March 2019

November 2012

New Delhi airport

One year ago we planned a trip with the Nebekers to India through Fun for Less Travel. Month after month we paid our assessment and saved for the adventure. At one point I was not sure if it was worth it. After all we had just returned from Africa and were we up to another long travel to the other side of the world?

The time came for us to leave. We packed light and left Idaho Falls on the bus shuttle to Salt Lake City. It all began the next morning at the SLC airport meeting up with the Nebekers and many of the other attendees.

From SLC we traveled to Houston, TX then on to Newark, NJ. As we approached Newark we could see downtown New York still showing standing water from the storm, Sandy. We left NJ on the 2^nd of November at 6:30PM and arrived in Delhi, India at 6:20PM on the 3^rd of November. We were tired yet excited.

From the beginning I wish to acknowledge how efficient the Fun For Less travel group really were. They moved our baggage, arranged for transportation on time and made this trip a wonderful experience. The busses moved us to the Trident Hotel in Delhi where we could rest up. Then beginning early, following a fabulous breakfast, we were back at the airport on our way to Kathmandu, Nepal. As soon as we arrived we were on busses to explore the city and see the Buddhist temples before returning to the Hyatt Hotel. All our baggage had been taken to the hotel and we were met with a warm welcome.

The next day we boarded the Buddha airplane and flew to Mt. Everest, close and personal. We even were allowed to visit the pilot in the cockpit! It was spectacular and our return was safe.

While in Kathmandu we visited the Bagmati River to witness a cremation. Then we flew on to Varanasi (the oldest city in the world) India. From Varanasi we flew to Agra (home of the Taj Muhal) and following our visit to this incredible city we took a bus ride to Jaipur and finally on to Udaipur before flying back to New Delhi.

The photos tell the story so I will include them with discriptions.

There is no way I can tell all we came to enjoy and appreciate in this exotic and marvelous land of Northern India. Looking back on our trip to India, I can honestly say it was so worth the effort. We have broadened our understanding of the eastern cultures and religions. One last thought I had when returning to the United States…this society is so young compared to the ancient existence of India, the land where civilization began.

Golden Buddhist Temple in Kathmandu