Kolkata vs Varanasi
Jun 22nd, 2015, 09:12 PM
#22
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HI Dreamer,
You made a good choice to choose Kolkata this trip!
re: airline logistics: sounds like you've already booked /paid for your fits from DEL with Emirates?
You're paying the fare in cash, but IF you by chance have FF Miles on One World ...what about Cathay Pacific? The first leg,from CCU to HKG, is on their affiliate DragonAir, with--at least this was so a yr ago-- just basic Business Class (big seats). I agree with Mme Perdu--HK makes a great stopover if you have time to get out, but even if you don't , Cathay's Business Class Lounge at HKG is excellent!!!! The stopover is about six hours, but I napped without problem on the long benches in the tea /coffee lounge area (who cares what people think when you're tired).Then the long haul from Hong Kong to SFO was totally comfortable up to date business class lie flat seats, in little "alcoves." So...if not too late...just a suggestion to check into pricing on Cathay, which nearly always gets good reviews.
Yup, about Air India...I'd never fly that airline. Re the lost luggage...this is one of the things that motivates me in general to do carry-on only! Etihad is trying very hard to compete with Emirates, but they've a long way to go. Also, not sure you've been before, but the Dubai Emirates Business Cl Lounge is , surprisingly, pretty mediocre per friends who've been in it. (I like good "free " food!)
And IF you'd up flying out of Calcutta, expect very little in the way of lounges. When i was there , i recall the Bus Class lounge was small, shared with all airlines. The one in DEL was better.
Re Sisters of Charity orphanage. I think there are several in Kolkata. I THINK the one you'd go to is near the "Mother House." Even if you go to the orphanage, or it is one a bit further away (I recall one further down Park nearer to the amazing old cemetery) highly recommend a visit to where she lived and worked. When she lived there, the sign outside the gate would say if Mother was "in" or "out" --it now always says "in." The small exhibit there about her life I found tremendously moving. Also,in reply to your question, recommend giving money vs clothes, etc. You can trust that it will go to help the children., and in terms of practicality, it is much easier. Or give money AND a few lightweight articles, maybe pretty decorative pencils?There are lots of patterns--even personlized -- avail at Oriental Trading Co online catalog. (I once had some inscribed "USA loves Uganda" with the American flag--the kids loved 'em). Or you could write the orphanage and ask. I will also ask a friend who worked at the orphanage and get back to you with an answer.
January will be quite hot in CCU, so plan your sightseeing for early morning, and you can lounge after at the Oberoi pool! Though it's nothing like Varanasi,you can see "bathing at the ghats" in the river area near Kamartauli (sp?) where you can see the artisans at work .But i expect you will have seen this from the boat on the Ganges.
Where do you get that boat? it sounds intriguing!!!!
You made a good choice to choose Kolkata this trip!
re: airline logistics: sounds like you've already booked /paid for your fits from DEL with Emirates?
You're paying the fare in cash, but IF you by chance have FF Miles on One World ...what about Cathay Pacific? The first leg,from CCU to HKG, is on their affiliate DragonAir, with--at least this was so a yr ago-- just basic Business Class (big seats). I agree with Mme Perdu--HK makes a great stopover if you have time to get out, but even if you don't , Cathay's Business Class Lounge at HKG is excellent!!!! The stopover is about six hours, but I napped without problem on the long benches in the tea /coffee lounge area (who cares what people think when you're tired).Then the long haul from Hong Kong to SFO was totally comfortable up to date business class lie flat seats, in little "alcoves." So...if not too late...just a suggestion to check into pricing on Cathay, which nearly always gets good reviews.
Yup, about Air India...I'd never fly that airline. Re the lost luggage...this is one of the things that motivates me in general to do carry-on only! Etihad is trying very hard to compete with Emirates, but they've a long way to go. Also, not sure you've been before, but the Dubai Emirates Business Cl Lounge is , surprisingly, pretty mediocre per friends who've been in it. (I like good "free " food!)
And IF you'd up flying out of Calcutta, expect very little in the way of lounges. When i was there , i recall the Bus Class lounge was small, shared with all airlines. The one in DEL was better.
Re Sisters of Charity orphanage. I think there are several in Kolkata. I THINK the one you'd go to is near the "Mother House." Even if you go to the orphanage, or it is one a bit further away (I recall one further down Park nearer to the amazing old cemetery) highly recommend a visit to where she lived and worked. When she lived there, the sign outside the gate would say if Mother was "in" or "out" --it now always says "in." The small exhibit there about her life I found tremendously moving. Also,in reply to your question, recommend giving money vs clothes, etc. You can trust that it will go to help the children., and in terms of practicality, it is much easier. Or give money AND a few lightweight articles, maybe pretty decorative pencils?There are lots of patterns--even personlized -- avail at Oriental Trading Co online catalog. (I once had some inscribed "USA loves Uganda" with the American flag--the kids loved 'em). Or you could write the orphanage and ask. I will also ask a friend who worked at the orphanage and get back to you with an answer.
