A GRAND JOURNEY BEGINS IN DEHLI (Part 1 in a Series)

The annual privilege of uttering three favorite words for the hubby and me arrived April 18th: "And we're off!"  And where to?   First (and first visit) to India; southwest to the magnificent Maldives; east via flights through Sri Lanka and Singapore (been there but no time to stop this trip) to Western Australia to visit Perth and exploring the wine area; finally north en route back home with roughly 26 hours in Hong Kong (i.e., plenty of time to do damage).   

 

How was the decision made?  Bucket list?  Yes, in the case of the Maldives (anybody NOT want to go there??).  As for India, that became much more "doable" upon learning that the company used for last year's African adventure -- the sensational andBeyond -- also specializes in India.  As for Perth?  The hubby has a client whose family is in the wine biz there, so voila.  And it's not much further traveling there from where we were than if you were heading west from Sydney (visited in 2010, along with Melbourne, Cairns and New Zealand). I mean, once we were already in the "neighborhood," why not?

As for the India details, we'll concentrate our time in the area known as "The Golden Triangle" shown below.

The hubby and I tend to make the big spring trip just the two of us.  For this one, we're very happy to have Aunt Judy Stone joining us from New York.  This is Judy's first India trip as well. While she and her husband are avid travelers, he is among many who have no interest in India.   Remarkably, Judy's eastbound flight and our westbound flights arrived in Delhi within minutes of each other. Wonders of modern air travel!  We'll have a fascinating 10 days together before she heads home and we proceed on our way.

After a "swift" 23 hours total (LAX-Hong Kong-Delhi), we were transported to the Lodhi Hotel on the border between the old and new sections of the city.  A beautifully modern structure, with a plunge pool standard for all accommodations, we were happy to arrive and greet Judy in the 2-br suite.  The hardest part is acclimating to the local time (+12.5 hrs from LA).  The goal for day 1. is a bit of sightseeing, a trip to the spa, and early night, then progressively gearing up. With the heat index at 110F, that was all any of us were up to doing. But, you know, at least no humidity ... 

Clockwise from upper right:  In the Lodhi Hotel lobby; Humayan's Tomb built prior to the Taj Mahal but also as a shrine to a spouse; War Memorial; President's residence

I love this group of school kids on the grounds of Humayan's Tomb getting in close for a selfie.

Serious stuff in front of the President's palace.

A quintessential experience of India was the visit to the Old Dehli marketplace and Spice Market.  I'm no lover of 100+ temperatures with wall-to-wall vehicles and people, but this was not to be missed.  Our guide told us that, appearances notwithstanding, many of the "stores" have been been in the same family for generations and provide quite a nice living.  

	Clockwise from upper left: En route to Old Dehli in typical traffic; getting ready for prayers at the Mosque; Jalebis which you'll know if you saw the movie Lion (I did on the plane!); Judy & I in necessary coverings at the Mosque

Wires and cables galore in Old Dehli; looking over the hubby's shoulder in traffic so close you can touch the passing vehicle.

At the Lodhi Hotel in Delhi with our incredible trip arranger from andBeyond, Devika Surie, and equally sensational Delhi guide, Gagan Anand.  Off to Agra ...!

A DAUNTING DECISION: WHAT CAMERA SHOULD I BUY??

In the scheme of things, does the decision of what camera to buy really matter all that much??  I have LOVED using my Samsung Galaxy 8 camera  for nearly four years, with Android technology and all my familiar apps.  Wherever we have traveled people have been fascinated by it.  "Is it a phone?  Is it a camera?" Kinda both -- you can't make a traditional phone call, but it is otherwise connectable while principally being a camera. And then there is the enormous screen size -- 4.8" -- which has been a joy.

 

It was beginning to show some wear so off to Best Buy for help as they are a big Samsung outfit.  Upon learning the distressing news that Samsung had discontinued the product (mon dieu!), apparently due to low sales, I was faced with a mind-boggling choice of what to buy next.  The decision is akin to sorting through all the wineries in Napa/Sonoma these days ... so much variety to choose from.

