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Detail from erotic temple in Tamil Nadu, India
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WHERE IN THE WORLD?
For many people the idea of a tour to India is confined to visiting the
massive hill fortresses of Rajasthan, and seeing the incomparable Taj Mahal. Being
satisfied with those destinations is like trying to make a meal of appetizers
only. There is a vast subcontinent to visit, and each area has special features
that take the breath away.
Southern India, and specifically the states of Kerala
and Tamil Nadu at the tapering tropical tip of this mighty peninsula, differ
radically from the landlocked North and are simply not to be missed. This is
truly a world apart where everything seems more vibrant than the muted hues
seen elsewhere. Coconut groves seem a deeper green and the rice paddies positively
luminescent. Faces are a darker brown and the vermilion caste marks arrestingly
red. Silk saris, shimmering classical dance costumes, paddy fields, palm groves
and frangipani flowers all radiate with a scorching intensity.
Our journey begins in the Tamil
Nadu state, whose capital is Chennai (formerly Madras). Tamil Nadu is known as the cradle of
Dravidian culture, and the icons of this unique civilization are everywhere –
huge temples, intricate rock carvings, evocative music and complex classical
dance. We work our way south along the coast, exploring historic temples along
the way, then gradually turn inland to the beautiful highlands with their
colorful tea plantations as we cross into Kerala. A highlight of the tour will
be a night spent aboard a houseboat in the beautiful backwaters of Kerala
before ending in Cochin (Kochi). Those who wish can continue north to
see Delhi, the
Taj Mahal, and the Amber Fort.
This tour features the best
of Southern India’s cities, beaches, culture,
flora and fauna. Come with Toto Tours to experience a world apart. Our own will
never be the same again.
South India Detailed Itinerary
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A Dravidian Feast
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GLOBAL GOURMET: The Cuisine of Southern India
South Indian Cuisine, also referred as Dravidian Cuisine, is
a term used to refer to the cuisines found in the four southern states of India: Andhra
Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The similarities in the four states’
cuisines are the presence of rice as a staple food, the use of lentils and
spices, use of dried red chilies and fresh green chilies, coconut and native
fruits and vegetables like tamarind, plantain, snake gourd, garlic, ginger,
etc. The differences between Kerala and Tamil Nadu are described below.
Kerala
Kerala cuisine is quite diverse, and its diversity is best
classified on the basis of the various communities. The Hindus, especially the
Namboodris and Nairs have a predominantly vegetarian cuisine, whilst the
Christian and the Muslim communities have a largely non-vegetarian cuisine.
Since Kerala’s main export is coconuts, almost all of the dishes, irrespective
of the variety in the cuisines of the different communities, have coconuts
associated with them, either in the form of shavings or oil extracted from the
nut. Seafood is also very popular in the coastal regions and eaten almost every
day.
Tamil Nadu
The Tamil cuisine is often served in a marriage
function or any festival/auspicious occasion. This meal consists of nearly 20
or so items, including the side dishes such as curry, appalam, and pickle. A
typical meal consists of many spicy/non-spicy dishes and is predominantly
vegetarian. Many of these dishes are typically mixed and eaten with steamed
rice, which is the staple food of the region. This cuisine is also known for
its rich, sweet dishes that serve as desserts.
See the full article on Wikipedia
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Filming a fabulous "Bollywood" production
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CINEMA CONCIERGE: Films Shot in Southern India
Before the Rains
(2007) with Linus Roache – filmed in Kerala, Munar
Backwaters (2006)
with Jason Flemying – filmed in Kerala
Cotton Mary (1999)
with James Wilby – filmed in Fort
Cochin, Kerala
Asoka (2001) Bollywood epic – filmed in Alleppey
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Ernie Ku and Ray Rehan at a waterfall in Uganda
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KINDRED SPIRITS: Toto Traveling Companions
Meet Ernie Ku from Ann Arbor, Michigan.
He and his partner, Ray Rehan, have taken eight journeys with Toto Tours
beginning as far back as 1997. These tours have included Costa Rica, rafting the Grand Canyon, barging in
the Burgundy region of France,
Egypt, Peru (Machu Picchu)
and Ecuador (Galapagos
Islands), New Zealand, