Getting the Word Out

This afternoon I attended a presentation by Bob Wolf of Hope Skills, focused on the importance of personal connections in every endeavor in life. That certainly applies to growing a business. India Journey with Grace has a website, a Facebook page and Twitter account. We have put out press releases,and have a brochure. But with that said, it all boils down to personal connections. We really need to get out and present ourselves in every possible venue. Toward that end, I plan to call the Smithtown Chamber of Commerce tomorrow to join. I did volunteer to do a presentation for the Presbyterian Church in Glen Cove. Once I work up a presentation template with a photo montage, I can take the show on the road. It needs to be different than presentations we have done for our guests to India and for church groups.

Thinking Back

I keep thinking about our India Journey and the truly unique experiences we participated in.  One of the most moving was our time with Lama Tenzing at the Buddhist temple just outside of Darjeeling.  He talked about the rigorous training monks go through which includes many years (6, 9, or more) of solitary meditation and silence.  The relationship between the student and teacher is critical for fostering spiritual growth and understanding.  His own teacher is memorialized in the temple through a statue and photograph and by the level of understanding reached by his pupil, Lama Tenzing.  None of our guests had been in a Buddhist temple before and were overwhelmed by the art which covers every surface.  Their faces all reflected the respect and awe they felt by being in the presence of a person who radiates peace and love for all fellow beings.

Amber Palace, Jaipur

Amber Palace

This is the famous palace one can enter by elephant.  A continuous trail of colorfully decorated elephants brings us tourists up the palace ramp to the main courtyard.  Construction began in 1600 by Raja Man Singh, a General in Akbar's army.  Mughal influence is everywhere in the beautiful, intricate geometric designs,  inlay and lattice work.  Just as in other important structures built by the Moghuls, there are Hindu influences prominently displayed to signal a welcome to all.  There is a lot to take in with royal apartments for all the wives, gardens, a temple, hall of public audience,  mirror and pleasure  palaces; all the while hearing entrancing stories of the life and times of the rulers who lived long ago.

Jaipur, the Pink City

City Palace, Jaipur

Our adventures in Jaipur began as we drove through the very crowded, jumbled and frenetic center of the city.  I had to gulp as we turned off the main road onto what looked like a not very nice side street.  And then I gulped again since there was a sign for our hotel, pointing the way.  But joy of joys,  the Alsisar Haveli, our hotel is quite beautiful.  A Haveli is a residence that is smaller than a palace, but quite grand nevertheless.  Our rooms on an upper floor were very large with a sitting area and ceilings that seemed to go on forever.  And they have a pool, quite bracing and refreshing.  There was also a gentleman working poolside to massage our road weary bodies.  And a puppeteer who was eager to give us a show.

 Jaipur is, most notably to me, home to City Palace which is breathtaking in it's beauty. Our guide was most knowledgeable and shared many fascinating details about the palace and the Maharajas and Maharanis who had inhabited it. Margaret and Sue had both done quite a bit of reading about the royal family and were excited to be able to identify the cast of characters. (I will catch up to them soon, but am currently reading on an excellent biography on Gandhi, recommended by our guide in Delhi, a PhD. in comparative religion.) But I digress.

 Also notable about City Palace is that there is a new museum gift shop which is quite wonderful. I succumbed to a beautiful set of necklace and earrings and to a scarf that is quite unusual looking. I haven't decided if I am keeping or sharing the latter. Speaking of shopping, we went to a stunning jewelry store, the Antiquariat, where I purchased a bracelet on the 2004 trip. We all made excellent purchases, and I most thoughtfully picked up something for Gerard to give me for Christmas. Still speaking of shopping, Jaipur is an excellent place to purchase hand blocked prints on cotton and blends of cotton/silk/wool that make for beautiful bed spreads and tablecloths. I just love textiles and could not resist getting a new tablecloth which I will enjoy using. 

 Just outside City Palace is Jantar Mantar,  a fascinating astronomical and astrological park.   Having read so much about Maharani Gayatra Devi and her family and seen their portraits in City Palace, we were eager to visit Rambagh Palace, one of their homes, which is now a magnificent hotel. We had drinks on the veranda in the evening during a musical performance on the lawn, followed by dinner. It was a magical evening.