For me (and obviously so many others), travel and photography are intertwined. In discussing my upcoming travel plans, a well-meaning person actually urged me to bring a camera along! I really can't imagine one without the other. Yes, most of us know folks who travel but don't have any sort of record (permanent or otherwise) of their experiences. The hubby has never had to think about it, and likely wouldn't, but still nudges me if I don't have a Shutterfly album (samples below) printed in short order after our big trips.  

Typically I go to Samy's Camera, a very reputable dealer in Los Angeles, and rely on their expertise to guide me.  This time I did my own online research.  I looked at Samy's offerings and compared them to Amazon, plus read user reviews.  I don't want to be too much of a skeptic, but how does one know if a user knows what he or she is doing when they review something? Maybe the bad experience is due to "pilot error."  

Without going much deeper in the weeds, I decided on a Canon Powershot SX540 HS with 50x Optical Zoom and Built-In Wi-Fi.  So far, so good (you be the judge per below). I will still bring the Samsung with me just in case.  And I will try not to be influenced by reading all the recommendations in a WSJ column ...  seen, of course, after my purchase!

From my garden: first ripened blackberry of the season and blossoming nectarine tree.

Indoor photos from a recent event/art show at The Cellar Beverly Hills.

       Baby shower luncheon.                     Downtown LA's Last Bookstore

So what camera are you using ... and why???

HOW MUCH TIME IS TOO MUCH TIME?

Most every Friday morning, I try to catch (radio talk show host) Dennis Prager's Happiness Hour.  No, even though I am honored to call Dennis a friend, I am not here to pitch anything. Dennis is a renown traveler, including having annual "listeners" cruises.  He just returned from one such trip to Asia.  As he typically shares, he had a fantastic time. But when asked prior to departure if he was looking forward to the trip, he said "no." Not no, he was dreading it or he thought it wouldn't be great; rather no, he hadn't really thought about it.  

 

This led me to think a couple of things:

1)  What if one thinks too much about an upcoming trip, and one's expectations don't work out?

2)   If one is spending too much time on something happening in the future, is one missing out on the day-to-day?

3)   How much time is too much time spent on planning travel?

Here are a few of thoughts from someone (yours truly) who spends a huge amount of time on the subject.

 

I really, really, REALLY try not to have expectations.  Not knowing what we will do at a particular destination is a great part of the exploration. Many a surprise has been realized, like arriving in New Zealand one year in late April, only to be surrounded by magnificent foliage changing colors.  Hey, it's Fall in April there!  I never thought about it and was beyond thrilled.  The hubby always reminds me I love the leaves because I never had to rake them (as he did in Cleveland). 

Regarding expectations, one way I draw a line in the sand is expecting 5-star accommodations and service if I agree to pay 5-star rates. That is something I think about in advance and most definitely question if not received.

 

There are some practicalities to advance planning, like award seats, theater tickets and special restaurants.  But I totally agree that looking forward to something at the expense of whatever is happening right now can play a part in not appreciating what's in front of us.

I rather doubt I'll spend less time planning travel than I do now. You know why? Because I love it.  There's something about discovering a new hotel or making a new contact or knowing that you finally get to go somewhere you've always dreamed about that is just too rewarding.  

So what's the moral of this story?  If you happen to find something you love, savor it ... just not only it.   There's just too much wonderful stuff that might be missed!

  

PRIVATE TOUR OF DTLA

As a longtime member and past president of a most amazing group of LA-area business women -- Organization of Women Executives --  I agreed to co-chair our special events for this year. Looking for new and different things that our members might find of interest can be challenging.  But upon reading how LA's own downtown arts district (DTLA) had literally exploded to nearly 50 blocks, I thought how fun it would be for our members to explore.

Key to the event was the expert guidance of Lara Dildy, editor of Downtown Los Angeles Art Walk, a monthly event supporting, exposing and bringing people to the area.  Click on the link to read all about this amazing evening and the organization. 

