Faces of India

 

India

INDIA IS NOT JUST A PLACE.

India is not just a people.

India is the celestial music,

And inside that music 

Anybody from any corner of the globe 

Can find the real significance of life.

- Sri Chinmoy

 


Jama Masjid, New Delhi

 

Jama Masjid, New Delhi

 Outside Jama Masjid, New Delhi

New Delhi, India

 Market in Delhi

Mulagandha Kuti Vihar Temple, Sarnath, India

Prayer Flags

Pray

Varanasi, India

 Khajuraho, India

 Khajuraho Temple, India

 Khajuraho, India

Agra, India

Taj Mahal, Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India



Taj Mahal

Taj Mahal

Just Taj

Taj Mahal

Taj Mahal South Gate

Jaipur (also know as the pink city), Rajasthan, India

Pray

City Palace, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India

Nur Mahal at Jaipur, Rajasthan, India

Jaipur

Holy

Taj Mahal Hotel, Mumbai, India 

 Mumbai, India

Mumbai, India

Juhu Beach, Mumbai, Indnia

Mumbai, India

The Splendor of the Grotta Azzurra

By: Patricia Sendra

In every traveler's imagination, there exists a list with which we plan our journeys. This is the list of those places that we would like to visit at least once in our lives. They may be hidden, out-of-the way destinations; or an experience to be enjoyed rather than a place. Some, however, are simply touristy places that although we do not want to admit it, we want to see them once and then cross them off our list. One such place made my very first list, when I was just child and only dreamed of traveling the world. This place was the legendary Blue Grotto in Italy.

The Grotta Azzurra or Blue Grotto is part of the island of Capri in southern Italy. Situated in the gulf of Naples, the island became a tourist destination after the famous Grotto was revealed to the world by a 19th century German writer. However, this spot was actually discovered by the ancient Romans who built docks and even a small tunnel that still exists to this day. Three ancient statues were recovered from the grotto in 1964 and a recent 2009 underwater survey revealed the existence of several statue bases, leading archeologists to believe in the existence of more sculptures.  In fact, legend has it that the grotto could have been the private pool of the emperor Tiberius, who had constructed a large villa on the island. The ruins of that villa can still be visited today at the summit of the island.

So, after reading the tales of so many writers, intellectuals, and other cosmopolitan characters that had visited this site, I thought it would be an easy, even glamorous outing. But unfortunately, it became a day long adventure.  To reach the grotto, we had to travel in a series of vessels. First, we crossed from the city of Sorrento in a ferry to Marina Grande, the principal port of Capri. There they separated us into two groups and transferred us to smaller motorboats. Once aboard, we lounged about soaking in the incredible vistas, oblivious to what lay ahead. We cruised past the island's craggy cliffs and other impressive rock formations until we reached a rendezvous point. Soon, we discovered that a group of even smaller, wooden rowboats were congregating just along our vessel. That was when we realized that another transfer lay ahead of us.

Our fellow travelers started descending from the motorboat, four at a time, disappearing into the small rowboats.  Finally our turn arrived, but I didn't fully comprehend that I actually had to leap from a ship's ladder onto the rowboat.  It unraveled like a scene from an old "I Love Lucy" episode. I grasped the ladder, gingerly stretching one leg to position myself in the boat. But instead of getting on the boat, the boat starting drifting away. I was holding on for dear life to the ladder with both hands, with one foot on the ladder's rung and the other, sort of in the boat. Apparently, I was not completely trusting of the aged Italian sailor with the toothy grin manning the dinghy!

"SIGNORINA, PER FAVORE!" yelled out the oarsman (and something else in Italian that thanks heavens I didn't understand). I decided I really wasn't keen on swimming in those ice cold waters, so I breathed in deeply and hurled myself onto the boat. He motioned for me to sit down, positioning three of us at one end with the remaining tourist and himself directly facing us on the other end.

As we approached the cave, we realized that all the little boats were lined up in single file, waiting their turn to enter. The only thing was that I could not see the actual entrance from my vantage point. I could only discern a small crack in the face of the cliff, near the water's edge. At that moment, our oarsman again raised his voice. He indicated with his gestures that we had to lie down one on top of another. In other words, we had to lean back like a string of fallen dominos until we were flat against the bottom of the boat. A scant few seconds later, the purpose of his strange plan become crystal clear.

