Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Finding Myself in India
hello--well I am finally moving into the blog world! I founded Spirit of India (http://www.originalworld.com/india-travel/) in 1997, and one of the most frequently asked questions is how I happened to start this business and --why India?
So I thought I would start the blog with a condensed version of the story. I began my professional life as an educator and moved into freelance magazine photography, then added public relations to my roster of services. My public relations clients were in the fields of health, well-being, spiritual practice, art and music; non-profit organizations to raise awareness of a large variety of human needs. I traveled for years as a solo, creating my own itineraries. Very quickly travel became a passionate necessity. Over the years, the PR biz began to drain me and I lost inspiration. I spent a full year in a mental state of limbo. Since leaving the public education system, I have been a dedicated entrepreneur. What are my interests: the arts, traditional culture, travel...Shortly thereafter, I received a subscription to National Geographic as a gift. The first magazine arrived with a cover on India and a large map supplement. I studied the map with awe. I had never thought about India before. The next evening at a dinner party I discovered a guest had spent some time traveling in India and I couldn't stop asking him questions! The very next morning, while reviewing my new emails, I scrolled down to glance the subject boxes--lo and behold, midway down the scroll a subject box said "Hello From New Delhi." Shivers ran up my spine and the hairs on my skinny arms stood up. Thus began an email exchange with the Bhatia family--two sons and the father who wanted to market their tours to the American market. After less than a month, I was on a flight to Delhi and stayed with the Bhatias.' The mum hugged me and cried when I arrived. It was kind of what they call auspicious...
I traveled first with one son up into the Indian Himalayas, my first interest being indigenous cultures. We went into two special regions that are quite remote and not much has been written about them even today--Kinnaur and Spiti Valley. The landscape was/still is breath-taking and pristine; the people, living in quaint pedestrian only villages, are friendly and curious. My heart soared! From this experience I created Spirit of India's first group itinerary: "Ancient Cultures of the Indian Himalayas" (http://www.originalworld.com/dharamsala/). I met and hired the foremost expert for this newly opened territory, Sanjay Verman, who has been guiding this tour (and a select others for Spirit of India, since 1998. Some of you have met Sanjay by now--and you know that Sanjay eventually became my exclusive partner in India.
Next post I will tell you about the second half of my maiden trip to India.
Please share with friends so we can have readers and interaction. If you have been to India, lets hear from you!
As I get an understanding of all the features available for blogs, I will begin to enhance it--but plse--all you experienced bloggers--feel free to offer suggestions!
Namasté
Barbara
So I thought I would start the blog with a condensed version of the story. I began my professional life as an educator and moved into freelance magazine photography, then added public relations to my roster of services. My public relations clients were in the fields of health, well-being, spiritual practice, art and music; non-profit organizations to raise awareness of a large variety of human needs. I traveled for years as a solo, creating my own itineraries. Very quickly travel became a passionate necessity. Over the years, the PR biz began to drain me and I lost inspiration. I spent a full year in a mental state of limbo. Since leaving the public education system, I have been a dedicated entrepreneur. What are my interests: the arts, traditional culture, travel...Shortly thereafter, I received a subscription to National Geographic as a gift. The first magazine arrived with a cover on India and a large map supplement. I studied the map with awe. I had never thought about India before. The next evening at a dinner party I discovered a guest had spent some time traveling in India and I couldn't stop asking him questions! The very next morning, while reviewing my new emails, I scrolled down to glance the subject boxes--lo and behold, midway down the scroll a subject box said "Hello From New Delhi." Shivers ran up my spine and the hairs on my skinny arms stood up. Thus began an email exchange with the Bhatia family--two sons and the father who wanted to market their tours to the American market. After less than a month, I was on a flight to Delhi and stayed with the Bhatias.' The mum hugged me and cried when I arrived. It was kind of what they call auspicious...
I traveled first with one son up into the Indian Himalayas, my first interest being indigenous cultures. We went into two special regions that are quite remote and not much has been written about them even today--Kinnaur and Spiti Valley. The landscape was/still is breath-taking and pristine; the people, living in quaint pedestrian only villages, are friendly and curious. My heart soared! From this experience I created Spirit of India's first group itinerary: "Ancient Cultures of the Indian Himalayas" (http://www.originalworld.com/dharamsala/). I met and hired the foremost expert for this newly opened territory, Sanjay Verman, who has been guiding this tour (and a select others for Spirit of India, since 1998. Some of you have met Sanjay by now--and you know that Sanjay eventually became my exclusive partner in India.
Next post I will tell you about the second half of my maiden trip to India.
Please share with friends so we can have readers and interaction. If you have been to India, lets hear from you!
As I get an understanding of all the features available for blogs, I will begin to enhance it--but plse--all you experienced bloggers--feel free to offer suggestions!
Namasté
Barbara
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