ANOTHER EXPRESSION OF LOVE: ANU’S INDIA

Dear guest,

Namste!!!

I hope that you would like the beautiful poem of my guest and words of appreciation of my different guest.

Today, I am posting another poem of my guest, who recited this poem as thanking remark at the end of our tour.

The way, he recited this poem. My throat was choked with emotions and the eyes were filled with tears because first time, I was listening a poem, which was describing each and every moment of our tour and appreciating my duty.

ANU’S INDIA

THERE’S SO MUCH TO LEARN ABOUT INDIA

YOU JUST CAN’T IMAGINE CAN YOU?

A MELTING POT OF HUMINITY

BUT THERE’S SOMEONE WHO KNOWS AND THAT’S ANU.

HE ELATES TO US IN SUCH FINE DETAILS

WE ALL FIND IT QUITE HARD TO COPE.

IF WE HAD AN EXAM AT THE END OF IT

COULD WE ANSWER THE QUIZ? NOT A HOPE.

HE’S HELPED US OUT WITH BUYING THINGS

WITH DOCTORS AND BORROWING MONEY

AND JUST LIKE THE WEATHER WE’VE HAD ON

OUR BREAK

HIS DISPOSITION IS SUNNY.

HE’S ESCORTED US TO TEMPLES

TO FORTS AND PALACES TOO

WE EVEN GOT TO LIVE IN ONE

FROM WHERE WE COULD ADMIRE THE VIEW.

WE ALL SEEM TO HAVE COME DOWN WITH SOMETHING

BE IT CAUGHING OR BUM LIKE A TEMPEST

EVEN ANU HAS SUCCUMBED TO IT

FIND TRISH, SHE’S THE TRAVELING CHEMIST.

 IN MARKETS ON STREETS ON THE GHATS AND BOATS

IN RICKSHAWS OR ON THE TRAINS

WE’VE WITNESSED THE HUBS OF INDIA

WITH  ANU AT THE REINS.

HE TOLD US ABOUT HIS OWN STORY

RELATING HIS PERSONAL LIFE

AND WHEN WE WENT THROUGH ANU’S TOWN

WE EVEN MET HIS WIFE.

HE STARTED FROM HUMBLE BEGININGS

AND HE TURNED HIMSELF INTO A SCHOLAR

ALL WE KNOW HE’S ON TOP OF HIS TREE

HE’S OUR PERSONAL TOURISTY WALLA.

SO THANK YOU ANU FOR EVERYTHING

FROM US FOLK WHO YOU’VE HAD IN YOUR CHARGE

THOUGH YOU’RE NOT A GIANT IN STATURE

YOUR HEART AND YOUR SOUL ARE LARGE.

Mr. Anurag Shukla

THANK YOU FOR LOOINK AFTER US SO WELL.

ROGER + CHRIS

ANU....MAHARAJA OF SAGA

Dear Guests,

Namste!!!!

In my last post, I wrote my story of SAGA tour manager. Now I want to share with you my experience with SAGA guests. There is a condition for SAGA guests, only above the 50 years age can travel in this group. It means that when you are working for SAGA, you are offering your service to the most experienced and well traveled British. Sometimes, you get some conditional tasks that is there likes, dislikes, allergies and health related issues. It means, when you are travelling with SAGA tour, you are not conducting the tour. Also, you are giving examination of your skills and hospitality services.

I passed through with different tastes of experiences and trying to share the best moments of SAGA tours.

The title of this post is a part of poem, which was written by my guest....

To our Guide Anu………

We have to thank you

For showing us the sights

And giving us some frights;

-          The rides on the bus,

-          The hawkers making a fuss,

The carts and their loads,

the cows in the road.

 The highlights to see?

Aarti at Varanasi,

Seeing the Taj Mahal,

Staying at the Palace Hotel

What to see each day?

New sights, places and hotels to stay,

Photos and greetings

Curiosity and meetings

Weddings and sweeping

-          Too little sleeping!

Memories and souvenirs too,

Headaches and stress for you

For us, a wonderful holiday

Something new each day,

Anu,

The Maharaja of Saga !!!!

With best wishes

From,

Shirley(Mrs. Shirley Ann Carpanter), Jackie and David (Mr. David Robert  & Mrs. Jacqueline C. Gill).