January will be quite hot in CCU, so plan your sightseeing for early morning, and you can lounge after at the Oberoi pool! Though it's nothing like Varanasi,you can see "bathing at the ghats" in the river area near Kamartauli (sp?) where you can see the artisans at work .But i expect you will have seen this from the boat on the Ganges.
Where do you get that boat? it sounds intriguing!!!!
Jun 22nd, 2015, 10:26 PM
#23
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Since you are going to Kolkata--imho a do-not-miss movie --one of my fav films of all time--is "The Namesake" in which you will see many scenes of the city (as well as of the Taj Mahal). The scene where he walks along and asks his wife if she loves him is at the park surrounding the Victoria Memorial; there are scenes of the Howrah Bridge and other parts of the city. It will add to your appreciation of Kolkata specifically, and India and its people in general.
Jun 23rd, 2015, 07:32 AM
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CaliNurse - Thanks for all that great information!
As far as airline miles, I did check Cathay Pacific - I think it was more expensive and the travel time was significantly longer. We do have a few One World miles, but not enough for any segments of this trip. I have just switched out of Alaska Air Miles - we have had their credit card for about 20 years, and used the miles and companion fares many times, but with their hefty annual fee, charging of foreign transaction fees, and the decreased value of the companion miles (particularly for travel to Mexico, which was our main objective), I canceled the card a few months ago. I already had the Capital One, and now have the B of A Visa Travel Card, so am beginning to rack up some points. We have One World, because we have flown with partners, but not enough to matter.
We won't be in the Dubai Business Lounge more than likely, because our layover there is short both ways. It will be in Delhi that we will have a few hours on the way home in the middle of the night, and we will use the lounge there ... probably nothing special, but a place to rest and get ready for the journey home. I have to admit, flying the lay-flat business seats makes a huge difference with jet-lag on long flights over many time zones. We flew KLM Business from SFO to Prague last month - short layover in Amsterdam - and it felt as if we had gained an extra day at our destination after being able to actually sleep flat on the plane. It's definitely a splurge, and doubtful we will ever do it for total travel time under 10 hours, but SFO to DEL is a long journey.
I have not seen the movie, but I did read the book, Namesake, by Jhumpa Lahiri. She is an amazing Indian-American author, and I think I have read almost all her novels and short story collections. I liked that book very much - the "wrong" name given in the hospital that followed the boy! I will look for the film - sounds like something I would really like.
The boat is part of a charter we will be on for the week before we figure out our stay in Kolkata - it's the RV Ganges Voyager. We will fly to Kolkata, then board the boat and go north and then back south I guess, as we end up back in Kolkata. Some of the stops are Bandel, Kalma, Matiari, Khushbagh/Baganar/Mushibadabad, Mayapur, Chandenager. I think it will be a bit more "lux" than I am used to traveling ... my husband will probably love it, though.
Many years in my twenties spent traipsing around Mexico and Central America with a backpack and staying at $2-a-night hostels and shacks in cities and remote villages for me. That was before I went back to school to finish my education, married, raised a family. Even with our young children, we traveled many times internationally on a shoestring budget ... now we are both retired and we are able to travel on a different comfort level. It's different for sure, but I'm not disliking it
As far as airline miles, I did check Cathay Pacific - I think it was more expensive and the travel time was significantly longer. We do have a few One World miles, but not enough for any segments of this trip. I have just switched out of Alaska Air Miles - we have had their credit card for about 20 years, and used the miles and companion fares many times, but with their hefty annual fee, charging of foreign transaction fees, and the decreased value of the companion miles (particularly for travel to Mexico, which was our main objective), I canceled the card a few months ago. I already had the Capital One, and now have the B of A Visa Travel Card, so am beginning to rack up some points. We have One World, because we have flown with partners, but not enough to matter.
We won't be in the Dubai Business Lounge more than likely, because our layover there is short both ways. It will be in Delhi that we will have a few hours on the way home in the middle of the night, and we will use the lounge there ... probably nothing special, but a place to rest and get ready for the journey home. I have to admit, flying the lay-flat business seats makes a huge difference with jet-lag on long flights over many time zones. We flew KLM Business from SFO to Prague last month - short layover in Amsterdam - and it felt as if we had gained an extra day at our destination after being able to actually sleep flat on the plane. It's definitely a splurge, and doubtful we will ever do it for total travel time under 10 hours, but SFO to DEL is a long journey.
