India only once- suggested itinerary
Jul 25th, 2010, 11:42 AM
#42
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 4,571
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Nalijo, Oh yes, dont get me started on "The Namesake"--i never tire of that movie!! It is one of the main reasons i MUST see Kolkota one of these yrs (with stay at the Oberoi--I think it was Dogster's posts that convinced me it's worth saving for in my "big splurge"piggy bank)
For another marvelous--although very different--movie , please rent "After The Rains". (Make sure the "s" is in there--there's a quite fii one about Macedonai!) In addition to a fascinating historical and ethical story, it was filmed entirely on location in Munnar, Kerala State.
It will make you want to go there for your trip to the South!!
Apologies to OP Rinda for getting slightly (more than slightly) off topic!
For another marvelous--although very different--movie , please rent "After The Rains". (Make sure the "s" is in there--there's a quite fii one about Macedonai!) In addition to a fascinating historical and ethical story, it was filmed entirely on location in Munnar, Kerala State.
It will make you want to go there for your trip to the South!!
Apologies to OP Rinda for getting slightly (more than slightly) off topic!
Jul 25th, 2010, 11:50 AM
#43
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 4,571
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Oh dear--don't order from Netflix yet, Nalijo!!
I messed up on the time-of-day adverb. The correct title of the DVD is "Before the Rains". Not sure what happened "after"
--see the movie so you can guess
I messed up on the time-of-day adverb. The correct title of the DVD is "Before the Rains". Not sure what happened "after"
--see the movie so you can guess
Jul 25th, 2010, 02:10 PM
#46
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,111
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
"Before the Rains" cinematography is superb. The acting and script are not.
Am about 60% of the way through William Dalrymple's new book, "Nine Lives: In Search of the Sacred in Modern India." Do not miss it. Every page is a treasure.
Am about 60% of the way through William Dalrymple's new book, "Nine Lives: In Search of the Sacred in Modern India." Do not miss it. Every page is a treasure.
Jul 25th, 2010, 10:15 PM
#47
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 4,571
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Indianapearl, went straight to Barnes and Noble after reading the above from you. Not one Dalrymple book, not even "City of Djinns" !! Amazon,here i coame. Thanks for the recommendation.
Did you see thread where i mentioned the great guide for Amritsar who we met, indirectly via you?--the brother of your guide Aman. Her brother Gurinder Johal Singh was excellent too. And i think the Golden Temple is right up there with Taj Mahal as a must-see place in Northern India. Spectacular, amazing, beautiful, spiritual. I wish Rinda had more time--i'd highly rec to include a somewhat out of the way trip to AMritsar.
May I respectfully disagree with your assessment of "Before the Rains"?--i thought the story line was very good, and made for a fascinating film, in addition to the gorgeous scenery and cinematography. But as long as a film has lot of India sceness in it, I'm not hard to please!!
Did you see thread where i mentioned the great guide for Amritsar who we met, indirectly via you?--the brother of your guide Aman. Her brother Gurinder Johal Singh was excellent too. And i think the Golden Temple is right up there with Taj Mahal as a must-see place in Northern India. Spectacular, amazing, beautiful, spiritual. I wish Rinda had more time--i'd highly rec to include a somewhat out of the way trip to AMritsar.
May I respectfully disagree with your assessment of "Before the Rains"?--i thought the story line was very good, and made for a fascinating film, in addition to the gorgeous scenery and cinematography. But as long as a film has lot of India sceness in it, I'm not hard to please!!
Jul 26th, 2010, 04:23 AM
#48
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,111
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I agree about films shot in India -- they're all wonderful to see [and you may disagree with my assessment if you wish].
I wish more visitors would make a trip to Amritsar. It's just a short flight from Delhi, much less time than it takes to travel to other destinations that aren't nearly as glorious. We ran into some folks who had been in Shimla and dropped down to Amritsar. Don't know where they were going after that.
I wish more visitors would make a trip to Amritsar. It's just a short flight from Delhi, much less time than it takes to travel to other destinations that aren't nearly as glorious. We ran into some folks who had been in Shimla and dropped down to Amritsar. Don't know where they were going after that.
