Foreign Tours

Opera house - Sydney

Australia New-Zealand Mauritius Japan China

Foreign tours
Dada, my father, while returning from his official trip to England and America brought many gifts for his family, relatives and friends. Among them was a beautiful soft white cardigan. The cardigan was to go to the lucky one amongst us, his four children, who would go abroad first. I had set my eyes on it but since Tai was the first to travel internationally she became the proud owner of that cardigan. Later on I had the opportunity to visit many foreign countries as a tourist and could have purchased many such or better cardigans, but my disappointment at not getting that particular piece is something I cannot forget. In the year 2005 we were in talks with a builder who was interested in developing Sarvate Building, Thane where we had been staying for many years. We were undecided about whether to shift to Vasant Leela on Ghodbunder Road where we had purchased our own apartment or to ask for a replacement flat at the old place itself. After lots of arguments and discussions between us and with the builder we decided to move to our own new placePallavi at Vasant Leela. This was going to be a major change in our lives. At about the same time Vijudada and Meghana were planning a tour of Australia and New Zealand and wanted us to join them. We agreed happily and the trip taken in April 2005 would prove to be our last from Sarvate Building. Many years had elapsed since our first visit abroad and the next foreign trip was long overdue. Starting with Australia-New Zealand, it would be at the insistence of Vijudada that we would undertake all our later foreign tours. ***

Australia
Our Australia-New Zealand trip was packed with fun and frolic. It was no doubt hectic as we had to see quite a few places in both the countries. Along with sightseeing, at some places entertainment programmes were arranged that showcased local culture or attractions such as the all-star parade at Movie World or a dance performance by the Maoris. Everywhere we enjoyed Kesaris well-organised hospitality. At places they even surprised us with some extrasa Starbucks coffee here, an ice-cream there. Brisbane was the first city we saw on this tour. We visited Town Hall, Kangaroo Point and the waterfront. The latter was decorated with both manmade and Nature-gifted things. So on the one hand there were strings of red Chinese lanterns adding gaiety to the waterfront; on the other there were different-coloured bougainvillea and bird of paradise flowers lending a general air of festivity. Here I must mention an interesting incident. We had purchased a new camera and were still not acquainted with all its features. Ashok took some nice photos of Brisbane and as he was trying to edit them back at the hotel, he ended up erasing all the photos. Luckily the next day he was able to reshoot some of the photos before we headed for the next destination. At Gold Coast, Movie World and Sea World we enjoyed thrilling rides and met funny cartoon characters. At Paradise Town we saw a wool-shearing demonstration. There we were surprised to see dogs acting as shepherds looking after their wards and guiding them from place to place. After lunch in a rural ambience, we entered koala territory. Koalas sleep on trees and their only job seems to be to wake up to snack on the leaves of the very tree on which they perch and go back to sleep. We were there at lunchtime and caught them having lunch. When Runa was in school she said

she wanted to be a koala in her next birth so that she could sleep as long as she wanted. Here we also saw kangaroos jumping all over the place. It is interesting to see how they jump all the time without hurting their babies in their belly pouch. At the Kuranda rainforest we enjoyed the Sky Rail cable car ride through a thick tropical jungle. At Cairns we had the unique experience of seeing the Great Barrier Reef. Here we had the opportunity to try our hands, or rather feet, at snorkelling and also witnessed the amazing world of corals through a semi-submersible glassbottomed boat. At Sydney we were amazed by the architecture of the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge. To me the most interesting place in Australia is Melbourne. A beautiful drive along the Great Ocean Road brings you to the Twelve Apostles.

The Twelve Apostles Detached from the mainland, these rock formations appear to rise from the sea. Though originally 10 in number these majestic and imposing formations have nevertheless earned the name Twelve Apostles. These limestone cliffs were initially part of the mainland but constant erosion of the soft stone along with the wind and storms carved hollow caves inside them. At some point they got separated from the mainland and further erosion gradually resulted in archlike formations. These arches eventually collapsed and what remains are stone cliffs up to 45 meters high that stand independently in the ocean. In May 2005 when we visited, there were nine of them but on July 3, 2005 a 50-metre-tall rock collapsed leaving only eight of them behind. These are susceptible to further erosion. This reminds me of the nursery rhyme: Ten green bottles standing on the ground, one green bottle did accidently fall. I hope and pray to God that this count does not go beyond one. The Twelve Apostles change colour with a change in the angle of sunlight falling on them and create an interesting play of light and shadow.