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Thanks for all your hard work and looking after us showing us the real India- Veronica & Dave (Mr. David John & Mrs. Veronica Joy Shewry ).

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Great saga of Saga holiday!

Memories will remain Anu.

Greatest regards,

Nick( Mr. Nicholas Dennis & Mrs. Ann Lesley Jackson )

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A fabulous holiday, Thank you!

Carole & Sid (Mrs. Carole Ann Foster & Mr. Michael Scott  Saunders)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thank you so much for all hard work and organization.

Have a lovely break..

Pauline(Ms. Pauline Susan Brown)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Many Many thanks to THE BEST GUIDE.

Shan(Mrs. Shan Elizabeth Littler)

shanlittler@gmail.com

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THOROUGHLY ENJOYED YOUR GUIDING AND COMAPANY.

ALL THE VERY BEST.

ANN (Mrs. Ann Lesley Jackson)

SAGA TOUR MANAGER TRAINING

SAGA TOUR MANAGER TRAINING

Dear guests,

Namste!!!

Here, I am with another post and another story or achievement of my life.

 I wrote in my last post about my selection in SAGA Holidays for Tour Manager. I was very excited with this new designation of Tour manager because generally when we lead a group we are known as a tour escort.

When, I got a call for training program from SAGA Delhi office, I reached there with a lot of preparation because I was very excited and depressed too.

When, I reached at office, I saw 15 persons and all were working for Le passage to India from last many years and had a lot of experience of escorted tour. I can say that I was a less experienced trainee in that group.

Earlier, as I mentioned that I was suffering with stress and depression in Khajuraho due to local problems. So, I was in pressure and even during my training I remained very calm and quite.

All, we entered in the training room and are welcomed by the local staff. They distributed a note book, a pen and a very thick book or later we knew that it is the manual of SAGA or the Bible of SAGA Holidays.

After, sort while a lady came in our room with SAGA staff and they introduced her as our trainer. We were happy because everyone got a lady trainer.

Her name was CELESTE JACOBS. She lives in South Africa and worked as tour manager for SAGA Holidays and now she is an official trainer for SAGA tour managers.

I can’t forget her introduction. First time, I saw that someone is giving her pictorial introduction and she insisted us to give our introduction in the same manner. That activity bound us and we enjoyed next three days.

During this training, we were sitting and enjoying lunch and tea together. There were some guides from Kerala, Chennai, Bengaluru and many guides from Rajasthan and Agra. When we had rest, we were chatting and sharing views of our professional problems in different part of India.

The most stressing moment for us was the welcome introduction in front of SAGA staff and everyone was thinking that if his introduction will not be up to mark, we will lose our chance.

Everyone was well experienced and many of them did work for SAGA or TITAN. So they knew the welcome introduction. So, they came first and gave their best and I was new for this process, so I took my time and I was last.

But, I delivered my introduction in very different way to the audience because I had assignments. So, I delivered my introduction as a tour manager and described the whole tour details.

So, when I saw the smile on the faces of SAGA staff. I felt relaxed and pleased too.

We concluded our training with a dinner and it was a very relaxing moment for me.

At the end we shared our contact numbers and email addresses.

Again, I am very thankful for SAGA staff for believe and love on me. I want to say them a lot of thanks, wishes and regards. 

MY SECOND INNING OF ESCORTING

Dear friends,

Hello!!!

Today, I will reveal another story of my life. As I mention on my heading of this blog, “ My second inning of escorting”. I did not find another suitable title for this because this was the assignment, which proved my ability and knowledge to Le passage to India and after this I got the chance to work with them.

My story starts with the sufferings and straggle in Khajuraho.

As, I wrote in my previous posts that I was working in Khajuraho and giving my services to different travel agencies but due my nature and conditions, I was not getting enough assignments and when ever, I got some success in any travel agency some people came forward and stole my assignments. Haaahaaa!!!!!

It was happened same with a local office of a very prominent travel agency of Khajuraho. When, I was doing very well with local office, obviously some favorable guides of that agency lost their assignments. So, they plotted some conspiracy and created some complain and that local agency stopped all assignments. If they gave some they informed very late or whenever I took my group to Orchha excursion, they did not provide any transportation or the charges to come back at home.

During, that time I was struggling with stress and anxiety. Then, I got a call from Le passage to India Delhi office for an assignment.  It was an assignment of central India for 15 days with a couple. I did not have any single assignment, so I accepted it and it was a tour itinerary of those places, where I was or wanted to visit.