India Dreams

I am home for a full week now, still working through jet lag and the bronchitis I picked up on the way over.

What is so interesting to me is the dreams I have been having almost every night about one aspect or another of our trip.  They have been about the people we went with, vivid pictures of places we visited and conversations with people we met.  India has a way of staying with you even when you are not there.

Today a book I ordered yesterday arrived from Silver Tips Tea in Tarrytown, New York, US headquarters for Makaibari.  The book, "The Rajah of Darjeeling Organic Tea Makaibari",  is by and about Rajah Banerjee, owner of Makaibari Estates tea plantations and his efforts to bring the biodynamic agriculture model to his family tea estates.  Margaret and I were so fortunate to have Elizabeth Clarke, Director of the Windamere Hotel in Darjeeling, go out of her way to set us up with a visit to her friend Rajah, as he likes to be called.  (His name is actually Swaraj Kumar Banerjee)  She provided us with a car, driver, and box lunches and off we went down the mountain to meet Rajah who was home for just the one day.

We stopped for a flat tire at an observation spot and there in all its glory was Katchenjunga, highest peak in India and third highest in the Himalyas.  Our next stop to repair the tire was adjacent to a group of young guys who were singing and playing guitar.

We met Rajah at his office and were promptly turned around so that we could tour the factory, which was empty and opened especially for us so that we could learn about the process of tea making.  When we got back, he conducted a tasting for us of the wonderful variety of teas produced by Makaibari.  We learned the technique of tea tasting, then picked our favorite and enjoyed a cup of heavenly Darjeeling tea.

Afterwards we went up to his home and met his lovely wife Sriupa and had our pictures taken with one of the tigers gracing his living space.  From there it was a short walk to the garden, drinks and our box lunches.  Rajah is a force of nature, and I am grateful to have met him.

Long Days, Full Days

Today was a long travel day from Agra to Delhi, with very heavy traffic. Now, well fed and ensconced in our beds, we have the TV tuned to Bollywood music. It is mesmerizing and hard to take one's eyes off the screen. We got to the Taj Mahal yesterday before it opened to take advantage of morning light, shorter queues and fewer people. We scored on all three counts and the Taj filled our hearts with it's beauty. Our guide in Agra whose name is Islam, is a very good photographer and knows his subject inside out. An advantage of our early start was being able to go back to the hotel for breakfast and a rest before heading out to Agra Fort. Never having been there myself, I was struck by the intricacy and delicacy of the carvings which were all around. Again and again, our guides have pointed out and emphasized the use of Hindu and Christian motifs as a tool the Moghuls used to stress their acceptance and respect of the culture that existed before their conquests. We squeezed in time to visit Kohinoor, the famous jewelers of Agra. They were gracious enough to show us the unbelieable embroideries which helped to make them famous. Layer upon layer of exquisitely dyed silk convey texture so vividly that the subjects, often wild animals, look alive. Our Agra hotel, the Grand Imperial, was previously a haveli (or home) of a wealthy, princely family. Our rooms were huge with sitting areas, big tubs and lots of hot water. Perfect for soaking in after a long day if you don't mind sitting in rusty water, and I don't. The mineral content of water in Agra is very high which accounts for the color of the water. It is hypothesized that the high mineral content was responsible for desertion of the beautiful sandstone city of Fateh Pur Sikri, as it can cause a multitude of ailments. That was the second stop on our way from Jaipur, the first being the Bharatpur bird sanctuary. We had arrived at Bharatpur in the middle of the day, not ideal for viewing wildlife. We enjoyed the many birds we did see and the bicycle rickshaw ride through the sanctuary. Lots of kids in lots of school groups, all seeming to chatter at the same time may have discouraged the wildlife as well, but we enjoyed seeing them in their various school uniforms. I have contracted a nasty cold from somewhere or other and spent a very uncomfortable couple of days. I am on the mend; left with yucky congestion and a cough. It is good to feel so much better. I realize I have not touched on our time in Jaipur, the pink city. Internet access is not readily available, but I have 24 hours of WiFi. With some discipline I may be able to continue the saga tomorrow morning before going off for a visit with folks from the Church of North India.