Our extremely knowledgeable and expressive tour guide Lara Dildy

Lara met our group of 20+ members and their guests at noon just outside the iconic Grand Central Market where many of us had arrived earlier to grab a bite.  Off we went down Broadway to 4th Street.  Our first stop was at the corner of Spring and 4th, at the conjoined galleries of Miguel Osuna and Robert Reynolds.  We had the opportunity to meet both of the artists and hear about their works.  The benefit of our relatively small group provided a very personal feel to our tour.

Above are some of our members/guests. Upper right is artist Robert Reynolds describing his amazing work made out of used cardboard boxes; lower left is a work in progress by Miguel Osuna.

 

From there we proceeded to the Howard Griffin Gallery, with a large display of Thierry Noir works.  Mr. Noir is most notable as being the first artist credited with painting the Berlin Wall in 1984.  His work is prominently displayed in the alleyway separating Spring and Main Streets in an enormous mural seen below. 

Just two of Mr. Noir's works on display in the gallery.

I for one was not even aware of The Last Book Store prior to Lara's and my test run a few months ago.  I am always surprised as a native Angeleno to make new discoveries.  This remarkable spot at the corner of 5th and Spring comprises not just countless "real" (hardcover!) books for sale but many small galleries in the upstairs area as well.  And, natch, a place that sells coffee. It was a challenge gathering up the troops to proceed to our last stop.  

	From the second floor looking down on the enormous space.
Above is a tunnel of books that guests can walk through; the section at right is called "decorative books" -- only red in this section!

Gloria Delson Contemporary Arts on Spring Street was the official conclusion to our two hours, but many members went on from there.  A few of us couldn't resist the chance to indulge at nearby Gelateria Uli, with the sincere hope they open other locations.  It was then back to our cars after a terrific afternoon.  I know I will certainly look forward to a return visit! 

 

FINDING JOY IN PLANNING TRAVEL

When a "bestie" recently moved back to her hometown (Louisville), I told the hubby I wanted to plan a trip there for this year. Lest he think that what he likes to do wasn't part of the equation, I suggested we go to Cincinnati and possibly even Cleveland for baseball (I have not been to either of their current parks). While that itinerary may still occur, he insisted we go first to two other ballparks not yet visited -- Atlanta (inaugural season) and Miami (opened 2012). Jumping right on the planning bandwagon is such a delicious treat that I almost can't do anything else until mission accomplished!  The thrill of planning travel -- scoring a room at the Ritz Carlton (with Amex Platinum benefits) for $199?  It is a high for me. I guess that officially makes me a travel junkie.  And if I were to compare the benefits derived from this fun compared to say online shopping of a different kind -- clothing, as an example -- well, that's a tough one. I suppose the lasting memories of travel make this particular endeavor more meaningful (and I don't have to explain the credit card charge -- an added bonus for sure).     Looking at the calendar in terms of when to go involves:  1) tax filing deadlines; 2) Atlanta and Miami home stands; and, 3) avoiding summer's most oppressive temperatures.  Oh, and our own Dodger games, Hollywood Bowl tickets, etc., etc.  In other words, the window isn't always expansive.  Late June fit the above criteria and it was on to the execution. If money were no object, I'd simply book American Airlines first class (business and first are typically combined domestically). Alas, that's not the case.  So coach it is, paying a bit extra for maximum legroom, and putting in requests for upgrades.  Since going east is the shorter flight, these parameters seem fine.  We earn AA miles, and the tickets were quite reasonable.  For the other two legs, instead of flying into nutty Miami, I booked Fort Lauderdale -- a much more civilized airport with lots of flights and just 30 miles north of Miami.  We'll have a car so off we go.  Atlanta-Ft. L is less than two hours and Delta is the best bet: one way for about $100.  Done. The splurge is the flight back to LA.  Non-stop flights via Jet Blue and Virgin leave either early morning or evening.  I don't love a 7:15 a.m. departure time (but I do like being back in LA by 10 a.m.), so I splurged on Jet Blue Mint -- their equivalence of first class -- which I have wanted to try.  It is considerably less $$ than American's seats and who doesn't love Jet Blue? I'll let you know my thoughts afterward.   Besides the aforementioned Ritz Carlton in Atlanta, I booked a Westin in FtL (close to the airport):  a generously-sized suite, including wi-fi and breakfast, for $189 per night via AAA rate.  I like the Westin brand plus I earn SPG points.  With rental cars booked (via Amex), this whole process took just a couple of hours.  And it was so much fun!     What's the moral of the story?  Practice, practice, practice.  Look at travel planning as something fun to do, not as a chore.  Because a job well done equates to time well spent.  Better yet, call me to map out your trip and go do something else with your time!