Jul 26th, 2010, 06:33 AM
#49
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 4,571
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
"Glorious " ...THAT is the word I've been searching for to describe Amritsar to friends!! Thank you! Is it ok to send Gurinder ( your guide's brother) that quote for his Facebook page? He'll love it!!!
Rinda--any word from Yatrik on pricing? I'll bring big India maps for our mini gtg on Wednesday, and we can spread them out over lunch. Looking forward to it very much!!
Rinda--any word from Yatrik on pricing? I'll bring big India maps for our mini gtg on Wednesday, and we can spread them out over lunch. Looking forward to it very much!!
Jul 27th, 2010, 06:30 AM
#50
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I did hear from Yatrik and his price was higher than Faith's. The one thing that he does do that I really like is give you a cell phone for use on the trip. I wonder if Faith would do that if we asked.
I can hardly wait for our lunch. I have put the printouts in a folder and will bring them all.
I can hardly wait for our lunch. I have put the printouts in a folder and will bring them all.
Jul 27th, 2010, 08:56 AM
#53
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 4,571
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Rinda, see you tomorrow!!!!Will call later.
You could write to Faith and ask her about the cell phone and explain why you think it is a good idea. As i wrote, we didnt have any problems on either trip booked with her, contacting our driver when needed, but it's an excellent idea to give that extra layer of comfort!!
I dont think giving the cell phone is standard practice for the other good travel planner companies mentioned by other Fodorites. If it is possible--great! If not--you have to decide (assuming this is the main important difference to you) if it is worth the price differences between price quotes
You will get an information/contact car from your driver. (I assume this is standard practice with other good travel companies .) As in the USA, cell phones are omnipresent, so not having our own, we found it easy to ask for their use for quick calls, if needed. Not for the drivers--but for situation such as once when i needed to call my daughter back at the hotel in Mysore, when i took off on my own to walk to some shops.
You could write to Faith and ask her about the cell phone and explain why you think it is a good idea. As i wrote, we didnt have any problems on either trip booked with her, contacting our driver when needed, but it's an excellent idea to give that extra layer of comfort!!
I dont think giving the cell phone is standard practice for the other good travel planner companies mentioned by other Fodorites. If it is possible--great! If not--you have to decide (assuming this is the main important difference to you) if it is worth the price differences between price quotes
You will get an information/contact car from your driver. (I assume this is standard practice with other good travel companies .) As in the USA, cell phones are omnipresent, so not having our own, we found it easy to ask for their use for quick calls, if needed. Not for the drivers--but for situation such as once when i needed to call my daughter back at the hotel in Mysore, when i took off on my own to walk to some shops.
Jul 27th, 2010, 09:07 AM
#54
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,500
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Rinda--why would you expect the two quotes to be similar when the services provided are different? Some readily apparent differences are train vs plane to Aurangabad; flight to Varanasi vs overnight train; driver to Udaipur vs overnight train. The cell phone is the least of your problems.
Jul 27th, 2010, 11:22 AM
#55
If you have your own quad band phone, you can get an indian SIM card for about $20. The cost of local calls and text messaging is so cheap, it should last the whole time you're there. If your phone does not do India's band, You can buy a brand new prepaid phone with about an hour of calls and text messaging for about $60. Text messaging is often easier that phone calls anyway. Much nicer to have your own phone so you can call anyone you like, not just your driver.
Jul 28th, 2010, 09:28 AM
#58
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 4,571
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks INdianapearl, for starting the other thread.
Marija,you are right, which is why it is so important to cpmpare "apples and apples" when requesing info/itinerary WITHIN the requested budget constraints. i suspect it is always a challenge for travel planners/agents to stick to the set budget a client gives. So the question is--how close is a quote to the price originally asked for by the client?
I say this based on experience of making comparisons in requesting assistance for two trips to India Ias well as my first to Hawaii) It is easy to discover that, after lots of back and forth discussion, --adding on a little here, a bit there--the requested $ amount has ballooned way past the original request.
Rinda, I agree with Indianapearl--check a couple other agents. You have plenty of time still, which is an advantage--you were very smart to start planning and questioning 5 or 6 months prior to going. It is great that there are recommendations here for a variety of agents. That people feel so positive about theirs shows the power of great customer service. Perhaps check out Ramesh Meena and VP Singh who are mentioned bys atisfied customers on this forum
BTW is this the same VP Singh who occasionally responds on this forum? No response to my question about his response--which puzzled me--on July 20, above. I find that having a reason really helps, instead of receiving a puzzling statementwith no rationale.
