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Judy Newberry Ashley, AIS class of 1969, Bob Ashley, KC Gray Siebert, AIS class of 1970, & Neal Siebert are touring South India. Below are journal entries about their trip from Judy.
March 4 Taka found us. We spent yesterday like a bunch of chicks following the mother duck. Had a WONDERFUL time -- he took lots of snaps for the website, you may even have them by now. ~ Judy We went out yesterday and got exhausted (a lot of up and down in Hong Kong). Here's a shot (top left) of the usual suspects on Cat Street in Central (antiques, etc). A lot of Mao Tse Dung memorabelia (old and new) these days, I see. TAKA March 2, 2006 We were unable to connect with (AIS alumnus) Mia -- Agnes' house was 1-1/2 hours from our hotel and we had to get up at 4:15 to catch our plane -- so decided not to make the drive (also, have NO idea how much the cab would've been). We were able to meet up with the doctor who we met in Pondicherry who had an exhibition of his photos of Kashmir there. He had his driver pick us up from dinner and deliver us to his condo (NICE MERCEDES BENZ), we had desert and a nice visit, then delivered back to our hotel by his other driver in his other Benz. Doctoring must be very good business! We are currently awaiting our flight back to Bombay, followed by dinner, a change of clothing and then off to Hong Kong and our good friend, Mr. Taka. Ajunta and Ellora caves were very, very nice. ~ Judy February 28, 2006
So, we were blessed again at a Hindu Temple just outside of Goa (it only cost us Rs. 400 -- or $9). He said he pray for us for a long life. Then the priest took our picture. After depositing our good faith baksheesh with him, my ankle began to hurt, so I'm suspicious of his blessing. However, my ankle has recovered, so perhaps we are blessed. Goa was lovely, our hotel a little on the far edge of budget, but was the only thing available because it was Carnival (just like in New Orleans). But the pool was clean, so KC was happy. Mosquitos were back. My new skin lotion of choice is "Repel." Keeps away bugs and protects me from the sun (if it makes it through the haze). Hopped on a plane this morning from Goa to Mumbai (Bombay to us) and the hotel forgot to pick us up, which caused some consternations; but a fellow helped us out, and we were delivered in a small vehicle to our hotel which is only a couple of blocks from India Gate. We are now trying to meet up with a doctor we met in Pondicherry for drinks, as well as have dinner with a friend of a friend of KC's. ~ Judy A February 25, 2006
Namaste' We flew from Kerala to Bangalor yesterday;saw a very nice temple and the guide was excellent, then a sight or two before driving to Mysore. We are staying at the Green Palace Hotel, which was originally occupied by three princesses. They sold it to a film studio, who then sold it to an Italian lady who fixed it up as a hotel. There are seven rooms in the "palace," another 23 rooms in "lodging." Of course, we are in the Palace. Bob and I have the Rose Room, KC & Neal have the Princess Room. There are only two other sleeping rooms on this level -- but there is a banquet hall, a library, a reading room (or two), a lounge -- it's quite decadent, in a shaby-sheek sort of fashion. Dinner on the lawn last night and we saw an amazing shooting star. This morning toured a Maharaja's palace. It was phenominal -- the most gold, siler, painting, opuplance I've ever seen. Toured a gothic church (way out of place in Mysore), and will go back to the Maharaja's palace tonight for a light show. Beggars are getting to us, as are the hawkers. Tomorrow we're off to Goa. Haven't been able to connect my laptop to the Internet -- thus you'll have to suffer without pictures for now. ~ Judy February 18, 2006
Second installment from India. Forgot to mention the cost of Bob’s hospital stay. Rs. 1,175 (or about $25). When we told Lalit, our host, how much it cost, he was concerned we thought it was too much. It’s just about equal to our co-pay! Basha, our most capable driver, paid the fine, recovered his documents and we spent the next 12 hours playing catch up on the itinerary. We spent a pampered evening in Maduari overlooking the city while having dinner under the stars (the food has been incredible), slept in a bed with a cushy mattress and real pillows – it was grand. Toured a very large temple (Sri Meenakshi Sundareswarar) and then headed to Shalimar Spice Garden retreat in Periyar outside a wildlife sanctuary. Bungalows are sprinkled up the hillside, naturally our’s were at the top of the hill, so my knees barked going up and KC’s barked coming down, but the setting was idyllic. Took a boat ride in the park and an elephant ride through a spice plantation, and are now settled into our house boat in Kerala, cruising the backwaters. The mattress isn't. The pillow is less. But, Appu has fixed us some incredible meals and we’ve really enjoyed the rice plantations, abundance of palm trees and the peacefulness of this place. Mosquitos have been ravenous, the Deet slows them down, the mosquito netting mandatory. Judy, Bob, KC & Neal February 13, 2006 Namaste from far away! KC, Neal, Judy and Bob are having a wonderful tour of southern India. Highlights include great temples, walks through local markets, being blessed by a Brahman priest in a pilgrim-crowded temple, and a photographic exhibition in our guest house of Kashmir by a doctor from Bombay. Neal missed seeing Auroville (a stab at utopia) due to a case of Delhi Belly; Bob didn't get blessed by the priest because he had the puke n' poops and we admitted him late in the afternoon to a clinic for resuscitation. While he was recovering the next day, we went to the grocery store to get him some juice and crackers, and our driver was fined for not having a permit (very similar to how we got arrested in '95 for not paying the toll into Rajistan). It was, perhaps, bribery and he wasn't about to succumb - but they took all of our travel documents, so we'll see how this turns out tomorrow morning! Mosquitos have been a bit nippy, but we've got our Deet, so are surviving. Hope to have photos soon. Unable to get to the Internet as often as I?d like, but will keep trying. Judy Newberry Ashley, AIS class of 1969, Bob Ashley, KC Gray Siebert, AIS class of 1970, & Neal Siebert
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KC & Neal Siebert and Bob & Judy Ashley at their hotel in Goa.