I have not seen the movie, but I did read the book, Namesake, by Jhumpa Lahiri. She is an amazing Indian-American author, and I think I have read almost all her novels and short story collections. I liked that book very much - the "wrong" name given in the hospital that followed the boy! I will look for the film - sounds like something I would really like.
The boat is part of a charter we will be on for the week before we figure out our stay in Kolkata - it's the RV Ganges Voyager. We will fly to Kolkata, then board the boat and go north and then back south I guess, as we end up back in Kolkata. Some of the stops are Bandel, Kalma, Matiari, Khushbagh/Baganar/Mushibadabad, Mayapur, Chandenager. I think it will be a bit more "lux" than I am used to traveling ... my husband will probably love it, though.
Many years in my twenties spent traipsing around Mexico and Central America with a backpack and staying at $2-a-night hostels and shacks in cities and remote villages for me. That was before I went back to school to finish my education, married, raised a family. Even with our young children, we traveled many times internationally on a shoestring budget ... now we are both retired and we are able to travel on a different comfort level. It's different for sure, but I'm not disliking it
Jun 23rd, 2015, 09:25 AM
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CaliNurse - I think I may be wrong about the direction the Ganges river boat will go - I looked at the description of the cruise, and it says "down" the Ganges - so maybe it heads south and then back to Kolkata.
Always an adventure, isn't it?
Always an adventure, isn't it?
Jun 23rd, 2015, 10:31 AM
#26
It appears to me, using the map in the description on this website on your boat
https://www.vantagetravel.com/ourjou.../what-included
that the trip ending in Kolkata is entirely on the Hooghly River, not the Ganges (although part, if I understand it, of the Ganges watershed system). I realize I may be looking at a different cruise, but it sounds like the itinerary you describe. So beginning in or around Murshidabad on the Hooghly and going south, ending at Kolkata, also on the Hooghly.
https://www.vantagetravel.com/ourjou.../what-included
that the trip ending in Kolkata is entirely on the Hooghly River, not the Ganges (although part, if I understand it, of the Ganges watershed system). I realize I may be looking at a different cruise, but it sounds like the itinerary you describe. So beginning in or around Murshidabad on the Hooghly and going south, ending at Kolkata, also on the Hooghly.
Jun 23rd, 2015, 09:36 PM
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Hi Dreamer.
Sounds like we have a lot in common besides Bay Area locale. I too traveled cheaply "roughing it" many decades ago. THose trips to Europe, Asia, and Africa made such an impression. I've had the good fortune to return to many places and yes, i now enjoy the somewhat more luxurious places (compared to hostels, outdoor parks, or doorsteps!). I like a combination of "levels" of accommodation.
Anyway... I heard back from longtime friend who worked in Kolkata with Mother Teresa. He advised cash donation as best.
Jhumpa Lahiri is actually in a scene in the film of "The Namesake"! (Where the baby girl gets her name.) And in the movie, Jhumpa's father's art work decorates the walls of the fictional house. The film should be readily available on Netflix or Amazon and is defiteily worth a look for many reasons, not least of which are wonderful shots of India! (For those going to the South of India, I've other film reccos with scenes to whet your appetites
)
Sounds like we have a lot in common besides Bay Area locale. I too traveled cheaply "roughing it" many decades ago. THose trips to Europe, Asia, and Africa made such an impression. I've had the good fortune to return to many places and yes, i now enjoy the somewhat more luxurious places (compared to hostels, outdoor parks, or doorsteps!). I like a combination of "levels" of accommodation.
Anyway... I heard back from longtime friend who worked in Kolkata with Mother Teresa. He advised cash donation as best.
Jhumpa Lahiri is actually in a scene in the film of "The Namesake"! (Where the baby girl gets her name.) And in the movie, Jhumpa's father's art work decorates the walls of the fictional house. The film should be readily available on Netflix or Amazon and is defiteily worth a look for many reasons, not least of which are wonderful shots of India! (For those going to the South of India, I've other film reccos with scenes to whet your appetites
)
Jun 24th, 2015, 01:18 AM
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Oberoi's "Business Rate" s still available. It is called Business Travel Plus.
Designed to suit your business needs, the rate includes daily breakfast, complimentary internet access and one way airport transfer. The hotel also offers early check-in at 9 am and late check-out till 6 pm. Ideally suited for trouble free business travel with no booking restrictions and a simplified cancellation policy.
Check your February dates. Some of the rooms say "conditions apply"--maybe it's a holiday there??