Marija,you are right, which is why it is so important to cpmpare "apples and apples" when requesing info/itinerary WITHIN the requested budget constraints. i suspect it is always a challenge for travel planners/agents to stick to the set budget a client gives. So the question is--how close is a quote to the price originally asked for by the client?
I say this based on experience of making comparisons in requesting assistance for two trips to India Ias well as my first to Hawaii) It is easy to discover that, after lots of back and forth discussion, --adding on a little here, a bit there--the requested $ amount has ballooned way past the original request.
Rinda, I agree with Indianapearl--check a couple other agents. You have plenty of time still, which is an advantage--you were very smart to start planning and questioning 5 or 6 months prior to going. It is great that there are recommendations here for a variety of agents. That people feel so positive about theirs shows the power of great customer service. Perhaps check out Ramesh Meena and VP Singh who are mentioned bys atisfied customers on this forum
BTW is this the same VP Singh who occasionally responds on this forum? No response to my question about his response--which puzzled me--on July 20, above. I find that having a reason really helps, instead of receiving a puzzling statementwith no rationale.
Jul 29th, 2010, 04:05 AM
#59
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 728
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
CaliNurse:
To be retired is bliss; I am not, as yet! Could'nt a person miss a query?
The sleeper class on a cold January night is not recemmended. Let alone 'sleeper class' the trains in general, except the best like the Rajdhani / Shatabdi, are not recommended. The coaches are not in good condition & insulation suffers. Elderly folks will catch cold. It is uncomfortable in northern Indian conditions, where the tempratures plummet to sub-zero in certain places. Travelling between Jaipur > Udaipur will be cold, have no doubts about it.
The sleeper class is not air-conditioned. It has no heating system. As I understand it, it has catering service & house-keeping, but only on demand & needs to be paid for. The extra blanket for all one knows may not be available. These amenities are automatially given to passengrs who travel AC-III and above.
The toilets in higher categories leave much to be desired. Sleeper class toilets - your guess is as good as mine!
Yes, you get an insight into how a class of people travel in India. I have my doubts if you are going to get any wiser, from a conversation, as to the socio-cultural subjects, busy as they are in making a hard living.
Happy travels!
To be retired is bliss; I am not, as yet! Could'nt a person miss a query?
The sleeper class on a cold January night is not recemmended. Let alone 'sleeper class' the trains in general, except the best like the Rajdhani / Shatabdi, are not recommended. The coaches are not in good condition & insulation suffers. Elderly folks will catch cold. It is uncomfortable in northern Indian conditions, where the tempratures plummet to sub-zero in certain places. Travelling between Jaipur > Udaipur will be cold, have no doubts about it.
The sleeper class is not air-conditioned. It has no heating system. As I understand it, it has catering service & house-keeping, but only on demand & needs to be paid for. The extra blanket for all one knows may not be available. These amenities are automatially given to passengrs who travel AC-III and above.
The toilets in higher categories leave much to be desired. Sleeper class toilets - your guess is as good as mine!
Yes, you get an insight into how a class of people travel in India. I have my doubts if you are going to get any wiser, from a conversation, as to the socio-cultural subjects, busy as they are in making a hard living.
Happy travels!
Jul 29th, 2010, 06:03 AM
#60
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 4,121
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Cali, leave the esteemed VP alone. He is not just an asset, he is the jewel in the somewhat tattered crown perched lopsidedly on the collective head of all we so-called Indian experts in this forum. No amount of verbiage, enthusiasm or even Dogster's India-gush will topple him from his lofty perch.
Indeed, one day very soon, the esteemed VP may hear from the Dog with a view to certain arrangements in a certain North Western region of a certain sub-continent.
Even a scurrilous mongrel knows when to bow to the experts.
Indeed, one day very soon, the esteemed VP may hear from the Dog with a view to certain arrangements in a certain North Western region of a certain sub-continent.
Even a scurrilous mongrel knows when to bow to the experts.