The penguin parade is a spectacular natural show and a highlight of the visit to Australia. Every evening thousands of penguins come out of the sea to their homes on land and one evening was reserved for us to go and enjoy this homecoming. That morning was to be spent shopping at China Town. Here some ladies lost track of time and when they did realise it, they could not find their way out of the shopping labyrinth and hence were late. To add to our woes the bus we were travelling in developed some problem which could not be rectified. It meant that we would miss our appointment with the penguins. Going to Australia and not seeing the penguin parade was just not acceptable and everybody started blaming the organisers. Some of them even wanted part of their money back. But the organisers were helpless and there was no way of making it to the parade that day. The coach captain and the guide did promise to take us there the following evening if everybody cooperated by starting the next days tour earlier than scheduled, to which all agreed. Did we make it the next day? We were all in the bus 10 minutes before departure the next morning and to a chorus of Ganpati Bappa Morya, a common refrain at the start of every Kesari tour, we were on our way. We completed the days programme before time and made it to Phillip Island on the dot to witness the penguin parade. The stage was set for their arrival the mysterious hour of dusk, a darkening horizon, an unfathomable stretch of the ocean and the anticipation that any time now, the penguins would reach the shore by the hundreds. Golden lights cast playful beams on the wet sand where we sat, our eyes fixated on the sea, unblinking. Wave after wave rose and broke near the beach. Then came a big one. It looked different from the rest and subsided before it reached the shore. And from its ebb emerged black dots that moved towards the beach. Soon they revealed themselves as birds waddling through the water. I held my breath as they neared. They were penguins. It was followed by another wave and yet another batch of penguins disgorged themselves. More waves splashed and more penguins were revealed. From the sea the penguins made their way across the beach to their own homes (burrows under trees on sand dunes). Photography is not allowed here, so you have no other option but to capture this Happy Feet performance in your mind alone. ***

New Zealand
New Zealand has more interesting sights to offer than Australia. We started our tour at Christchurch where we visited the Antarctic Centre. At Queenstown, our next destination, we enjoyed a gondola ride and saw a thrilling bungee jump. If you are adventurous enough, you get to dive down 43 metres while screaming your guts for about...three seconds! You can make the act more interesting, if you dare, by sneaking a peek at the snow-clad mountains all around on your way down. Tourists can also enjoy other adventure sports like sky-jumping, speedboat and jet boat rides, paragliding and parasailing. This was followed by a visit to the most picturesque site in New Zealand. We got up at five in the morning, had breakfast at 6.30 and were off at seven. No one minded the early hours as we were on our way to the fascinating Milford Sound. The Remarkable Mountains (called so because they run in the perfect north-south direction) flaunted snow-white caps which dazzled against the backdrop of a just-turned-blue sky. In the bus Lata Mangeshkar sang bhupalies in her melodious voice. Soon the sky started to turn pink, providing a pleasing pastel background for the silver Remarkables and the clear blue Wakatipu Lake. This pink and blue landscape