They sent the tour program and immediately, I started traveling in different destinations of that tour itinerary. It was strong winter with rain and heavy fog. But, I did not have any option, so with my determination and dedication I completed my pre-visit of all destinations.

Then, the date came and I received Mr. A. A. Vervoort and Mrs. MCM De Gou, who were the great travelers and it was their 15^th visit of this country. Already, they had visited in some destinations of this tour and wanted to take their photographs in old places. The most interesting fact was this; they were keeping an extra suitcase of books, broachers and photocopies of many texts.

I was feeling very excited because I love those guests, really who are interested to see and discuss the destinations.

We started our tour from Sanchi to Chanderi. We crossed the countryside and visited some unknown places and reached at Chanderi at afternoon. After lunch, we visited in different monuments of Chanderi, like Chanderi fort, mosques, and tombs of different Muslim rulers. It was quite and beautiful place.

Next day, we transferred from Chanderi to Orchha en route tour of Devgarh.

Devgarh is a very famous destination for those guests, who are interested to see the development of Indian temple architecture.

Dashavatar temple of Devgarh is very famous for its art and architecture. This temple was constructed by Gupta rulers in 5^th century A.D. and it is famous for three major panels of Viashnavite stories. It has Gajendra Moksha, Nar-Narayan and Shesh-shayi Vishnu panels. All these panels are very artistic and show the classical gupta art features.

Another attraction of this area is River Betwa flowing down the fort and some beautiful Jain temples from 7^th to 10^th century A.D.

Next day, we started with some famous palaces of Orchha, but I was more curious to visit some unknown places which were mentioned on my tour itinerary. I did many sightseeing’s of Orchha but never been there and I saw all those monuments from the distance. But, when we explored those unknown monuments of Orchha, I was overwhelmed to see the colour, details and quality of paintings.

This couple was carrying all the photocopies of different unknown monuments of Orchha, which were mentioned in a book. When, I asked them about that book, they told the name of book and assured to send me a copy of that book and later they sent me that book, which is called “Orchha and beyond.”

I thanked them for that gift.

Next day, we proceeded to Khajuraho for next two nights en route we visited another unknown destination of Bundelkhand or central India, which is known as Garh Kundhar or the fort of Kundhar, it is famous for its legacy and architecture. But very less tourist visit to this fort.

It was the first capital of Bundela rulers of Orchha then they shifted their capital to Orchha. Fort is massive and very attractive too; I can say it wrathful to visit.

Next day, we visited to temples of Khajuraho and I showed them all important temples and village of Khajuraho.

Next day, we proceeded to Ajaygarh and Kalinjar fort. These forts were developed by King Chandelas in 10-11^th century A.D. Both forts have some Hindu and Jain rock cuts with some palaces and temples of Bundelas.

Also, I took them in local city tour of Panna, where they visited in Mahamati Pran Nath temple of Pranamis and some Hindu temple with European architecture, like Baldau temple of Panna.

After the tour of Khajuraho, we drove back to Orchha for next two nights. No one can think about 4 or 5 nights in Orchha. But they did it because they have many things to do. We explored some more unknown temples and places of Orchha.

After that we proceeded to Gwalior for next two nights. During this tour first time, I saw many unknown monuments of Gwalior like palaces of Mughal rulers and rock cuts of Hindu god with a monolithic temple from 5^th century A.D.

After sightseeing of Gwalior monuments, we were visited in some unknown places like Mitaoli, Padavali. But, due heavy rain road was not suitable to our vehicle that’s why we did not complete our sightseeing of these sites.

Now it was the time to say bye to them at Gwalior. They were very happy and satisfied because they wanted a person, who likes to see and explain the things. That’s why; they recommended me as tour escort to Le passage of India.

Luckily, it was the time when Le passage of India was trying to find out a tour manager for SAGA- Beyond the Taj. They wanted a person from central India and have capability to deliver his best because this tour was completely depend on the service of tour manage.

They asked my CV and called for training of SAGA tour manager.

I sent my CV and they were very much satisfied with my CV and offered 3 assignments and I started my second inning of tour escorting.

I am very thankful to Mr. Anand, Mr. Amithabh, Mr. Anuj, Mr. Mohammad Kausar and Miss Ritika, who showed me their confidence.