Designed to suit your business needs, the rate includes daily breakfast, complimentary internet access and one way airport transfer. The hotel also offers early check-in at 9 am and late check-out till 6 pm. Ideally suited for trouble free business travel with no booking restrictions and a simplified cancellation policy.
Check your February dates. Some of the rooms say "conditions apply"--maybe it's a holiday there??
Dec 17th, 2015, 02:15 PM
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I am entering this discussion late but am using all of the "first time India" discussions to formulate our trip which will take place in a few days. Has anyone else run into problems with booking getting proper notification from Haimark Ltd river cruises? This is the lower Ganges cruise SCDreamer is referring to. Four of us paid and were confirmed 1 1/2 year ago for this cruise, but in october this year until today, I have gotten nothing but back talk about whether this cruise will take place. Apparently, the rules have changed and we will have to find our way from the Kolkata Airport to the boat dock whereas the documents 1 1/2 years ago stated "transfers are included in cost". 3 days ago I emailed my contact and immediately got a response that person was no longer employed at Haimark. I am now calling Estonia (not Colorado or chicago) and have had to find all my correspondence to back up that I am a legitimate paid passenger. Anyone travel or is traveling with this company? I am at whits end. The other half of our trip is arranged by Arvind from Castle and King (through the many positive suggestions of this forum) and I so far am not worried about him...........Any advice or feedback others have?
Dec 17th, 2015, 02:30 PM
#32
I've found that Indian travel agents will go out of their way to help their clients have a smooth trip. What I'm suggesting is to ask your Castle & King agent to check locally for you and find out the current situation for your boat & connections. If Haimark drops the ball, C&K can likely fill in the deficits.
Dec 17th, 2015, 04:20 PM
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Thank you MmePerdu for your insight. Yes, I have asked Arvind of C&K for help at the last minute and responded immediately and without hesitation......... This cruise company is a US company and apparently has not learned much in the way of client relations.............so unprofessional!
Dec 17th, 2015, 05:06 PM
#34
I wonder if your American company actually owns & operates the river boat or if it simply acts as an agent for the owners. The ship name on their website is Ganges Voyager and I see one called Ganges Voyager II offered by another company: https://uniworld.com/en/ships/ganges-voyager-ii So it makes me wonder if your cruise will be managed by Haimark, or if a local owner will be in charge of your experience with the agencies simply collecting commissions for the sales. It could explain the lapse after they've got your money. If so, maybe Arvind can enlighten you and obtain the information you need from the actual operator.
Dec 17th, 2015, 06:24 PM
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If I need an investigation to be made, I would chose you, Mme Perdu.....thanks for your theory. However, Haimark built and owns the two river boats but leases it to company's to handle reservations. they just built the voyager II to sail January 2016 giving Uniworld the management of it. All correspondence and personnel are from Haimark so they are responsible. Haimark started as a US company in Colorado which attracted me since it had the US sanitary standards I was looking for after hearing a lot about sanitary practices in India. Google Haimark Ltd or Haimark luxury river cruise line and you will find the owners...............They are being sued and have thus filed chapter 11 in October which has greatly affected everyone who had the faith in this company. I've never experienced this during all my travels so am disturbed by all that has happened thus far. The owners dropped the ball on this one.................Thanks for taking the time to investigate and add another perspective. I greatly appreciate that.........
Dec 18th, 2015, 01:33 PM
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This is a self-reflective update on my above situation and looking into what MmePerdu has perceived. After calming down and Arvind, of Castle and King saving the day, I realized Haimark Ltd who owns both the Ganges Voyager and the Ganges Voyager II were too new in their business venture and those of us who booked directly with Haimark over 1 1/2 year ago got the raw end of the deal. When Haimark agreed to include other Agencies to do their bookings and take over the land arrangements, the direct sales clientele got left behind.
Moral to the story is to wait until a new company gets the kinks out of their organization before taking on their service (much like a new model of a car which hasn't had time to prove itself).........We will be leaving for Kolkata tomorrow to embark on the Ganges Voyager and hopefully nothing else will happen. Arvind has planned another week of great adventures for us after the cruise so I am sure we will have great memories of India when we return.
I am enjoying reading about the Padaw river trips right now..........thank you Kathie for sharing........
Moral to the story is to wait until a new company gets the kinks out of their organization before taking on their service (much like a new model of a car which hasn't had time to prove itself).........We will be leaving for Kolkata tomorrow to embark on the Ganges Voyager and hopefully nothing else will happen. Arvind has planned another week of great adventures for us after the cruise so I am sure we will have great memories of India when we return.
I am enjoying reading about the Padaw river trips right now..........thank you Kathie for sharing........
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