continued for some time and then green manuka trees appeared in the foreground. Yellow tussock grass provided the final foremost layer to this perfect landscape which has been utilised beautifully in the song Kyo chalati hai pawan from Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai. After a quick comfort stop at Mossburn we moved through not just cattle and sheep but also deer farms. Then we came to Te Anau Lake, the gateway to the Fiordland National Park. Here we purchased a crystal penguin and a shell pendant. From Te Anau we arrived at the starting point of our cruise to Milford Sound. It was cold and raining lightly; the resulting fog made the whole area look enchanting. Milford Sound is a fiord nestling in the world heritage site of Fiordland National Park. On entering the cruiser we had a cup of hot tea before going to the deck. It is the place to be if you really want to enjoy the scenery. It rained heavily in the beginning but after some time, the rain stopped and we could move about on the deck. From our vantage point we enjoyed some stunning waterfalls and were even treated to a refreshingly cold splash as the ship took us close to them. The beauty of the mountains almost drowning in the Tasman Sea is just incomparable. Milford Sound is formed by glaciers that receive layers of snow deposits. These become compact and hard as rocks. When they melt crystal clear, blue water gushes down in the form of waterfalls. As we cruised further we saw the Mitre peak which rises directly from the ocean floor to a height of 5,560 feet. Bowen and Sterling Falls are two of the most spectacular waterfalls whose beauty remains etched in your mind forever. Te Whakarewarewatanga O Te Ope Taua A Wahiao. Start with Te and stop at Wahiao. And only then pause to take a breath. This is not an exercise in breathing; neither is this a strange version of Breathless by Shankar Mahadevan. It is the name of a place in New Zealand commonly known as Whakarewarewa. It means meeting place of the warriors. Here we were welcomed by Maoris, tribal folk who demonstrated for us the formalities they follow when meeting another person. The presenter invited one of us to act like a Maori and when he tried making faces like one, we all ended up laughing to our hearts content. Whakarewarewa is a geothermal area in Rotorua city. It lies in the volcanic zone and has many boiling mud pools and geysers. Here we saw the kiwi, a nocturnal bird kept in a specially simulated chamber. At the Maori Arts and Cultural Centre we met craftsmen weaving articles from flax. A large area of the village has been utilised for flax plantation. Visitors can also try their hand at weaving under the able guidance of the craftsmen there. Some other people were fashioning lovely sculptures out of wood. The souvenir shop nearby was selling soaps made from volcanic mud in addition to wooden and flax articles. After a round of the souvenir shop we went to the theatre to enjoy a performance by Maori tribesmen. We were given a chance to take our photos with these artists. While in New Zealand we were looking forward to meeting my cousin Jayu and her husband Madhav who have settled there. They had invited us to spend some time with them. At their place we enjoyed tasty Indian food after many days. The next morning they took us around to see Auckland which, according to Madhav, is a cooler version of Mumbai. We also visited a mall where we had a six-inch Subway sandwich each. ***

Mauritius
Of all the foreign lands that I have visited I found Mauritius to be the most picturesque. For this trip in addition to Vijudada and Meghana we had Runa and Rashmi (Vijudadas D-I-L) for company. As with all the other trips, this too was planned by them. Mauritius is a small, beautiful island. As our plane descended it looked like an emerald green lotus leaf floating on inky blue sea waters. It looked so tiny that I wondered if the plane would be able to land on it, but it didsafely and smoothly. As we came out of the airport a slight drizzle rubbed the sleep away from our eyes, and a good thing it was too. For how else would we have enjoyed the beauty that stretched before us? On both sides of the road that led to Flic-n-Flac where we had our hotel, there were sontakka flowers. Their pleasing fragrance, which blended with that of moist earth, welcomed us to the island. Our hotel had circular rooms and provided views of a nicely laid-out garden on all sides. A cool welcome drink completed this all-sensual treat. The sights that Mauritius puts on display for visitors are equally vivid. The Pamplemousses Botanical Garden bursting with varieties of palms and Amazon lilies, the trendy and happening Caudan waterfront, the wide-angle view of Port Louis seen from the fort and the sunset at Flic-nFlac Beachthey were all fantastic.

Amazon lilies Our visit to the ship model-making factory, the glass factory and the Floreal Square gave a new dimension to shopping. Among natural wonders the Chamarel waterfall, seven-coloured earth and the volcanic crater at Trou Aux Cerfs were simply not to be missed. We also took a submarine ride to see old ship wrecks and corals. And sated our sense of adventure with water sports at Ile Aux Cerfs. The presence of the Shiva Temple and the fact that everybody here understands Hindi made us feel at home.

There was yet another surprise in store for us. We had just had dinner one night and were taking a stroll on the beach. It was quiet but for the murmur of the soft waves as they broke on the shore. The hotels soft lights added to the romance in the air. Suddenly a flurry of activity drew our attention. The yellow lights took on more colourful glints; the soothing whisper of the wind gave way to a faster beat and the atmosphere turned electrifying. All eyes turned to the hotel entrance, the source of this hubbub, and stood transfixed as a group of dancers made their way to the hotel lawn by the side of the beach. They wore pink and white dresses and moved energetically to the music of some traditional instruments. The female dancers twirled their flowing skirts in an attempt to seduce their male partners while moving around in circles, their tattooed bodies all grace. The synchronized rhythm and movements were so mesmerising that we were inspired to tap our feet in tandem. The dancers then invited us to join in and we were left speechless at the zest with which our two left feet managed to keep up with them. As we learned later this was Sega, the national dance form of Mauritius, and the hotel had arranged the performance to entertain their patrons. It was vibrant and colourful to say the least. Like a whirlwind the dancers came, they performed and they conquered our hearts. The performance transported us to a different world. And little did we know when the whirlwind stopped and when we slipped smoothly into the world of our dreams. ***

