I have 4 days...let's go to India.

TO EVEN SCRATCH THE SURFACE OF SUCH A FASCINATING DESTINATION AS INDIA – THE TEMPLES, THE CITIES, THE BEACHES, THE SPICES, THE MARKETS – ONE WOULD THINK TO ALLOW AT LEAST A COUPLE OF WEEKS…I HAD FOUR DAYS. LIKE MANY AMERICANS WITH LIMITED VACATION TIME, I WASN’T ABOUT TO MISS THE OPPORTUNITY TO TRAVEL ACROSS THE GLOBE, BUT YOU COULD SAY I HAD TO PICK UP THE PACE A BIT.

IN ORDER TO FIT IN A VISIT TO BOTH THE TAJ MAHAL (IN NORTHERN INDIA), AS WELL AS A FEW RELAXING NIGHTS IN GOA (SOUTHWEST BEACH REGION), IT REQUIRED A TIGHT ITINERARY, VARIOUS MODES OF TRANSPORTATION, AND A VERY PATIENT TRAVEL COMPANION.

OUR AGGRESSIVE ITINERARY LOOKED AS FOLLOWS: CHICAGO – LONDON – HYDERABAD – DELHI (NEARLY 30 HOURS, ALL IN ONE SWEEP), FOLLOWED BY AN 8 HOUR ROUND TRIP CAR RIDE FROM DEHLI TO AGRA AND BACK, IN ORDER TO CATCH THE TAJ MAHAL BEFORE SUNSET.

UPON ARRIVAL AT ONE OF THE NEW SEVEN WONDERS OF THE WORLD, ALL MEMORIES OF AIRPORT CHAOS AND TIME ZONE CHANGES SEEMED TO MELT AWAY…IT IS TRULY A MAJESTIC AND MOVING SITE TO BEHOLD. THE PALATIAL STRUCTURE WAS BREATHTAKING, EVEN MORE IMPRESSIVE THAN ANY PHOTOGRAPH I’D EVER SEEN. YOUR EYES ARE DRAWN TO THE LONG, GLISTENING POOL THAT LEADS UP THE PATH TO ITS ENTRANCE, WHERE 100’S OF VISITORS LINE UP, PUT ON SHOE COVERS, AND PACK IN TO THE INTERIOR CORRIDORS. WHAT WAS ONCE MOST LIKELY A QUIET AND SACRED PLACE, IS NOW FILLED WITH INTERNATIONAL TOURISTS, SNAPPING FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY, AND TOUCHING THE INLAID WALLS, AGAINST THE DEMANDS OF SECURITY. AS LONG AS YOU KNOW THIS GOING IN, YOU CAN TRY TO MENTALLY DISENGAGE FROM THE CLUSTER OF HUMANITY, AND SIMPLY APPRECIATE THE CENTURIES-OLD HANDIWORK AND CRAFTSMANSHIP, AND THE SPIRITUAL ENERGY OF THE MAUSOLEUM. A STROLL AROUND THE BACK BROUGHT VIEWS OF THE PASSING YAMUNA RIVER AND THE INTRICATELY CARVED, LESS PHOTOGRAPHED BACKSIDE OF THE STRUCTURE…EQUALLY AS IMPRESSIVE, AND MOST PERFECTLY LIT AROUND SUNSET, WHEN WE WERE THERE.

AFTER A VISIT TO A VARIETY OF ARTISAN SHOPS TO OBSERVE CRAFTSMEN AND MUSICIANS MAINTAINING THE ARTS OF CENTURIES PAST, A MUCH NEEDED AUTHENTIC MEAL AT A LOCAL ESTABLISHMENT WRAPPED UP THE PERFECT, THOUGH EXTREMELY LONG, DAY.

THE NIGHT BROUGHT US BACK TO NEW DELHI, TO A BOUTIQUE HOTEL CALLED SHANTI HOME. I WAS CAPTIVATED BY ITS ENCHANTING ROOFTOP TERRACE, EXQUISITELY DECORATED ROOMS, AND ITS EXCELLENT FOOD. COOKING CLASSES ARE OFFERED ON SITE BY A LOCAL CHEF, AND THE CUISINE DID NOT DISAPPOINT!

A QUICK FLIGHT THROUGH MUMBAI THE NEXT DAY BROUGHT US TO GOA BY NIGHT, FOLLOWED BY A BUMPY CAR RIDE THROUGH THE JUNGLE TO THE BEACH. IN THE DARK, ALL TRUST IS PLACED IN THE DRIVER. I WOULD RECOMMEND TRYING TO ARRANGE A DRIVER IN ADVANCE, OR IF NOTHING ELSE, FIND ONE WHO SPEAKS AT LEAST BROKEN ENGLISH. WITH NO CELL SERVICE OR STREET LIGHTS, A FEW BREATHS WERE HELD ON THAT RIDE. LUCKILY HE WAS FAMILIAR WITH AGONDA BEACH, AND WE ARRIVED SAFELY NEARLY AN HOUR LATER.

IF QUIETUDE IS WHAT YOU CRAVE, AGONDA IS THE BEACH FOR YOU. OUR RUSTIC HUT ACCOMMODATIONS WERE AS LOCALLY SOURCED AS THEY COME…PALM-THATCHED ROOFS AND WOVEN FROND WALLS NESTLED BELOW THE COCONUT TREES. RUNNING WATER, ELECTRICAL POWER AND MODERN PLUMBING WERE LUXURIOUS TOUCHES TO THE “PART OF NATURE” COTTAGES. ASIDE FROM THE TRANQUIL SETTING, THE FOOD WAS FRESH DAILY FROM THE MARKET OR THE SEA, AND ALWAYS FLAVORFUL. IF I’M EVER BACK IN THIS TOWN, AGONDA COTTAGES WILL ALWAYS BE MY FIRST CHOICE.

WHILE THE BEACH TOWN OF PALOLEM, ABOUT 20 MINUTES DOWN THE COAST BY SCOOTER, PROVIDED MORE ENERGY AND INTERNATIONAL FLAIR, AS WELL AS THE PERFECT VENUE FOR THE HOLI FESTIVAL TAKING PLACE THAT WEEKEND, AGONDA BEACH WAS A PERFECT REFUGE FROM THE TYPICAL, FAST-PACED WESTERN LIFE…AT LEAST FOR A COUPLE NIGHTS.

AS EXPECTED, THERE WAS SO MUCH TO EXPERIENCE AND LOVE ABOUT INDIA – THE PEOPLE, THE FOOD, THE SMELLS AND SOUNDS, THE MAJESTIC TAJ MAHAL. I WILL UNDOUBTEDLY RETURN ONE DAY, NEXT TIME ALLOWING MORE TIME TO TRULY DRINK IT ALL IN. THEN AGAIN, CAN YOU EVER REALLY SEE IT ALL? UNTIL NEXT TIME…NAMASTE, INCREDIBLE INDIA.