A Trip to UK and a Paper on Agra is on Cards

From the Backside of the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort in the Distance, Agra, India

And before that I have to finish a paper. So, I am mostly like a dead fish these days. Comments go unanswered and I hardly can think of anything to post. The paper is on 'online destination image of Agra' and I have two co-authors. Even in my dreams I think of 'touts' and the Taj.

And then there is a 10 page visa document to be filled, papers to be attached and hotels to be booked. As much as I hate it when the comments go unanswered, it will be like that for a few weeks.

Right Noises about the Incredible India Campaign?

Langza- Spiti, Himachal Pradesh

Finally I saw once sensible and balanced piece about Indian tourism and the Incredible India campaign. I mean who can quarrel with the concept, many parts of India are incredibly beautiful.

As CII and Ministry of Tourism celebrate 'Incredible India@60' in the Big Apple, leading global communication services player WPP's Chief Executive Martin Sorrell said: "If people don't live the brand promise... It's dead. We can advertise a bad product (only) once." India's Tourism Ministry Joint Secretary Amitabh Kant agreed that branding was fine, but welcoming tourists with garbage and filth will ensure the initiative never takes off.

In short, India requires its creaking infrastructure to be set right for the experience to change, experts felt. New Delhi has estimated that it needs USD 492 billion to revamp urban and rural infrastructure, including roads, ports, airports and power sector, besides water and sanitation.

View from a Train near Pathankot, India

I mean who can deny that this is India too. And a site more common than anyone of us would like to see.

Another Drop on the Leaf

Finally, the Spiti Tale!

Magnificent Spiti

Months after I actually trekked in Spiti, my travel tale is up at the Gonomad website. I even got poked by Priyank that it was about time I wrote this tale. Here is a short excerpt from the article-

The walk from Komik to Demul was the longest. It took us 6 hours, though I met a gentleman from Austria who said he did it in 3 hours. Hats off to him, is all I can say. It was the day when I realized that when pushed a lot my back is capable of hurting like mad.

However, the route was so beautiful and the weather pleasant due to a clouded sky. At our lunch point we were visited by Yaks, who came to drink from the same source as us! But at that time, I found it difficult to eat and was lying flat on my back waiting for others to finish the lunch.

Lazy Sunday Photo- Stairway to Heaven

Swargrohini- Har Ki Doon

This mountain range in Uttranchal 9saw it on our Har-Ki-Doon trek) is called Swargrohini, or Stairway to Heaven. What an apt name.

Yet Another BBC Mention!

Mentioned at BBC (see picture 4)

Remember this picture of the traffic jam? Now it is featured at the BBC too. BBC has asked for pictures of commuting and it is good Deepak who told me about it in a comment and through an email. I am a regular reader at BBC but I had missed this one.

And then, it was another comment by good Mohit through which I came to know that the picture was finally picked up by BBC editors. Thank you Deepak and Mohit for letting me know. It always feels good when the pictures get picked up somewhere!

PS. An earlier BBC mention (see picture 3).

No One in Sight!

A Small Bus Stop Near Bharmour

We went to Bharmour in December 2005. I remember it was damn cold. I was going through the old photographs and found this one. We were walking from Bharmour to Hadsar and on the way we crossed this luggage waiting for a bus with no one else in sight. I mean, in bigger cities we can't even dream of leaving anything unattended.

Off Topic- Stepping into a 'Beauty Parlor'

Earlier this week I stepped into a hair cutting shop (OK, they call it a beauty parlor over here) after 4 years. In the past 4 years I managed, that is the beauty of having longer hair.

You see the last time I went, the lady thoroughly scared me off. First she tu-tued me for having a lot of Grey hairs (even 4 years back) and then promptly told me to get it colored. I refused and she looked at me with such a pity! Then her jaws dropped when she saw my brows, she howled, "You don't shape them?" I am almost sure she added under her breath, "Which zoo has let you loose?" I told her politely, no. Then it came to waxing my arms, and I again had to say no, I never felt the need. Then it came to my skin type and having a facial. I told her I did not had one even before my wedding! I think this shut her up and she finally she proceeded to give me the hair trim that I simply desired my Grey hairs, unshaped brows and what not, notwithstanding.