Japan
It was in October 2008 that we undertook the Japan, China and Hong Kong tour. Just two days before we were set to start, I sprained my ankle. How was I to undertake the tour when I couldnt even walk? At the same time I could not cancel the trip as our entire expenses were paid up. So armed with painkillers I decided to go anyway come what may! In Japan we see modernity juxtaposed with tradition. On the one hand there is technological progress and development; on the other hand the nation has gone to great lengths to preserve and protect its heritage. Tokyo is all glitter and gaiety; in contrast, the temples of Asakusa, Todaiji and Kiyomize are all about revering tradition and culture. The castles of Nijo and Osaka are of historical importance. The Golden Pavilion, reflected in lake waters and surrounded by a beautiful garden, too is worth appreciating.The Ginza is the most expensive shopping district and attracts you with skyscrapers and dollops of glamour, but the things on display in the various departmental stores here are for your eyes only. In short, I found all manmade things beautiful and beautifully presented. But as a lover of Nature I would have loved to see Mount Fuji. I had seen good pictures of the mountain framed by cherry trees in bloom, so I was disappointed when we missed having Fuji darshan in person because of thick fog and clouds. I did enjoy Aashi Lake and Hakone, known for its hot water springs. While travelling to Hiroshima we also had the unique experience of travelling by the fastest bullet train. At Hiroshima we were driven to tears as we relived the sad events of WWII as encapsulated in the museum and peace memorial park. The museum exhibits include belongings left behind by the victims, photos and other materials that convey the ghastly event in astonishing detail. At most exhibitions you are not allowed to touch the exhibits, but a sign here tells you to go ahead and do just that. One exhibit displays a portion of the steps of a bank building and a greyishblack imprint of a person whod been sitting on them. It is said that the immense heat caused him

to simply evaporate and leave the imprint behind. Charred lunchboxes belonging to children, burnt-out clothes of girls, a watch stopped at 8.15 thus recording the time of the bomb explosion for eternitythese bring alive the horrors of the nuclear holocaust. The Peace Memorial Park is built in memory of Sadako. As a two-year-old she was exposed to the atomic bomb. She survived but was admitted to the hospital with leukaemia after 10 years. In spite of her pain she would fold bits of paper into cranes in the hope that it would cure here. She died eight months later. Today as we enter the park we can see paper cranes in bright colours everywhere. Considered a symbol of peace, they have come here from all over the world. There is a statue of Sadako in the park surrounded by golden ginkgo trees. They are called phoenix trees as they rose from the ashes even though scientists had predicted that nothing would ever rise from the bomb-hit area again. Every year on August 6 a bell for peace is rung and a memorial service held in the park.

The Golden Pavilion Our Japanese guide, Kazumi Yamaguchi, taught us to make paper cranes and recited a beautiful nursery poem called Momiji. Here is the poem with its English translation: Aki no yuuhi ni teru yama kouyou koi mo usui mo kazu aru naka ni matsu wo irodoru kaede ya tsuta wa yama no fumoto no suso moyou Fiery red are maples Spreading over the mountains, Gleaming in the sunshine, dark and light in autumn tints Red and yellow maples, and ever green so tall Brocades, Nature, charming is the fall. ***