CABO IDEAL FOR QUICK GETAWAY

It's no secret that Cabo San Lucas, just a two-hour flight southeast of LA, makes for an ideal getaway. What's astonishing is the massive growth that continues to occur unabated.

The iconic Cabo arch

The hubby surprised me for a major birthday back in 2004 with the first trip to Cabo. The locals were thrilled that the first Costco had just opened up, and they could purchase essentials like bread and milk for significantly less than the area markets.  We stayed at Las Ventanas which was a splurge to say the least. Infinity pools were unique back then so entering that gorgeous resort seemed staggering as the pool "fell" into the ocean beyond.

The next trip was for our daughter's graduation in 2009.  At the time, the area was just desolate due to fears of kidnapping and the like.  We had a great time and never felt the least bit unsafe.

Flash forward to 2017.  Unlike the first trip where five-star properties were just three -- Las Ventanas (Rosewood), Esperanza (Auberge) and One & Only Palmilla -- there's now La Pedregal, The Montage, The Cape and a Ritz Carlton still under construction. And that's just the high end.  The growth is at least 10% annually, and up to 20% at times.  Three thousand rooms will be added in 2017.  During the high season (November through May), there are sometimes 40 commercial flights on Saturdays and Sundays.

It's not just the high end experiencing growth (multi-million-dollar vacation homes), but the huge amount of "all-inclusive" resorts that are very affordable and abundant.  This trip was the result of purchasing a three-night stay (at a charity auction) at Fiesta Grand Americana.  Personally I am not a fan of all-inclusive -- typical of cruise ships and the like -- where one almost feels obligated to indulge because "it's free." I'd rather think twice about consumption while paying as I go. To each his own.

So what to do in a short time span?  Visit the spa!  An 80-minute deep tissue for $90 works for me (after some sort of discount plus gratuity).  But the big outing was whale watching via Cabo Adventures ..

We were given the choice of either a small but very fast boat (which was like a life raft) holding 26 plus 3 crew, or a very large double-decker.  We opted for the small one, which adventure was called "Whale Safari."  Having experienced an African safari last year, I get the connection:  both vehicles go very fast and communicate with other vehicles when game (in this case whales) are spotted. This thing flew over the water! No wonder we were asked if we had any back issues beforehand; I was indeed reminded of the safari jeeps.

Sea lions sunning themselves

It was worth it to catch multiple glimpses of these beautiful creatures, both full size and young-in's.  Taking photos is challenging, as the action is swift and the boat rocky.  But you get the idea .. happy I got just one!

Absolutely worth mentioning are the following restaurants: Los Tres Gallos was a last-minute decision that was amazing. Delicious food, with some unexpected twists, in an indoor/outdoor setting.  We also loved Mi Casa, with traditional fare in a lively atmosphere.  Both spots are in downtown Cabo, close to the marina. 

Mi Casa had fabulous margaritas (mango in particular) plus carnitas 

and mole (ole!).

Open kitchen at Los Tres Gallos plus some            delicious courses we enjoyed.

It's the thought that counts from housekeeping --  the letters were formed from rice.  Buenas noches!