Now 4 years later I decided enough is enough and my hair need a trim. I stepped into a different parlor this time and a young girl beamed, "What can I do for you?" I too flashed a tentative smile and said, "I need to get my hair trimmed". She asked me to get seated and then she started, "So many Grey hairs?" and then her gaze traveled to my brows ...

Now would you blame me if I do not step into a parlor for another 4 years?

Roof Top View of Taj Mahal

Roof Top View of Taj Mahal

What happens when you reach to see Taj Mahal on Friday? You have to be contented by viewing it from the roof top of nearby restaurants as the Taj Mahal is closed on Friday. Even though we didn't go there on Friday we sat on one of the roof top restaurants because of the queue we encountered in the evening. We had gone inside in the morning of our one day trip.

And it is because I am trying to write a paper on online destination image of Agra, along with two other authors that you find my blogging so patchy these days! And this state of affairs will continue at least till the end of October.

Preconceived India: Guest Post by Mickey Ashmore

Jaipur (Picture courtesy Mickey Ashmore)

I got a mail from Mickey long time back. He is an undergraduate at Wharton and he was coming to India in summer 2007. Among many other places, he wanted to visit Ladakh and that set a chain of mails back and forth. At some point I asked him to do a guest post for my blog and he agreed. So here are some of his thoughts.

Jaipur (Picture courtesy Mickey Ashmore)

Preconceived India

Before stepping off my Lufthansa flight into the Hyderabad airport, I had no idea what was in store for me. India is a mysteriously enchanting place that is constantly stereotyped, mislabeled and consequently misinterpreted by the average American and previous to my time in India, this included me. While everyone has heard about the enormous call centers and outsourcing operations, many still base their opinions of India from the mass media and pop culture. Shows like The Simpsons for obvious comedic reasons choose to highlight the country’s stranger side. For example, the popular character Apu, an Indian convenience store clerk, has an arranged marriage, speaks with a humorous accent, keeps shrines of blue elephants and incense under his counter, and generally behaves like someone from another planet. So you can’t blame us for thinking of India as a mystical place rooted in the past.

Large news shows are also partly to blame. After returning from my trip, I was watching a report on one of the big prime time shows. The program focused on the Bengal tigers and their declining presence in India. The reporter, her Indian guide and crew traveled into the heart of India to Bandhavgarh National Park where many of Bengaltiger roams free. En route to the park, their train stopped in a small village, which just happened to be celebrating a rather strange festival. The villagers were performing what appeared to be exorcisms – kneeling close to the ground and flailing around, babbling nonsense into the air, dressed in robes while others danced in circles around them, banging drums, and singing. And to be honest, they did not just look silly but completely insane. And to the unknowing viewer, who probably already thinks of India as a land of snake charmers and religious zealots, his or her perceptions of India were thus confirmed.

Of course, if anyone’s impressions of India are limited to the mass media, and they see this, then they will be be fairly sure that everyone there is nuts. I was even watching this show with my parents, who after seeing the scene turned to me and asked, “Did you see people doing that?” Upset at their ignorance, I wanted to shout back, “No!” But rather decided to explain that this ritual was probably only performed in this one village and most Indians probably don’t even know what it is. Instead, they are too busy building major companies, drinking coffee, going to movies and shopping in malls just like we do here in the United States. That said, this mystery that shrouds India is partly what makes it such an attractive place for business. Those who are brave enough to embrace a very different culture, learn about its quirks and idiosyncrasies, and dive in head first will be able to capitalize on a wide array of lucrative opportunities and see a major payoff. This return will come not only in financial terms, but also through personal growth and self exploration. As I learned during my five week adventure, India is an incredible land full of passion, love, integrity and drive. This fiery combination of values is why India has risen so forcefully in the global ranks and is now poised to become a major world player. My recommendation is to get there before it gets to you because India is coming fast.

