India – My Brother Traveler

This post is part of a series called Asia

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India_Agra_Taj Mahal_1980_1204_0015

India – Sikkim – outside Gangtok – Rumtek Monastery_2007_P1230118

India – West Bengal – Darjeeling – Himalaya _2007_P1230171

India_West Bengal_Calcutta_Victoria Memorial_2007_P1230370

India – Sikkim – Gangtok – Enchey Monastery_2007_P1230069

My brother the traveler

IA-80 INSIDE ASIA TRIP
Date of travel: Nov 11 – Dec 14, 1980

ITINERARY:
Flight from Los Angeles via San Francisco, Honolulu, Manila to
SINGAPORE: (3.5 days: sightseeing of Singapore Island both with the tour
and individually with visit to an art gallery, botanical gardens and under heavy machinery vanishing Chinatown, a half a day sailing on a Chinese junk to
a small island off Singapore),
MALAYSIA: (one afternoon visit to Johor Baru from the Singapore Island), flight from Singapore to
SRI LANKA: (2 days: with a day trip from Colombo to Kandy in the heart of the island and another day trip from Colombo along the shore to Bentota Beach Resort), flight to
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BSB-07 Bangladesh, Sikkim, Bhutan and India trip
With a stop in Hong Kong
Date of travel: Sep 3 – Sep 22, 2007

ITINERARY:
Late in the afternoon on Sep 3 I drove from Vista in rented car to Los Angeles airport. With Cathay Pacific I left LAX after midnight. The flight to Hong Kong lasted 13 hours and 45 minutes. The plane landed on the new airport in HONG KONG at 5:05AM local time on Sep 5 (thanks to the Date Line). Because my plane to Dhaka leaves at night, I take a sightseeing trip of Hong Kong from the airport. We go by bus to Kowloon Peninsula, then on Star Ferry to Hong Kong Island, some free time and back by Airport Express train. I am leaving Hong Kong before 11PM.

The plane lands in Dhaka in BANGLADESH at 0:20 AM local time on Sep 6. From airport to hotel and few hours of sleep. At noon sightseeing tour of Dhaka in a taxi. Streets are full of people, rickshaws and cars. Among other places we stop at Bahadur Khan Park, Ahsan Manzil Pink Palace, Lalbagh Fort, main Hindu Temple Dhakeswari, Parliament Building and about 30 km outside Dhaka at Savar “National Martyrs’ Memorial” (monument to people who lost lives for the country independence). After 7.5 hour tour I am back in my hotel.
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In the morning on Sep 7 I fly from Dhaka to Paro in BHUTAN. Few minutes after 11AM the plane lands in Paro. With a Bhutan guide I am sightseeing the town of Paro including a museum and Paro Dzong (a castle). Later we drive to the country capital Thimphu. The following day I am exploring this city. Among other places I see a couple of museums, a weekly market, National Memorial Chorten and a temple from 14th century. On Sep 9 I, my guide and a driver in a Toyota go east some 260 km through mountains with passes more than 3,000 m above the sea level to town Jakar. Along the highway we visit several dzongs. The following day there is a sightseeing of the Bumthang Valley in which Jakar lies. Tamshing Goemba (monastery) complex from the 13th century is the first one. Next to see is Kurjey Lhakhang (a temple) part of which is from the 8th century and then Jampey Lhakhang. In the afternoon Jakar Dzong and the town itself.

On Sep 11 we start returning west. In Yotong La (a pass 3425 m above sea) my guide and my driver hang a line with prayer flags I paid for. One has to be sure the gods are pleased. Then a look into the Trongsa Dzong. There are many waterfalls along the way. Overnight in a hotel in Punakha. Next day starts with a sightseeing of Punakha Dzong built above a confluence of two rivers. Then we drive to Thimphu for lunch and to Paro for overnight. The following day is a trip to the famous Taktsang Monastery perched on a cliff 900 m above the floor of the Paro Valley. I rented a horse to get there. I go on foot down. In the afternoon I visit a farm house, where the animals are on the ground floor and the people on the first floor. In Bhutan the daughters inherit, while the sons must find a woman with inheritance. We finish with another monastery built by the first king of Bhutan in 7th century. On Sep 14 we leave Paro driving downhill to the southern border town called Phuntsholing.