Evening Descends

Midnight Again in India

This will be the third night in a row of getting to sleep well after midnight. For those who know me, this is not normal behavior, but the short time we have been in Delhi has been jam packed. My intent was to blog daily, but better late than never. Our first evening after checking in to our hotel we enjoyed a welcome dinner at the Ashoka Hotel's Oudh Restaurant. We met Vishal, our Indian agent and enjoyed an excellent meal in beautiful surroundings. The next day was very full, with visits to The Red Fort, the Raj Ghat, where Ghandi was cremated; Chandni , a bustling, crowded huge bazaar area; the Jama Masjid, the largest Mosque in India and the second largest in the world, and Birla House, where Ghandi stayed during his last fast and where he was assassinated. I would have to say the highlight since our arrival on Sat., 10/15/2011 was last night at a dinner in the home of Jadip and Joyita Shankar. They did everything I had hoped for in our "Cuisine Workshop" from demonstrating cooking techniques, and showing various spices and seasonings to providing a warm welcome to India formour guests who would otherwise never have the chance to visit an Indian home. Their beautiful, bright, articulate 15 year old daughter was delightful and the addition of Jadip's older brother and wife and a friend of the family rounded out the company. They served so many dishes they had spent the day preparing, it was a feast of the best of Indian cuisine, with several dishes that were new to me. A highlight of the evening for the ladies was getting wrapped in saris for our own little fashion show. (Watch for photo posting at a later date). Today was not as successful as yesterday as there were issues with timing starting in the AM which affected the day. We started the day at Humayan's tomb, which was a precurser and inspiration of the Taj Mahal. The Sikh Gurudwara was impressive to all and we got to make chapatis in the kitchen as volunteers prepared lunch for thousands of people. Quran Minar, well known for it's never rusting iron staff and impressive ruins was beautiful, though we were all tired by that time. Things got dicey during a drive to the Centre for Dalit Studies. Traffic was heavy and our driver and escort did not know the way, so the trip was twice as long as it could have been. Our drive through horrendous slums and grinding poverty was difficult for everyone. Dr. Massey related some historical aspects of the Caste system and discussed current challenges for Dalits. We had dinner with him and his wife at a local restaurant where the food and setting were very nice. I am afraid the happy outcome was not enough to counteract the dismay felt by everyone during our drive there. Luckily, the ride back to the hotel this evening was prompt and uneventful. We have learned from today and will make corrections for our trip next year. Tomorrow we start out at 8:00 for the drive to Sariska Tiger Camp and an afternoon jeep drive through the Preserve. It will be an interesting, but long drive. Hopefully the swimming pool will be in good repair..

I plan to wear Indian dress much more than I have in the past.  But when I look at the clothes I plan to take, the good old pants and tops look the most comfortable and practical.  The weather forecast is for continuing sunny and hot and dusty days ahead.  I have several nice outfits for evening/dinner, but am not excited about wearing any of them during the day especially since a dupatta (scarf) is part of the outfit.  Margaret plans to get off the plane wearing Indian dress.  Indian people really are pleased to see Westerners in their national dress, so I'll do my best.  

Sometimes Things Aren't So Hard

Whew.  For some reason I thought there was a big issue getting into my blog account since I changed my e mail address.  Apparently not, and I can keep using my old address for the blog.

Less than three weeks to trip time.  We had  a Pre Trip Workshop for our guests where we served Indian snacks (samosas) and dessert (kheer.)  The first half of the evening was a quickie review of the history of India, which we covered in an hour.  When I say quickie, I mean it.  The second half was directly related to the trip. the itinerary, what to wear and bring, cultural tips, reading suggestions, etc.

Our guests had a chance to meet one another and us in an informal, stress free setting.  Being able to host this is one advantage of having a small group from the same geographical area.  And it is a value added feature of India Journey with Grace Inc. that no other tour company offers.

We had hoped to be able to sell travel insurance, however issues with New York State are holding up the licensing process.  So we can do that next year.  Our Business Plan is complete, and projections for the future of our company positive.  Now all we have to do is help our guests have the journey of a lifetime.

