experiences I would be blessed with in the years to follow …
A Signature Experience from Australia
Blessed by Uluru Glows
My wish came true, when I got a chance to travel to Australia for a couple of weeks. I loved being in Melbourne and among so many other things, immensely enjoyed the dramatic Great Ocean Road drives with Twelve Apostles as well as Penguin Island, Sydney, Gold Coast, Great Barrier Reef and so on.
I knew in my heart of hearts, my very first visit to Australia would be incomplete, without pilgrimage to the iconic Ayers Rock in the red desert in Central Australia, in the middle of nowhere!
I was able to join a small camping group at Alice Springs. We setup our camping gear at one of the open outback sites near Ayers rock and even cooked together every night. Each day, with the sunrise, we would go out for long walks and hikes in the dramatic red desert. At night, we would sleep under the majestic stars, while hearing Aboriginal tales. I distinctly remember that the twinkling stars were so close by, vivid and bright, as if I could almost pluck those with my hands!
The highlight of this experience was the awe-inspiring sunset – an unbelievably surreal and sacred experience – the hump of the Ayers Rock changes colors in various shades of red with the golden rays of the sunset – It looked like a red hot burning charcoal at one point! I felt blessed and connected with the spectacular Sun God, as it reflected on Uluru!
After basking in for a few days and nights in this beautiful wilderness, I checked into Desert Palms Resort oasis in Alice Springs, soaking in this incredible Uluru experience, before heading back.
A Signature Experience from Canada
The Beautiful North
Certain life-altering experiences happen and you are never the same again. I also have had one such turning point in my life in year 2004, that re-defined me as a person as well as shaped my perspective on life and success.
My move to Canada was one such intense journey of learning and growth. Leaving behind a progressive career and comfortable trappings of life to start afresh is, by no means, an easy feat. It calls forth immense courage, tenacity, risk-taking and unique intelligence. I realized how tightly my self-identity had been previously linked with work.
With all the parameters in flux, I was out on a limb, coping with so much together at once – staying positive, adjusting to new life and culture, re-kindling my career, making new friends. I learnt to take one day at a time, to focus on the possibilities by leveraging my strengths and integrating new ones from another culture and systems.
I also stumbled upon volunteering, which has not just been only about giving back to the profession. It has also deepened my satisfaction – something I enjoy doing for the joy it gives me. It has also subconsciously helped build competencies that I use at work.
Looking back, my move to Canada has been a rebirth and has opened up so many new doors for me …
A Signature Experience from Peru
On the Inca Trail
“Be careful, be safe in Peru”, warned the lady sitting next to me during my flight to Lima. But, I threw caution to winds, as I met my friendly adventure tour guide at our Lima hotel. An unforgettable experience had already just started …
After exploring the beautiful Lima, we first flew down to take a motorized boat on Amazon river for reaching the verge of the vast rainforest. We loved our stay in the forest lodge, hiking through the forest during the day, relishing fresh local food and fruits or just relaxing in a hammock.
Next in picturesque Cusco, we spent some days to acclimatize ourselves to being at high-altitude. It is a gem of a city with history & rich culture, cobbled streets, amazing Peruvian food as well as handicrafts. We also soaked in sweeping mountain views and ancient ruins of the Sacred Valley.
The next leg of our journey was what we had been looking forward to all along – combining an unforgettable train journey meandering through breathtakingly beautiful Andean panoramas to hiking part of Inca trail, catching the magnificent and sacred Machu Picchu ruins – the lost city of Incas. I felt as if I had just met Peruvian Gods there!
Then we headed to spend a day at Lake Titicaca – the most sacred and the highest navigable lake in the world. The locals live in reed houses and use reed boats. The Andeans believe that this is the birthplace of the sun.
During this journey, I stumbled on awe-inspiring ancient Peruvian empires, brushed with beautiful cultural cradle, warm people, friendly Llamas and amazing cuisine, soaked in stunning mountain views and nature in glorious abundance …expanding my heart and soul in so many ways!
I can still hear the echoes of sacred Peruvian legends …
"Weaving Magic" 