This is Bhadra. It's a set of cottages by Jungle Lodges on the banks of the Bhadra river near Lakkavalli. It's about six hours from Bangalore. During the day, the blue looks picture perfect and at night, you can slather yourself in mosquito repellent cream, sit on the balcony in utter darkness and gaze at the million stars overhead. Yes, you can almost see every star. Quite an amazing feeling.
This is in India? she asked, clearly surprised. Because she feels the best holidays are always had 'abroad' like they do every year. The best locations, best stay and best hospitality. Such thoughts usually bring out the bitch in me but with painting work going on at home and the madness of having people for dinner on top of it, I bit my tongue and stayed quiet. Oh yes, I loved the little bit of Europe I got to see and would love to go to Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Italy, Turkey, Scandanavia, Germany or Scotland. I'd also like to see Hampi, Wayanad, Kerala, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Andamans and more of MP and Rajasthan. Yes, yes, I know I'm sounding terribly preachy and Kendriya Vidyalaya type but kya karoon, I'm a bit pissed. It's a leftover from last night as our dinner guest and her husband went on and on about holidays 'abroad' and how everything was just right, where as in India you only got bad rooms and bad service. Their loss, not mine. Hope they continue travelling to Switzeland and the Far East, eat pure Indian food cooked by chef of Sita Tours and buy the tackiest of gifts. There. The fangs are out now. Peace!
15 comments:
so so true!!!
even i get so pissed at these things!! yes, facilities are low in lot of places! but the beauty and history that we have here is eqaully good if not better!
even i want to travel in India first and then do the whole firang land! Rajasthan and Lakshdweep are high on list!
and Hampi is incredible! :)
i know you were ranting, but couldnt help smile at the last few lines! :D
cheers!
abha
:o)
Yes, India is beautiful. Don't think I can cover it all in the way i want to in just one lifetime. Been to delhi,agra,bombay,hyd,blore,chennai and of course kerala(cos i'm a keralite). i wanna VERY badly go ona long road trip. But i haven't been able to so far.
And i HATE people who go on those sita-tour things and never eat any authentic food from anyplace and just get cheap trinkets. traveling for those people is just a way to show off. which is suuuch a waste I feel!
Our Indians, esp those who travel with the tours get totally ripped off in Switzerland, believe me. Maybe they deserve it, the showoffs! The beauty of the Swiss landscape is mindblowing though. But I found that our people (Delhi/Chandigarh types mostly)were more intent on taking photographs to show the relatives than actually taking in the sights. But yeah, you could have some wonderful holidays right here in India if you just knew where to go.
So how's you Rash?
Abha: Yes am being a complete bitch. But was angry and of what use is a blog if you can't rant? :)
Sonia: You Turkey returned lucky person! Yes road trip is high on my to do list but not materialised so far.
SWB: Hehe nothing against the tours, in fact, they suit some people's needs perfectly. Was venting, though er...tend to agree with you :-p. Am headless chicken type at the moment, you tell how you be?
*grin* know who's luckier than me? Those who stay put in Turkey! The lady at the cave hotel we were staying at had onyl worked there for a month. she was staying in paris previously, lived there for 2 years. Then she went to visit Cappadocia, fell in love with the place (i think there's a man involved as well) and she just shifted!
Ah! What I would not do for a holiday in India!!! Lucky people... the list of places I want to see there only keep growing.
u know i can relate to it. My growing up days has been Orissa. I always thought I am unlucky to be living in the godforsaken state. But today I realise that there is so much the state has to offer that I havent seen. I am now in a mission to explore the length and breadth of it.
I have learnt that hospitality is a giving a cup of hot chai to weary travellers so that they can keep going when all they want to do is drop dead- like how an old man in a small village in Uttarakhand gave us cups of tea so that we could go on.
Just back from there, so cannot help showing off a little. :-P
--Hyde.
sad..i hope I dont get to meet them , might just get into an argument
Hmmm...necessary post I would say.I myself have never been to a foriegn country...although would love to go...but I am also equally comfortable with the stay at most of the places I go...Most importantly,I feel I am in my country...no suspicious glances...a separate confidence it is...I am sure you cant feel that in Europe and US and you will always be thought as the "Snake Charming" Indians!!!
Sonia: Where do these ladies come from? Lucky is an understatement
Colours: :). And what would I not do to hike through Switzerland...
Ravi: Yes, I agree
Hyde: Very poetic :). But yes you are absolutely right.
Lakshmi: There are loads like them
Saurav: As long as there's chicken, mutton and pork to eat, you'd be comfy anywhere :D
that one? Germany! :D
One of the beautiful places.. :)
Hiya
Been meaning to write and say thanks for dropping by my blog. Love yours! Found this post interesting... Having traveled both phoren and desi type locations extensively, my view is: when it comes to tourism, India's infrastructure and amenities are sometimes (but by no means always) sub par, but our service JUST CAN'T BE BEAT, even at the crummiest little hole in the wall in the tiniest little village. What's more, with regard to said amenities, IF YOU ARE WILLING TO PAY A COMPARABLE PRICE, those we get here are much better than those you would get in the US, Europe, or the UK, and are about the same as those you can expect in most of SE Asia. With regard to locations - I think each place has different experiences to offer, it really depends what floats your boat. Personally, I'm not into traipsing across several continents to sit in smoky nightclubs or shop in chrome-n-glass malls. Oh look! I just wrote an entire thesis! Will stop now. 'M adding you to my Blogroll. Cheers!
Sonia: Tabhi to!
Pallavi: Yes, it's amazing na?
Suman: Welcome here. Yup I totally agree about the chrome and glass mall bit though I must say am a bit of a sucker for smoky nightclubs ha ha. But yes, I know what you mean :) See, I almost wrote a thesis too.
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