Lazy Sunday Photo- The Chaos We Create

This happens at least once in a month on the way to office!

Most Visited destination in India?

What is the most visited destination in India?

a) Goa
b) Agra- Taj Mahal
c) Rajasthan
d) Tirupati

What is your guess?

Hindustan Times, citing Incredible India Website (though I can find only 2005 data) says it is Tirupati, followed by Taj Mahal.

Just Managing to Stay Afloat!

Looks so Peaceful, At China Peak, Nainital, Uttranchal

Probably I had never been so busy in my life after completing my Ph.D. But I hope things will start falling in its place now. I thought this a week before too, I hope I have not spoken too soon again.

Can You Spot IIT Roorkee in the Picture Below?

Maybe you will have to enlarge the image to see IIT Roorkee in this picture but what a shame, the way we deface the public buildings. This was a small hut on top of the China Peak at Nainital.

Yippe! I Made it to Top Ten in One Category at the Oktatabyebye Contest

The Photo to the Air Ticket!

Finally, the results for the Oktatabyebye are out. Check out the lovely pictures by the people who won here. I made it to the top 10 in portraits.

That made me check the prizes and I almost can't believe my eyes. I mean, I really want that fare paid air tickets vouchers NOW!! I wonder what are the destination valid on this air ticket voucher. That means I can go somewhere again maybe just over the weekend.

(Link to the row)

Top 10 (per Category)

All the above

+ Fare Paid Air ticket Vouchers

+ Personalised Photo Print n' frame from Epson

Off Topic- Newspapers Pick up the IITK Snakebite Case

Once again I came to know via Abi's blog that TOI and Indian Express have covered the snakebite case at IITK. Many had asked me the name of the doctor, according to TOI it was Meera Kumar. From the TOI article-

Rahul was son of Sudhir from Malda in West Bengal who was working as labourer under a contractor at Indian Institute of Technology-Kanpur (IIT-K). At about 4.45 am on Sunday, Rahul had suffered the snakebite at his hutment near construction site of the environment engineering building.
His relatives rushed him to the IIT-K health centre. But the doctor-on-duty Meera Batra (as per the official duty register) allegedly refused to attend him, as he was an outsider and not entitled to medical facilities. The boy was finally rushed to the LLR Hospital only to be declared brought-dead.

A group of students is so incensed at the incident that they first held a condolence meeting and later took out a march to the health centre seeking an explanation from chief medical Officer (CMO) Dr Nirmal Kumar.

The students circulated a mail among the IIT-K fraternity highlighting the gross negligence on the part of the doctor and subsequent death of the boy.

I liked to that email here in an earlier post.

A Trip to Nainital and the Stay at Shervani Hilltop Resort

Some trips are fated. That is how I view my recent trip to Nainital with my younger nephew Sunil. I almost could not believe it, when the good folks from the Shervani Hilltop Resort (they own Rodeo too) wrote to me about a possibility of my staying with them as their guest and in return, I had to blog for them! Can you imagine such a good deal? I anyway blog about all my travels! But at that point, I remember thinking, “Now this sounds good but let us see if anything comes out of it actually.” After all, there are so many blog leads that turn out to be nothing in the end. However, this turned out to be one fine trip and a break I desperately needed. They also offered that I could bring a guest as I may not feel safe alone. Sadly, that is true, I do not venture out alone in India. As Sesha had already planned to go to Bangalore, finally Sunil and I went together.

