Posts Tagged ‘Delhi’

Poetry in motion

I love taking the train in India. It’s a great way to see the country, meet people and generally slow down your trip. Indian Railways is the world’s largest employer and the train system is massive and complex. You can book online on the IRTCT site and find great tips on Figuring out India Rail Travel on the wonderful The Planet D site.

 I have many memories of watching India’s sun-baked landscape slide by, but here are two of my favourite train ride stories. Read the rest of this entry »

Mariellen at the Taj Mahal, India

The best way to see India

I am very excited to share my passion for India by taking people to see the places I love. Together with award-winning tour operator Indus Travels, I am presenting two tours this winter in India.

Dream in India (starts Jan. 8, 2011) is for people who want to experience inspirational India and learn travel writing and blogging. Click here to learn more about Dream in India.

Breathe in India (starts Feb 5, 2011) is for people who want to experience the magic of spiritual India and do yoga. Click here to learn more about Breathe in India. And read Golden mornings on the Ganges, my Toronto Star article about what life is like in an ashram in India. We will be visiting both of these ashrams on the Breathe in India tour! Read the rest of this entry »

Ambling up to Amber Fort, Jaipur

Dream in India TOUR

Learn travel writing and blogging as you travel in India

Dream in India is for people who long to be inspired by India’s dazzling culture, fairy tale palaces and wondrous wildlife. Participants will experience the eternal beauty of the Taj Mahal, the excitement of Ranthambore tiger reserve and the fantastical art and architecture of Rajasthan. Plus, we will stop in Rudyard Kipling’s Bundi, the palace hotel where Bruce Chatwin wrote The Songlines and the Jaipur Literature Festival. The tour dates are January 08 to 21, 2011 (with a six-day extension in Jaipur, Samode and Delhi).

Along the way, I will teach travel writing and blogging; and will help participants get their own personal blog set up on WordPress.org or Travelblog.org.

For more information on the tours visit New! Tours to India or scroll down for dates, cost and detailed itinerary. Read the rest of this entry »

Taj Mahal, India

India is a vast and beautiful country, filled with world heritage sites, throbbing megalopolises, sacred pilgrimage routes, tropical beaches and snow-capped mountains. But along with the ubiquitous tourist draws such as the Taj Mahal, the forts and palaces of Rajasthan and the intricately carved temples of Tamil Nadu, India is home to a very well-trodden backpacking trail.

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Me, during Diwali puja in the family prayer room, Delhi

Authentic travel in India

I have been thinking about the concept of authentic travel for the past few days, ever since seeing the 76-second Travel Show with Robert Reid on this subject. He actually filmed one shot for the show at TBEX, the travel bloggers conference, and I was one of the audience members loudly saying “no, it’s not” in response to his statement: all travel is the quest for difference and the more exotic the better. But even though I went along with the gag, for the video, I do think a lot of people go to India because they perceive it to be so different and exotic. Read the rest of this entry »

The great Abida Parveen

It’s Video Friday on BreatheDreamGo. When I was in Delhi, India in February 2010, I attended a truly spectacular Sufi Music Festival at Humayun’s Tomb, one of Delhi’s three UNESCO World Heritage sites. It was a magical night and I wrote about it on my blog post Delights of Delhi. This is the Janis Joplin of Sufi Music, Abida Parveen. She is a mesmerizing Pakistani singer who was the main draw for the thousands of people camped out under the stars that night. Enjoy!

Holi, the Festival of Colour

It’s video Friday on BreatheDreamGo, and today you get two videos — both of Holi, the Festival of Colour. This is a huge festival in India, celebrated all over the country, to mark the start of spring. People throw coloured powder and water at each other and drink bhang lassi to really get things going. I’ve been in India three times for Holi. I took thse videos in Delhi at a private club. Much fun was had by all.

Another video, of Holi players dragging each other through the mud. More fun than it looks!

I took this video the evening I went to the Ravi Shankar Centre in Delhi, India (February 2010). Ravi Shankar and his daughter Anoushka Shankar were hosting a dance and music festival in honour of George Harrison’s birthday. He would have been 67 on February 25, 2010.

Shalini Patnaik, Odissi Dancer, Delhi

In the park, Delhi

Delhi often gets a bad rap, especially by tourists (and Mumbaikers!). But if you live here, or stay in one of the nicer areas and take time to get to know the city, you will find that Delhi has many lovely green spaces, excellent restaurants and cafes, shopping opportunities galore and a rich cultural life (not to mention a plethora of historical sites, five-star hotels, spas, universities, spiritual centres and much more). Delhi is, after all, the capital of India and home to the diplomatic community. It is a sophisticated city full of possibilities – once you get past the heat, air pollution, crowds and chaotic traffic conditions, of course. Read the rest of this entry »

mandir in the park, South Delhi

I arrived in Delhi on January 29, 2010 to begin my fourth trip to India. This time, more than any other, it really felt like coming home. I woke up this morning to a soft breeze, sunshine, the smell of cooking spices coming from the kitchen and the melodious sounds of the vegetable sellers calling out as they bicycle through the neighbourhood. An early spring Sunday morning in Delhi is a delightful thing.

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