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 In September 2018, Tom Herstad, marketing expert, entrepreneur and author of Love, Care and Share, embarked on the journey of a lifetime with a small group of like-minded travellers. India – A Fusion of Colour, Music & Soul is an intimate tour exploring the fusion of east and west, from the lush jungles of Kerala to the regal forts of the Rajasthani desert and beyond. The tour is led by Paul Saltzman, a two-time Emmy Award-winning film and television producer-director who has been to India more than 60 times. Check out the latest edition of this unique journey. Read on for Tom’s thoughts on his incredible experience: About 10 years ago, I decided to include India on my bucket list. Reading Autobiography of a Yogi, which describes the culture and spiritualism in this part of the world, got me interested. Hearing about The Beatles visit to India to write their music only further intrigued me. When Paul Saltzman discussed his many tours to India with me, I was in! First impressions of India Our adventure began with a flight to Trivandrum, on the country’s southern tip. After a late-night arrival, we were met at the airport by a Bestway representative, ready to introduce us to the world of India. The resort we spent our first nights in was beautiful, complete with ocean view and ocean access. Our first night welcomed us with dinner on the beach. What a way to start a vacation! Listening to waves crashing behind me in the darkness and savouring conversation with this high calibre group was an exciting and inspiring experience. My first impression of India came on the second day as I made a trip to the local shopping mall. Upon entering the mall, I immediately realized I was the centre of attention. My blue eyes and silver hair made me the focus of many stares, something I had to adjust to very quickly.
As our tour continued, we made our way up the western coast via bus, landing in Alleppey. Here we embarked on a boat cruise through the rice fields and waterway villages, with wide eyes and complete attention. It’s hard to believe that the small homes clustered in bunches along the water’s edge are only accessible by boat. That night, we stayed on old rice harvesting boats that have been converted into houseboats, complete with on-board kitchen and staff. The very same boats are featured in the James Bond film Octopussy. In my opinion, the cooks on these boats served the most authentic food experience I have ever had. The dishes of fish, rice and vegetables were unlike any I had tasted before. The love the cook had for their job was evident in the food. One fresh morning on these boats, I made my way up to the upper deck. From here, at daybreak, I witnessed the lightest rainfall I’d ever seen. The rain was obvious as the droplets hit the water, but I could not feel it on my face. It was as though there were thousands of invisible butterflies with sore feet landing on the water surface all around me.
As our trip continued, we made our way up the coast. With my seat at the front of the bus, I was in the perfect place to witness the cultural driving strategy of India. When your taxi or bus enters a roundabout, you may look around and say, “Oh my, we are not going to get through this intersection for an hour.” But like fish swimming upstream during their spawn run, the vehicles, large and small, all come together. Like a slow moving dance with inches to spare, all make it through in far less time than you would ever have imagined possible. Bestway did an incredible job of organizing our group through the chaos and crowds. We had a couple different Bestway guides during our travels, and all were great. The best of the lot, for me, was Aughi. His demeanour was warm and inviting, and his genuine caring nature was obvious. With Bestway, you feel the sense of caring one experiences with close family members.
What makes the location so tantalizing? The exotic locale, the detailed stonework, the extravagant garden courtyard, the inviting piano bar and more all combine into a one-of-a-kind experience.
Up next was Agra. Seeing the Taj Mahal at sunrise is now number two on my best experiences list (after the Grand Canyon). This pinnacle of architectural artistry has a vibe you can feel as you walk around the property. The Taj Mahal is a mausoleum, built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan for his favourite wife of nine, who died during the birth of their 14th child. In Agra and throughout the tour, Paul’s passion for India was obvious and compelling. As he would take his perch at the front of the bus, he would share intimate details of his own experience in this vast country. He would also share with us Indian folklore. One story that stands out is that of the Taj Mahal. A historical rumour about this structure is that the architect who build the Taj Mahal had his hands cut off by Shah Jehan to ensure he never built an even more beautiful structure. I found the history of this area of the world absolutely fascinating.
Once in Delhi, we visited the city’s vibrant and chaotic markets. A rickshaw ride of a lifetime took us through the narrow streets. At times, the pathways seemed too tight for even just our rickshaw to pass. But somehow, two vehicles seemed to be able to pass one another in a strategic dance! It was in Delhi that we visited Mahatma Gandhi’s last residence and the garden where he was assassinated. Here, they have traced Gandhi’s individual footprints on his last walk from the house to the garden archway. As we stepped off the bus, we could feel that this is a special and sacred place. Our group went quiet without any direction to do so. We found ourselves wanting to whisper if we had to say anything at all.
The train ride ended at Haridwar, from which we made our ways into the foothills of the Himalayas. The roads can be brutal, extremely narrow with many potholes, but it does not matter, as this part of India starts to crawl into your soul. There is an internal knowing that you are going somewhere sacred. Everyone can feel it, but it offers no conversation. When we arrived in Rishikesh on the River Ganges, or as they call it, “The Mother Ganga”, the violent river mist whispered into the air that this was “the place”. We had the opportunity to visit an ashram on the river bank and took part in a group meditation. Our class leader was Sadhvi Bagawati Saraswati, who visited the town of Rishikesh 25 years ago as a last minute add-on with friends while finishing her post-graduate schooling. The moment she touched the river with bare feet, she enjoyed a spiritual awakening and has never left. Originally from Beverly Hills, LA, Saraswati titles her story, “From Hollywood to Holy Woods”. The experience at the Parmarth Niketan Ashram facility was stimulating and inspiring, providing a perfect end to our trip. In my life, I believe that there are things we know, things we do not know and many more things that we don’t know, we don’t know. I try to go to the latter as often as I can to expand my perspective and India was certainly filled with experiences I did not know, I didn’t know. Enjoy life and travel now, not later.
Learn more about the next departure of Paul Saltzman’s India - A Fusion of Colour Music & Soul journey. For the first time ever, the 2018 version of Paul Saltzman’s transformative tour also included an optional extension trekking through the breathtaking Himalayas of Nepal. Take a look at fellow Bestway traveller David Keller’s article to learn about some of the most memorable Nepal experiences on this tour. About Tom Herstad: Born and bred in Toronto, Canada, Tom has been an avid hockey player, coach, and passionate outdoor adventurer. He is the entrepreneur, marketing expert and lighting designer behind Regal Lighting Designs Inc., appearing on shows like HGTV’s “Decked Out” and “Ultimate Garage”. Herstad is also the author of Love, Care and Share, an inspiring autobiographical memoire about his late mother Margie which is now being turned into a movie. Learn more at http://www.tomherstadbook.com.
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Posted by Kierra Jones