Reaching Naintal

I am so used to traveling by bus that it felt a bit strange to be going by taxi this time. Our journey was smooth and the driver (I somehow never asked his name) a very decent one. We started around 5am in the morning and after a while both Sunil and I feel asleep. I woke only when we were nearing Moradabad and requested that we may stop for breakfast somewhere. Soon after, the three of us had breakfast and then started again. The road was in a bad shape (they always are after the rain) and whenever we neared a town, they were chock-o-full too. However, when Nainital was 30 km away, the road became narrow, empty and flanked by forest on both the sides. We switched off the AC and stuck our necks out. The first sight of the mountains again made me realize how I had missed them. As we were 10 km away from Nanital, a small mist descended on us making everything more beautiful.

Naini Lake, Nainital

The Shervani Hilltop Resort

We reached the resort around 12 noon and frankly the Avomine (anti nausea medicine for motion sickness in the hills) had taken its toll. I announced myself at the reception and was wondering if everything would go right? The person at the reception immediately greeted me, made me fill a small form and handed me the key to our room.

The room was big and well furnished. Once again, we were attended to and informed that our welcome drinks are on the way. I requested them if they could make it tea? They readily agreed and in a short while we were drinking it. After freshening up a bit, it was time for me to admire the flowers around the resort, they really have a lot of beautiful flowers hanging from different corners and some kind of cactus literally growing from the walls!

Soon, we decided we were hungry and headed to the dining hall for lunch. Some good food tucked inside and we headed back to our room. I thought for a fraction of a second if I should catch up on sleep but we decided to head out.

Flowers at the Resort

A Walk to the Naini Lake

The resort is really up a small hilltop and the road to it is steep. But as we are used to walking, we just decided to walk to the Naini Lake. When I went to the reception to give my room key, I told them my plan. They were a bit skeptical and told us that the resort jeeps go to the mall road at regular intervals and we could hop into one. We told them about our motion sickness and our preference for walking. Then we were told, “OK, do let us know when you want to come back” and I replied, “Don’t worry we will walk that way too.” I thought some eyes were rolling upwards at this reply.

Well, we headed out, and soon reached the lake. This was the first time for my nephew at Nainital and soon we decided to go for boating. Our boatman was Harish and he is from the nearby town of Almora and has been coming to Nainital in the season for the last 20 years. In the middle of the lake, we requested him to take our photographs. We offered him the Nikon 3200. Then after taking the picture, he asked for my camera. My face was full of hesitation. Sensing it Harish told me, “Aap de do ye camera, meine ek se eak camera chalaya hai.” (You can give me the camera, I have used really state of the art cameras). Still all hesitation, I gave it to him, and no wonder he handled it like a pro! So much so for my city bred assumptions!!

After the ride, we took a walk around the periphery of the lake and then we felt real hungry. We found a place called Bawrachi (that turned out to be not so great) at the mall road. While I ordered something fancy called noodle cutlet Sunil sensibly went with an omelet. As we were having tea, the skies opened up. The lake and the clouds met and the people, who were out there boating, really had it. We also panicked and called the hotel and asked if they could pick us up. While we were waiting, the rain went off and we were impatient to start again. I called them again and asked if they had not already sent the vehicle, we would like to walk. I was given the best wishes for my walk up. Of course we managed it with a sweat. I told some good folks that just in June we were trekking at the height of 14000 feet in Spiti and this climb was a cake walk.

Later, it was time for us to play some TT and to show Sunil that there is still a game left where I am better than him! Later, after dinner (I am not a foodie but Sunil is and he liked the food) and a big helping of the sweet dish later (I have a big sweet tooth) we sat out in the well lit corridor and I was reading my book. But then, I was just too tired by now and started feeling cold, and I decided to turn in. A little bit of TV and book and it was time to call it a day.