ANOTHER SURPRISING ACHIEVEMENT OF MY LIFE

Dear friends,

Can you believe that once I got space in “The Guardian” a famous newspaper of England?

Let me start, another story of my life.

When, I was struggling and became famous as guide of Single visitor/a guest with some conditions (No shopping)/2 Half days /full day/VIP’s sightseeing etc.

All travel agencies knew this fact, one guide was available all the time with excellent service, it was me because it is my practice, I never ask the country, number of persons and days because I do believe that work is worship.

So, I got an assignment from local travel agency with these instructions, your guest is a single English lady and she is correspondent of some news agency and wants excellent service of full two days. You will accompany her from sunrise to sunset.

So, as per instructions, I reached at Hotel Taj Chandela Khajuraho and met with a beautiful British lady.

Her name is Carolyn A. Fry, famous writer& editor fascinated by how human interact with nature, award winning author, covers science, environment, heritage, eco-travel etc.

I started my introduction and told her everything related with temples and then I took to local village of Khajuraho, where she met with local people. We took our lunch together and then she visited in different excursions of this area.

I said bye to her and she said many nice words to me and asked my email address too.

But, after some I got a mail with an attachment and she asked some questions related with temples and me. After three days, I got another attachment with an article in The Guardian news paper.

How did I feel with that article? I was very excited, but I was not that much known or famous in that town, so did not get any response. But, I took that one as a great achievement of my life.

Currently, I joined the same lady in twitter and share our views. I invited her to write another article on me as a struggler to successful guide of Khajuraho.

She has accepted my invitation and hope for her next trip in Khajuraho.

I will not explain you, what was written in that article. I am submitting that link to you to read that article and decide.

https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2006/apr/20/india.culturaltrips

High on a temple wall a naked man stands on his head and makes love to a curvaceous beauty held aloft by two girls. Surrounding them are more voluptuous women, along with monks, flying angels and the Hindu gods Shiva, Brahma and Vishnu. It sounds kinky but my guide, Anurag 'Anu' Shukla, has another explanation for the antics of these thousand-year-old sandstone lovers. He believes the sculpture depicts engagement of the mystical force of Kundalini, which coverts sexual energy into spiritual energy. "Everyone has latent energy flows, or chakras, defined as a two and a half-coiled serpent in the lower spine," he says, as we gaze upwards. "For a man to reach enlightenment this serpent must be awakened by deep breathing. The assisting ladies represent the breaths in and out, Ida and Pingala. As the breathing moves upwards and reaches the seventh supreme chakra in the head, the man reaches the highest state of bliss. So that's what's represented in that panel."

The sculpture-covered temples at Khajuraho in northern India have long fascinated and titillated visitors. Between 900 and 1150 AD, the princes and kings of the Chandela Dynasty constructed 85 temples to honour their gods, adorning each with ornately carved scenes of hunting, fighting, artistry, love and sex. When the dynasty lost power, the creepers and ferns of the surrounding jungle stretched out leafy tendrils and hid the monuments from view. Although Muslim invaders passed near by, the enveloping foliage and fearsome tigers prevented them from ransacking the temples' riches. Only when British engineer Captain TS Burt wrote an account of a visit he made to Khajuraho in 1838, were these architectural gems rediscovered and slowly renovated. Today, 25 remain intact, their platforms and pinnacles rising from the lush plains of the Khudar river like a series of perfectly hewn man-made mountains. Unesco awarded the monuments World Heritage status 20 years ago, and academics consider them among the finest examples of medieval art in India.

Anu is keen to show me as many of the temples as possible during my two-day stay. So barely an hour after I touch down at Khajaraho's sleepy airport, we're bouncing down a dirt track towards the eastern cluster of temples in that rugged trademark of Indian travel, a white Ambassador car. Anu explains that these temples are Jain, while those lying a few miles to the north-west are Hindu. However, all share the same architectural layout and showcase the same array of characters.

I get acquainted with some of them, as screeching green parrots dip and glide in the mellow evening light. There are mythical creatures with human bodies and parrot heads; amorous mithuna - couples; and deities such as bulging-eyed Yama, the menacing God of Death. The figures of Lord Vishnu and his sensual wife Lakshmi are particularly fine. Accompanied by a lotus and conch, and bedecked in jewels, Vishnu lightly touches Lakshmi's fulsome breast as she gazes serenely into his eyes. "An ancient poem dating from this time defines the beauty of a lady," explains Anu. "It says her nose should be like a parrot, her eyes like a fish, her breasts like pots of nectar and her thighs like the stem of a banana tree."

