Off the Road Again
Daniel and Olga here. We are taking a year off - sort of. It takes some time to assimilate the experiences of journeys into new lands, and then with new perspectives begin to sketch the 'next trip'.
In 2015-16, we toured the United States starting in Florida, North Carolina to Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Tennessee and Arkansas, Colorado, Wyoming and Utah, then 5 months in Yellowstone Natl Park, then on to Holland, a few weeks in Turkey and then 4 1/2 months in India. This segment attempts to scratch the surface of our India travels.
We arrived in Hampi, in the state of Karnataka, in late February 2016. I suggest Hampi as a best early destination on one's first India adventure. Why. It is not easy to give a straight answer here. As is most travel in India - not without a few glitches - getting to Hampi is itself an adventure. Arriving in New Delhi in November, the temperatures are a little more bearable, but the air pollution can be chewable! We typically opt for smaller towns, hill stations and nature anyway, but you have to start somewhere - that's usually Delhi, Mumbai or Kolkata, but airfares to Chennai, Bengaluru, Goa and Kochi are sometimes fantastic. That's a clue.
To get to Hampi, we first went to Jaipur, the Pink City (we try to visit Jaipur yearly now). Look for gem cutting and other authentic crafts workshops that do still exist. Day trips in any direction from Jaipur bear fruit - the City Walls, Lake, Fatehpur Sikri, the forts, Monkey Temple...we go around Christmas - they even have a marathon.
From Jaipur we flew directly to Mumbai for $40, but will probably tour Rajasthan by train next time - Pushkar, Udaipur, Jodhpur are all fantastic destinations. Also, if time allows, try to get to Jaisalmer - a long trip to the western fort city, but well worth spending a week.
We attended satsang (spiritual gathering) and visited friends 30km north of Mumbai. Olga particularly likes the coastal villages, like Uttan - you can see fishing villages and handmade wooden boats. There is a nice place Uttan Sea Resort atop a seaside bluff looking out on the Arabian Sea. Mumbai has its draw, and there's lots to see and experience. We spent time there a few decades ago. We drove in to Juhu Beach one evening and watched Star Wars in an eight story movie theatre.
On to Goa! We took an overnite "sleeper bus" to Goa. That was a concept - we bounced like monkeys and slept nary a wink, but were happy to arrive in this small gem of a state in SW India. Beaches, relaxed atmosphere and inexpensive guesthouses - add european influence from Portuguese colonial times - that's Goa. It is easy to spend weeks there. Open air dining is commonplace in this semi-tropical area. The German Bakery in Benaulim is a favorite. We walk everywhere, eat fresh fruit and meet fellow travellers from all over the world. This trip I broke a tooth eating a date, found a great dentist the same day, and came away with a new crown, at a fair price. We love Goa - Panjim, Colva...Margao is inland a little; it is the train hub. We caught our train to Hospete (Hampi) in Karnataka state and then a tuktuk (motorized rickshaw) to Hampi.
Hampi is near the ancient city of Vijaynagar, on a river between great geologic hills and boulders, etc. Olga says it's India's best kept secret. You take a short ferry ride to enter, rent bike or scooter or walk easily. Local bus is on the main road between villages - we rode with school children and sang and laughed. More later...
In 2015-16, we toured the United States starting in Florida, North Carolina to Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Tennessee and Arkansas, Colorado, Wyoming and Utah, then 5 months in Yellowstone Natl Park, then on to Holland, a few weeks in Turkey and then 4 1/2 months in India. This segment attempts to scratch the surface of our India travels.
We arrived in Hampi, in the state of Karnataka, in late February 2016. I suggest Hampi as a best early destination on one's first India adventure. Why. It is not easy to give a straight answer here. As is most travel in India - not without a few glitches - getting to Hampi is itself an adventure. Arriving in New Delhi in November, the temperatures are a little more bearable, but the air pollution can be chewable! We typically opt for smaller towns, hill stations and nature anyway, but you have to start somewhere - that's usually Delhi, Mumbai or Kolkata, but airfares to Chennai, Bengaluru, Goa and Kochi are sometimes fantastic. That's a clue.
To get to Hampi, we first went to Jaipur, the Pink City (we try to visit Jaipur yearly now). Look for gem cutting and other authentic crafts workshops that do still exist. Day trips in any direction from Jaipur bear fruit - the City Walls, Lake, Fatehpur Sikri, the forts, Monkey Temple...we go around Christmas - they even have a marathon.
From Jaipur we flew directly to Mumbai for $40, but will probably tour Rajasthan by train next time - Pushkar, Udaipur, Jodhpur are all fantastic destinations. Also, if time allows, try to get to Jaisalmer - a long trip to the western fort city, but well worth spending a week.
We attended satsang (spiritual gathering) and visited friends 30km north of Mumbai. Olga particularly likes the coastal villages, like Uttan - you can see fishing villages and handmade wooden boats. There is a nice place Uttan Sea Resort atop a seaside bluff looking out on the Arabian Sea. Mumbai has its draw, and there's lots to see and experience. We spent time there a few decades ago. We drove in to Juhu Beach one evening and watched Star Wars in an eight story movie theatre.
On to Goa! We took an overnite "sleeper bus" to Goa. That was a concept - we bounced like monkeys and slept nary a wink, but were happy to arrive in this small gem of a state in SW India. Beaches, relaxed atmosphere and inexpensive guesthouses - add european influence from Portuguese colonial times - that's Goa. It is easy to spend weeks there. Open air dining is commonplace in this semi-tropical area. The German Bakery in Benaulim is a favorite. We walk everywhere, eat fresh fruit and meet fellow travellers from all over the world. This trip I broke a tooth eating a date, found a great dentist the same day, and came away with a new crown, at a fair price. We love Goa - Panjim, Colva...Margao is inland a little; it is the train hub. We caught our train to Hospete (Hampi) in Karnataka state and then a tuktuk (motorized rickshaw) to Hampi.
Hampi is near the ancient city of Vijaynagar, on a river between great geologic hills and boulders, etc. Olga says it's India's best kept secret. You take a short ferry ride to enter, rent bike or scooter or walk easily. Local bus is on the main road between villages - we rode with school children and sang and laughed. More later...
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