Shervani Hill Top Resort, Nainital (Picture courtesy the Shervani Hill Top resort)

Day 2

We got up late and hurried for the breakfast. I liked it a lot when they asked me for tea for a second time and gave it to me promptly! There were a lot of guests around and I thought the staff tried to chat up with everyone. Then it was time to hand over the key at the reception again. We mentioned that we may not turn up for lunch as we had ambitious plans for the day. We wanted to take the rope way and then from there walk to the China Peak. And that is what we exactly did. The end point of the rope way is too crowded and full of shops and with clouds and all there was no view, so we were waiting to get out. We had an interesting ride though, where they haul you up to a point and them the ride comes crashing down at an enormous speed. I have to say both of us enjoyed it. We then had a cup of tea and off we went to China peak on foot.

This was the only time when we were ale to leave the crowds behind. We must have taken around 2 hours to reach there and we were lucky that it rained lightly on the way. I am not really worried about us but more about my camera! The way was green, with flowers and some slugs too (that Sunil promptly photographed and wants me to put on this blog! No way is my answer).

At the top is a canteen run by the forest department and we had more tea and omelet. We got busy taking picture and then once again the skies really opened. We took shelter at the other side of the hut. The rain showed no sign of stopping. Soon one of the persons from the hut approached us and asked if we would like to have some food with them! We tried to be polite and said no once. But when he repeated the offer we took it up gladly. We were served Kichdi (A dish of rice and pulses) and it tasted so good. The rain still continued. We once again started getting a bit worried and asked the people more than once, “Ye barish rukege na?” (Will the weather clear up?) and the answer was always in the affirmative. After a long time we headed back again to the Naini Lake and this time we had to walk all the way down as the rope way tickets are valid only for an hour.

We headed to another shop at the Mall Road (Sakley’s Pastry Shop) and polished off a lot of stuff which was good. Then we decided to take a stroll around the lake again. But after walking for a while we decided to take a peddle boat out to the lake. Later, Sunil and I both cursed our decision to row on our own as we were already tired. Yet, in our allotted hour, we managed to peddle to the end and come back. It was almost sunset now and after taking a few pictures it was time to turn back.

Back at the Resort

Guess what we did after coming back? It was a bit late and with a lot of guilt I asked if we could get a cup of tea at that time. They readily served it to us in our room. While I was waiting for it, sitting outside, the door to the room was open. A few of the guests passed (they did not notice me as I was quite close to the wall) and peeped in and claimed a loud Wow! I guess they liked our room. After tea, we played TT again. Then we attacked our dinner (I really liked the Shahi Tukda, that is bread made sweet with a lot condensed milk and garnishing) and Sunil enjoyed his chicken. There was a huge group of kids at the resort on a school trip and were enjoying themselves at the disco. We once again sat out, me with my book and Sunil with his MP3 player. But once again I started feeling cold quickly and it was time for some TV again. The next day after breakfast we were heading back.

Sunil summed up the experience for me when I asked how did he find the trip? He said, “See, we like to go out and really walk a lot. But there are people who want cold weather, good food, drinks, a relaxing environment and a pickup and a drop to the mall on their holiday. Surely they are going to enjoy it. And admit it, for a change it was good for us too.” I agree. I should also mention that I realized that it is really the attention to the small things like asking how our day out was or realizing that I like tea a lot, which are going to remain with me for a long time.

Here is the contact information and the off-season package prices for the Shervani Hill Top Resort-

Tariffs at Shervani Hilltop Nainital:
Rs.2333/- to Rs.5833/- per person for 2nights and 3 days on twin sharing basis inclusive of Breakfast & Dinner + Taxes

Please note-The above-mentioned tariff is valid till March 31 2008 and not valid from December 29 2007 to January 02 2008.

Address: Shervani Hilltop, Mallital, Nainital 263001.
Phone : 05942 - 233800
email Id :nainital@shervanihspl.com

The Boat Ride at Nainital

Sunil Tries His Hand at Boating with some Help from Harish, Naini Lake, Nainital

As Sunil (my younger nephew) and I went on this trip to Nainital we tried things like boating and some silly rides at the end of the rope way. Sesha and I we often just end up waking from here to there but that also is pretty nice.