The next morning, we head for the western monuments, making an early start, to avoid cooking in the 40-degree midday heat. Set among pink blossoming bougainvillea and neatly manicured lawns, are 10 or so temples of which the earliest and best preserved is Lakshmana. Like the others, it stands on a plinth, or pitha, above which is a wall, or jangha, upon which rests the shikhar, a curved spire. The gods traditionally sit on lotus petals so a decorative strip of the flowers runs around the base of the temple, with a row of lion-faced grasa mukha above it to destroy evil forces. Covering the main wall area are hundreds of nymphs, or surasundari, engaged in activities such as applying kohl to their eyes, undressing, coyly observing themselves in a mirror and dreamily reading a letter. Their emotions, from shyness to passion, are captured perfectly in their peach-smooth sandstone faces. Medieval writings ordain the carving of female figures on temple walls; the Orissan text Shilpa Prakasha says: "As a house without a wife, as frolic without a woman, so without a figure of a woman the monument will be of inferior quality and bear no fruit."

After circling the temple clockwise, our stroll representing the circumambulation of the Cosmos, we remove our shoes and climb steep stone steps to enter its cool, dim interior. While the exterior is concerned with the body, its inside is associated with the mind and soul. Above the entrance, stone crocodiles pour water from the Holy River Ganges to purify our minds; we then walk through a porch into a small hall and beyond into a larger columnar room with a platform where ritual dances were once performed. Beyond here is the inner sanctum or garbha griha, literally "womb chamber", which in all Hindu temples represents the centre of the universe. Earlier visitors have left a handful of red flowers and a 20-rupee note as an offering to the four-foot high icon of Lord Vishnu that stands inside. Vishnu is the god who preserves the universe and assumes different incarnations to overthrow evil. Here, he is depicted as Vaikuntha, with three faces of a lion, boar and human.

The spiritual importance, complex architecture and exceptional artistry of the Khajuraho temples have turned what was once a remote agricultural backwater into tourist mecca on a par with the Taj Mahal and Varanasi. When the first plane landed at the specially built airport several decades back, the locals had no word to describe the noisy winged machine and so declared it a cheel - kite. Today, they are more savvy. Stroll among the whitewashed, clay-tiled houses of Khajuraho village, and you will soon find yourself accosted by salesmen offering the "best price" for everything from Kama Sutra keyrings to bronze antiques. A report issued by the UN recently hailed the village's transformation as a social success story, one where the wealth generated by tourism has helped alleviate poverty. But Narayan Tiwari, owner of the Village Bazar souvenir shop is hesitant to agree. "I think 10% of people have grown very rich on tourism but the rest are still agricultural workers," he says, as daylight quickly fades and we sup sweet tea together in his shop. "It has improved the standard of living here, but not all that much, adds Anu. "The houses in the old village still have no sanitation and litter is a problem. But all the young people here want to be tour guides; it is the Holy Grail for them."

Later, over cashew nut koftas and vegetable curry in the GayLord restaurant on Khajuraho's wide, tree-lined main street, Anu explains how he became a guide. Initially trained in maths and engineering he took a job in one of the hotels as a maintenance engineer but when a guiding job came up, he applied, went on a training course and got the job. Since then his fascination with the temples has led him to study them full-time and he has spent hours photographing and describing the actions and positions of the gods, mythical creatures, amorous couples and celestial nymphs. "I get energy from the temples," he says.

His aim now is to publish a book, showing how the style of sculpture evolved over time. Then one day, he admits, he hopes to find a girl as beautiful as the stone nymphs with whom he has become so intimately acquainted. "My name, Anurag, means 'divine love'," he declares solemnly. "I want a wife but she has to be the right person. I don't just want a sleeping partner. I'm leaving that in the hands of the gods."

Way to go

Carolyn Fry travelled with assistance from Bales Worldwide. Escorted holidays including a visit to Khajuraho temples costs from £2,390 per person. A tailor-made itinerary of 14 days costs from £2,365 per person. For more information call 0870 755 9851 or visit Balesworldwide.com.

Thursday 20 April 2006 12.40 BST 

Last modified on Thursday 11 May 200617.24 BST

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