The Business Plan

Today I met with an advisor from  Stony Brook University Small Business Development.  I have known all along that I should have written a business plan.  But I did not do that and characteristically jumped into this business full of enthusiasm and confidence.  Now the enthusiasm will be tempered with facts and we will have a much better idea of what we will have to invest in time, talents and money as we go forward.  I am committed to having the Plan pretty much completed in time for my next meeting in one week.

On the plus side are the components we have put into place; the website www.indiajourneywithgrace.com,  our business cards and brochures.  We are pleased with our legal and accounting advisors and the fact that we have been incorporated.  All in all, we think we are in a good place and await the information a realistic plan will provide.

Reservations, Please

We are now taking reservations for our inaugural trip and firming up plans for lectures and workshops. So far three travelers are booked and we will assemble information needed to confirm hotel and air reservations.

Our group, although small at this time, looks to be simpatico and fun.

India Journey with Grace Inc.

It seems like a very long road from deciding to start our company until now. As of today the web site is up and running, we have new business cards, our itinerary is fabulous and looks it, and our brochures give a good idea of what we are about.

Today we were scheduled to briefly thank the Prebytery of Long Island for their support of our India trip of 2010 when we represented PCUSA at the 40th Anniversary Celebration of the Church of North India. It was during that trip that the idea of India Journey with Grace was conceived. We have much to be thankful for.

We are grateful to everyone who has helped us along the way; lawyers, accountants, travel insurance specialists, contacts in India, and most especially web designers Richard and Phoebe Maddrell of Vitalis UK, and Joani Madarash of Access Linx.

I do hope to get many visitors to our website, IndiaJourneywithGrace.com

Our first trip is scheduled from October 14th through the 30th, 2011. It is not too late to sign up.

Why India?

Margaret Cook and I are partners in this venture; each of us bringing our extensive backgrounds and love of India to India Journey with Grace Inc.  Our website is under construction, meetings have been held with lawyers, accountants and bankers and we are well on our way to putting into place those unique experiences that will make ours an experience to be treasured.

We get a lot of different reactions when we talk to people about going to India.  The range from "I would never go to India." to "When do we leave?"

So why India?

     India is REALLY different - culture, food, history, religions, customs- it stretches the mind.

     Elephants walking along a road with trucks, buses, bicycles, rickshaws, tuk tuks, donkeys, cows, cars      and motorbikes give new meaning to the word "traffic".

     Women working in fields, besides rivers and on construction sites wearing colorful saris and moving with grace and ease gives a different slant on women's liberation.

     Worshipers in temples, mosques and churches expressing their faith in the ultimate goodness of God in unique ways.

     Food prepared with a palette of herbs and spices to delight your senses.

     Music and dance from a tradition stretching back thousands of years and colorful Bollywood  movies reflecting the challenges faced by modern Indians.

     Beauty all around, in people, in crafts, in architecture, in the land.

     And yes, there is poverty - not always hidden and sometimes in juxtaposition to great wealth.  And there is often an acceptance of the vicissitudes of life that makes it seem less onerous.  There is injustice and  a fight for the rights of all people.  Struggles we as Americans can relate to.

                                                           So why India?
                                  When I am in India I smile outside and inside.
                                                      Maybe you would too.

India Journey with Grace goes Corporate

Toward the end of our trip I had one of those Aha! moments and I knew what I needed to do. I want to keep bringing people to India to share my own passion and hopefully infect them. I believe that peacemaking happens one person at a time and that by meeting the unfamiliar, understanding and acceptance are likely to follow.

India Journey with Grace is being incorporated so we (Margaret Cook and I) can bring more people to India in a responsible, safe and fun way.

Yesterday was a banner day in the life of our baby company. With the help of Attys Joseph Sforrazza and Edward Frey, an old friend and husband of a high school girlfriend, we now have our EIN# and URL reservations. And lots of work to do.

Our October, 2011 trip is planned for October 14 to return on the 30th. We are working on the itinerary and expect it to include New Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Varanasi, Darjeeling and a Tiger Park. We are planning encounters with Indian culture which will punctuate our days.