So with Sunil soon it was time to take boat ride that cost us Rupees 120. As you try to enter the narrow boat it sways a bit and I like that feeling. Soon, we were out in the lake and Sunil asked the boatman if he could try rowing. The boatman was all game for it. Sunil was a miserable flop at it. Then he came and sat next to me. The boatman could probably sense from my face that I too wanted to try my hand but was too hesitant to ask. So he offered, "Aao app bhi try karo" (come, you too give it a try). Of course, I too was a miserable flop at it! And while he did it, rowing looked so simple.

This broke the ice and we started chatting. We learned that the boatman's name was Harish and he is from Almora. His family lives with him at Nainital and they go back in October to Almora for farming. He has been coming to Nainital in tourist season for the past 20 years (he didn't look that old)!

Then we asked him if he knew to swim? He said to become a boatman one has to clear a swimming test and yes he could swim. Then I asked, "Has it ever happened that a tourist fell down in the lake by accident?" He replied, "Nahin per kuch suicide karne chale aate hain, us case mein saab boat wale sath aa jate hain aur bacha hi lete hain" (No, but a few come with an intention to commit suicide, then all the boats try to come quickly together and save the person). Hmm, that was something I could never have imagined!

Then we asked him to take a picture of us. He said, "camera do" (Pass the camera) looking at my DSLR. I was all hesitation again and we requested him to take a picture with the point and shoot digital. After taking the picture he again asked for my camera. Looking at my hesitation again he said, "Aaare laao do, meine eak se eak camera chalaya hai" (Ohh, give me the camera, I have used some real fancy ones). So, I gave it to him and he immediately adjusted the focal lense and took out a masterful picture! And Sunil and I really laughed and laughed at my city bred notions! So much so for my hesitation over handing him the camera! The picture Harish took can be seen here.

Pictures from Nainital

Naini Lake, Nainital, Uttranchal

While they are not be compared with Spiti pictures, I have finally uploaded some of my pictures from the just concluded trip to Nainital.

Off Topic, Corporate Manager of Consumer Generated Media

Hmm, how does the title 'Corporate Manager for Consumer Generated Media' (CGM) sounds for job? That is the position created by Toyota and Bruce Ertmann is the person holding the position. The article from Brand Week is where I saw this first.

When bloggers write smack about Toyota, Bruce Ertmann is there to read every word and, in some cases, respond. As corporate manager of consumer-generated media at the Torrance, Calif.-based automaker, Ertmann constantly trolls the Web to see what people are saying. This includes both the gray anonymity or the way-too-public blogger world, and not just the good and the bad, but also the ugly.

Now this is What I Call 'Taking the First Road Out'

Nainital- Photo by Sunil

My younger nephew Sunil and I took a trip to Nanital this weekend, and came back today. A few months back I got a mail from good people at Shervani Hilltop Resort, Nanital. They invited me to the resort as their guest, in return I had to blog about them. Now how could I ever pass over such a deal -)

But as the academic session had started, it was only now that I could manage to take leave. The detailed blog post about this trip will have to wait till tomorrow, as I am too tired today. Anyway I can't load the pictures from my camera as Sesha has removed the DSLR camera software and the CD is lying at my office. And no, this is not what I mean by 'taking the first road out.'

While Sunil and I were walking around in Nainital I saw a girl whom I recognized from my IIT days. She too stopped and said, "I know you." When I asked her what she was doing here, an interesting story unfolded. She and her husband after working for 5-6 years in software industry decided that they like the wildlife too much. So what do they do? They write IFS (Indian Forest Services) together, get through and get posted in Uttranchal! They leave their software jobs behind. Now this may not be taking 'the first road out' but I consider it as taking the proper road out.

Now that I have told this to Sesha, he is after me, why don't you apply to one of the Hill universities. Well, the problem is I like my job a lot and have no intention to change it in a hurry. But as a long term plan, the idea of applying to a hill university is certainly attractive.