On Sep 15 after passing the border crossing formalities I enter INDIA. I have an Indian guide, an Indian driver and a Chevrolet Tavera van. Today we are driving through the sub-Himalayan parts in the Eastern India some 240 km to Darjeeling, which was founded by the British in 1883 as a refuge from the summer heat of Calcutta. I am housed in the most famous Victoria style “Windamere Hotel” in Darjeeling. Next day is sightseeing of this town. Starting with the Dali Monastery and it is followed by a narrow gauge train ride, which goes through main street, then a small museum about this train. In the afternoon a visit to local zoo. After 2 nights in Darjeeling we visit a Yiga Choling Monastery and then leave the town.

After driving on a highway through jungle we enter SIKKIM at noon on Sep 17. Though Sikkim is a part of India, I am getting a stamp of entry to my passport. In the afternoon we come to Sikkim capital, Gangtok. The following day we visit Enchey Monastery. Here I learn that Tibetan Buddhism has 4 branches (hats – yellow, red, black and gray). Dalai Lama represents the yellow hats. In Sikkim there are red and black hats. Then we pass a King’s Palace. Since 1975 there is no king in Sikkim. A stop at handicraft center. Then Do-Drul Chorten Deorali (stupa) followed by a museum. Before noon Rumtek Monastery belonging to black hats.

By late afternoon we come to Darjeeling in INDIA again. This time overnight in a new hotel with no history behind. Next morning, on Sep 19, we drive to a place where there is a beautiful unobstructed view of snow covered Himalaya. Then continuing to Bagdogra airport and my flight to Calcutta, which used to be a British capital of India before Delhi. In the next two days I explore Calcutta with a local guide starting with Kolikata, which is the place where Calcutta originated. Then across River Ganges to visit Indian Botanical Gardens founded in 1786. Back in the city spending some time on ghats (steps or platforms) on the banks of the Ganges River, where Hindus cremate their dead, followed by a walk through a flower market. My guide points to various buildings from the colonial times. The second day we visit the Potter’s Village, where statues for Hindu festivals are made, Calcutta University with stands of many booksellers and making a stop in the Indian Coffee House opened in 1848 for a cup of coffee. Then we take a two station ride on the Calcutta Metro and after that I spend some time in the impressive Calcutta Museum. The last and most memorable is the visit to Victoria Memorial built from the same white marble as Taj Mahal in Agra.

Very early on Sep 22 I fly from Calcutta via Bangkok, Hong Kong to Los Angeles where before noon the same day. I pick up a car at Hertz and drive home to Vista.

Travel office: Pacific Holidays
Who took part: I traveled alone with local guides, drivers and cars.

EI-11UK (London), EGYPT, OMAN. UAE (Fujairah, Sharjah), INDIA – cruise
Date of travel: Nov 12 – Nov 29, 2011