Apparently, our boat was planning to traverse through that tiny fissure. It was so narrow and low that if one of us had decided to sit up, we would have lost our heads. (And I think if I had had the oars in my possession, I would have had that boat turned around immediately!). The oarsman, however, grabbed hold of a chain hanging across the top of the crevice and propelled us right through the hole.  Finally, just like that, we were inside the small cavern.

When we got used to the dim light, the vista was awe-inspiring. Rays of sun penetrated the cavern through an underwater cavity and its brilliance produced an iridescent, shimmering effect.  The water appeared to be lit up from beneath, transparent and luminous at the same time with intense shades of turquoise. It did not disappoint.

But beautiful views aside, the scene inside was slightly chaotic. The oarsmen were rowing furiously in circles, serenading us with Neapolitan classics. Due to the cave's acoustics, however, it was more like a cacophony of sounds emanating from the tiny vessels. But it didn't last long--our surrealistic experience had quickly come to an end and the tiny boats were all realigned to exit through the same small pinhole.

When I returned to the hotel, I took out my dog-eared travel diary and triumphantly struck it off ‘the List'. In retrospect, the experience was quite different from my imagination. But the spectacle, even if short and at times, disorganized, wasn't unimpressive. This sea of blue colors and tonalities, so incredibly intense, formed an indelible memory of this voyage.

·    Via:  Daytrip from Rome or overnight in Naples or Sorrento. Ferries or similar rapid boats will transfer you to Capri in 30 minutes or less. (Or you could choose to stay in Capri itself).

·    Tickets:  Boat transfers can be purchased at Marina Grande. Entry fee is paid to the head of the rowboat contingent. Escorted excursions including the Grotto visits are also available.

·    Visit: The season is generally from the end of April until October, as it depends on the tide, and obviously weather conditions, even in season. It is best to visit on a bright, sunny day.

·    Curiosities: There are several other similar sea grottoes found in Italy, Croatia, Malta and Greece. This is one of the more famous ones.

·    Hot Tip:  Not as well known is that you can take a taxi or bus to the Grotto entrance, descend a flight of stairs directly down to the edge of the grotto, climb into a rowboat and just pay the entrance fee to a 'rowboat' cashier. For us Disney type people, this is what would be known as the 'fast pass'.

·    P.S: Oh and yes, I lied...I ended up returning to Capri several years later, discovered the 'fast pass' and revisited the Grotto. I am happy to report it still hasn't lost any of its splendor... 

A Magical Tour of Dijon by Segway

By Patricia Sendra

"It’s very easy. Lean forward or backward and you will accelerate in that direction," she said. "Turn the handlebar to the left, you will turn left and vice versa. To stop, you only need to stand up straight."

And with these words, the guide declared me ready to go and turned to help another. I found myself completely alone on a narrow side street. So, I leaned forward just as I had been taught. Sure enough, the machine accelerated. In a few seconds, I found myself at the end of the road, needing to turn, and fast! But at the speed that I was going at, the maneuver was not easy and I almost hit the curb straight on. It seemed like I had a long day ahead of me.

So began the adventure of the unbalanced, uncoordinated Tourist and her amazing Segway.

We were in the picturesque city of Dijon, France. As the capital of the Burgundy region, it’s world famous for its wine, gastronomy, architecture and, in particular, its mustard. But Dijon has added another notch to its list of attributes. It became one of the first cities in France (and perhaps in the world) to offer city tours by Segway.

And what is the Segway? The Segway HT is a relatively new invention, unveiled to the public in 2001. It’s described as a self-balanced transport machine, and the suffix, HT, refers to "Human Transporter". It simply looks like a skateboard with a (disproportionately) larger wheel on each side and high handlebars, and can travel on the street or on pedestrian venues. Designed for diverse terrains, all it needs is traction. But the most important design aspect is the vehicle’s ability to emulate human equilibrium. Thus its operation is instinctive; you just have to let yourself go.