China
The Great Wall of China, considered one of the wonders of the world, is among the few sights visible from outer space. In the course of our foreign travels, we were lucky to have been able to see two such sights, the other being the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. At Beijing, besides the Great Wall, we saw the sprawling complex of the majestic Forbidden City and the Tiananmen Square, the biggest in the world. The Temple Of Heaven and the Jade Factory were also worth seeing. From Beijing we travelled to Xian. Our flight to Xian was at 8am and we were required to reach the airport at seven, so our hotel provided us a packed breakfast. For once our flight was on time. Our first visit was to the factory of terracotta warriors. On entering we were greeted by headless torsos of warriors. Some of us got themselves photographed as armoured warriors by placing their heads above these headless statues. Vijudada became a tall warrior, courtesy a stool that was kept behind a torso for just this purpose. The ladies posed too, perhaps as Rani Laxmibai, the Indian warrior queen. The most ferocious of the entire lot was Janardan, a group member. After this interesting photo shoot we went to the factory. Here they showed us how replicas of warriors were maderight from prepping the mud to making moulds and the final statuesand also how one could recognise them by their different ranks. Some warrior replicas were kept for sale. Next to the terracotta section there were sections for art, furniture and paintings. Traditional wooden inlaid furniture, lacquer wood and rosewood artefacts, jade screens and other souvenirs were showcased here. Beautiful Chinese paintings on silk were also on display. There was no question of buying anything here and we dared not ask for their prices. From the factory we went to the terracotta warrior pits for which Xian is famous today these are the archaeological excavations. Life-size terracotta figures of warriors and horses arranged in battle formations symbolically guard the mausoleum of the emperor. We were taken to the site by trams. The complex is sprawling and houses a number of pits, an information centre and a museum all surrounded by a beautiful garden. So far over 7,000 pottery pieces including soldiers, horses, chariots and weapons have been unearthed and displayed in the museum. It is cited as the eighth wonder of the world and was listed by UNESCO in 1987 as one of the worlds cultural heritages. After visiting the main pits we had lunch inside the campus. We did not relish the food there what with items like noodles in beef soup on the menu. As we were finishing whatever little we could eat, a man brought us snake wine (there was a coiled snake inside the bottle), which is supposed to be taken as medicine. Just looking at it made me want to throw up whatever little food I had taken. After lunch we saw a film about the warriors. Then at the information centre tea house, I preferred to sip mocha coffee rather than experiment with something new. For those more adventurous than me, ingredients like rosebuds and jasmine were kept in a tray to be added to a cup of tea. After that it was back to our bus by trams. At Xian we also saw the Wild Goose Pagoda, a silk museum and a pearl factory where I bought a pearl bracelet. A Tang dynasty cultural programme was arranged in the evening for us. At Guilin we enjoyed the Li river cruise the shore extends for about a hundred kilometres on both sides and is a sort of live natural art gallery. Some naturally formed paintings and carvings are found on the mountain slopes facing the river. Then there were the reed caves formed by stalactites and stalagmites. At Shenzhen we saw the Window of the World which boasts of replicas of monuments from all over the world. In China I liked Shanghai the most though

everything here is manmade. The 108-storey Jin Mao Tower, the aquarium and the Pearl Oriental TV Tower are all architectural wonders. At Shanghai we also saw the Jade Budhha Temple and the Yu Yuan Garden. Before wrapping up the day with an acrobatic show, we experienced the thrill of a Maglev train ride going at a speed of 431km/hr. Our tour ended in Hong Kong where we saw Madame Tussauds Museum, Repulse Bay and the Aberdeen fishing village.

The great wall of China An Unforgettable Incident: Could not climb the wall At the Great Wall a lift took us up to one of the viewing points. The weather was cold and windy and had we stretched our hands and flapped them, I think we would have flown just like birds and seen the wall from the air. To fend off the cold I rewrapped the scarf properly around my head and adjusted my sweater. As I looked out, the wall extended as far as the eye could see to both sides. It turned, went up, came down only to rise again. These are fortifications with observation towers in prominent areas. Our guide gave us half an hour to move about on the wall. We could go either up or down to the next observation point. Tickets had already been purchased. I started moving along with the others but hardly had I gone a few steps than my knee and ankle started to hurt badly. I kept going but every step I took seemed to hurt. At one point I even fell forward. So I had no option but to give up. Not one to give up easily I felt frustrated, defeated and down. Needless to say Ashok stayed with me until the others came back from their walk on the wall. This greatly wounded my ego. Of course, after years of travelling my perspective of such incidents has changed and I no longer consider them failures. But at that time I thought differently and as such, I will never be able to forget this incident though some of the hurt and disappointment has faded with the passage of time.

I have travelled widely in foreign countries and seen most of India as well. I have experienced the luxury of five-star hotels and slept in a dormitory too. I have feasted at plush restaurants and enjoyed food at roadside dhabas. I have travelled by plane and ship and also trekked on nonexisting dirt roads. I cannot say which trip was better or which experience has enriched me more. Every place has its unique charmone cannot compare Shanghai to Mumbai and it would be wrong to compare the Alps to the Himalayas. Each destination has something to teach you. But you must have the capacity to grasp and understand it. If you make travelling your goal and if you enjoy the journey as much as being at the final destination, then each moment, whether in India or abroad, is well spent. Each moment has its merit. Similarly if you learn to enjoy the journey of life, then you have achieved your goal and are successful. Enjoy and celebrate your success every waking moment of your life. ***