ITINE RARY:
On Nov 12, 2011 before noon I leave Vista in a Hertz rented car for Los Angeles airport. At 6PM I board a Virgin Atlantic plane taking off on almost 11 hrs. flight to London. The plane lands in UK on Heathrow airport in London after lunch the following day. A minibus takes me and other 4 to our “Copthome Tara Hotel.” I sleep most of the rest of the day and the night.
On Nov 14 by bus to Gatwick airport. There we board a Monarch Air plane for less than 5 hrs. flight to Hurghada on Red Sea. We land in Hurghada, EGYPT in midafternoon. Then by a bus to our ship “Discovery” in Safaga.
The following morning, I take a trip to Luxor. This time there are only 2 buses from Safaga and no military escort. With uninterrupted explanation by our guide, we reach Luxor in about 3-hour drive. After crossing Nile, we are soon in “Valley of the Kings.” My 3rd visit of this place. Back in Luxor for lunch. After drive past the “Luxor Temple,” We stop at the “Karnak Temple.” During my previous visits there were some 150 buses parked at its parking area. There are only 8 buses here today. After the recent Egyptian revolution, few tourists come to Egypt. We are sightseeing Karnak almost alone. The a drive back to our ship in Safaga.
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Between Nov 16 and Nov 19 our ship sails on the sea. First about 2.5 days it is on the Red Sea and later it is on the Gulf of Aden. The second day on the Red Sea we were to make a stop in Massawa, Eritrea. It was the reason I took this cruise. But for security reasons the ship does not land there. A big disappointment for me. Because the danger from the Somali pirates, we get instruction what to do and where to go on ship to stay safe. I have noticed 3 armed guards on board, though nobody talks about them. At night our ship is darkened and so invisible. Many interesting lectures fill the sea days.
On Nov 20, our ship “Discovery” is sailing the Arabian Sea. It lands at Salalah, OMAN in midafternoon. A coach sightseeing tour follows the landing. The harbor is 20 km from the city. First stop is at the palace of Sultan Qaboos bin Said. At the next stop, we visit a modern museum with models of ships, buildings, mosques, and forts. Then we browse a souq. For a while the coach goes past sandy beaches. After 2.5 hrs. we are back on our ship.
Next day is spent on Arabian Sea following the coast of Oman. In the morning on Nov 22 our ship lands in the capital of Oman, Muscat. The sightseeing tour starts at 1PM. First stop is at impressive “Grand Mosque.” The second stop is at nicely arranged museum. Like in Salalah no photos inside. Then we take pictures of the sultan’s palace from the outside. The houses of the town are mostly white or light colored. There are Mirani and Jalali Forts above the city. We explore the covered souq individually. We are back on our ship at 6PM.
On Nov 23, we are to see the emirate Fujairah. A coach takes us through emirate Sharjah to emirate Fujairah. Both are part of UAE (United Arab Emirates) . After passing the capital also named Fujairah the coach makes a stop at Fujairah Fort. Next stop is at a museum. Then a visit to “Heritage Village” showing local folklore. Last is a vegetable market. Then back through the emirate of Sharjah to our ship. In the afternoon, the ship leaves Muscat to sail toward India.
Overnight on Gulf of Oman then whole day on the Arabian Sea. Both are part of Indian Ocean. After dinner, I have an interesting conversation with a 32 years old Czech. She works on ships in various functions. She is in reception on this ship.
On Nov 25, most of the day sailing the Arabian Sea. At last at 4:30PM the ship lands in Porbandar in INDIA. A sightseeing tour starts just after 5PM. Soon we leave our bus near the birthplace house of Mahatma Gandhi. That house is a Gandhi museum now. We visit it individually. Then on foot through narrow streets of Porbandar full of local people. There is a statue of Gandhi on one square and a Hindu Temple on another. Darkness comes very fast and we return to our ship. There is a local Indian Show on the ship in the evening. The following day is on sea again.
On Nov 27, we are in Mumbai. There is a sightseeing trip in the morning. The local guide shows us a large laundry area, where hand washes everything. The next stop is at the house where Gandhi lived when he visited Mumbai. It is “Gandhi museum.” Then we visit a “Jain Temple.” A lot of beggars everywhere. It is followed by a stop at “Kamala Nehru Park.” There is a house in shape of a shoe there. From here we see the Black Bay around which Mumbai was built. North of this park there are the “Towers of Silence.” There the Parses (Zoroastrians) leave their diseased. From here back to the city to visit “Prince of Wales Museum.” Our last stop is at “Gateway of India” commemorating the visit of the British king George V. here in 1911. There is a lot of police around due to recent Pakistani terrorist attack costing 160 lives. After that we return to our ship. Here I prepare for my departure from the ship.
I must leave my cabin at 8AM and at midafternoon I depart the ship for a hotel near the airport. From here before midnight to the airport. Very early in the morning on Nov 29, I fly on Lufthansa from Mumbai to Frankfurt. There I switch the plane for another Lufthansa flight to LAX. In Los Angeles I rent an AVIS car and drive home to Vista where after 4 PM.

Travel office: Voyager of Discovery
Who took part: The “Discovery” could accommodate 730 passengers, but there were only 470 on the ship now.