My encounter with this marvel was by pure coincidence. As with our first visit to any new city, we headed towards the Tourist Information Office upon arrival. I had gathered from my research that the actual historical center was compact and perfect for a walking tour. But when we arrived, a brochure for the Segway tour caught our eyes. It was an interesting idea that no writer worth his or her salt could pass up. However, there was one tiny detail. This writer did not have a great history with objects requiring balance or equilibrium, such as, let’s say, skates. So this experience promised to be very interesting indeed!

The tourism office had gathered a set of ten adventurers (including me) and pointed us in the direction of the central park. The guide took the lead and we followed her in single file, hopping up on the sidewalk. Ever so delicately, I leaned forward until I achieved a sustainable speed. We then entered the park, circling the gardens towards an enormous fountain area. Arriving at the rendezvous point, we realized we were missing some of our tour companions. Unfortunately, a few minutes of instruction are not really sufficient for everyone, and we soon discovered that one of the ladies had fallen straight off the sidewalk, while her husband had run right into a wall. But they were fine and soon rejoined the group.  I was secretly proud I wasn’t doing as badly as I thought I would.

And so continued the tour. We followed the guide to each point of interest, where we would gather around her in a circle. Rocking back and forth a bit, we maintained our balance as we listened to the lecture. We saw impressive churches and buildings representative of the architecture of the region, and we reflected on the historical timelines as we criss-crossed interior patios and gardens. Little by little, I felt more confident in my futuristic machine. I didn’t even hesitate when I saw the guide jump over the curb; make a 180-degree turn and then climb a narrow ramp. This was obviously an easy maneuver. All I had to do was to slow down to ascend and stop before turning. I was on my way to being licensed as a Segway driver.

There even came a moment when I (confidently) stopped to retrieve my camera from inside the Segway’s own backpack, conveniently strapped to the handlebars. The only thing I didn’t realize at the time is that to do so, I had to let go of those very handlebars. And that would be a very, very bad idea. I concluded rapidly that it would be easier just to return the next day and photograph the sites on my own. I peacefully continued my journey until the last challenge of the day arrived. And this would be an encounter with the very residents of Dijon.

The tour was to end with a ride through the historical center of the city, culminating in the Triumphal Arch. Unfortunately; the aforementioned residents don’t exactly abandon the right-of-way for tourists with the big motorized contraptions. Instead, one such intrepid citizen was attempting to cross the sidewalk in front of me to reach Dijon’s own Galeries Lafayette. My despair was so great that I was speechless. I couldn’t form words in any language to politely tell that older lady to get out of my way! All that escaped my lips was "oui". So without politeness or graciousness, I yelled out "OUI, OUI, OUI" like a boisterous siren. The look of surprise on that her face, as she raced across with dog in tow, was yet another memory of this unforgettable afternoon.

In retrospect, I think it would be most convenient that the city of Dijon clear the streets of all pedestrians during visiting hours so that its tourists can enjoy "the magical visit by Segway" as advertised. At the very least, my nerves and those of its residents would be a lot calmer. But Dijon survived my visit, and I, at the end, was happily circling about and taking my Segway through the most unexpected places. When I got to the point of disembarkation, I didn’t want to part with my beloved machine. It ended up being a marvelous experience in a beautiful and interesting city, an experience I hope will repeat itself in cities the world over. This tourist would be a faithful follower!

Additional data:

·    The Tourism Office of Dijon offers various types of city tours. The Segway tour is offered 2x/ day in July and August and is 1-1/2 hours long. Cost is 16 € pp (children 7 €).  Departs from the Tourism Office at 11 rue des Forges à Dijon

·    Other French cities, such as Paris, Nice and Lyon as well as other countries also offer sightseeing tours by Segway. Costs, length and type of tours vary.

·    Platform measures approximately 19" x 25" x 8" high and the vehicle itself weights +/-80 lbs, depending on the exact model. Its weight limit for the rider is approx. 250 lbs.

·    Turning radius of 0 degrees with speed up to 12.5 mph. Motor is backed up by two batteries (NiMH) which last around 6 hours and can travel up to 15 miles on one charge.

·    It’s being utilized not only for tourism but by businesses, and even police department. In the U.S., however, several states are enacting legislation to regulate its use in the cities.

Article first published in print, Triunfo Magazine and online in Bonjour Paris!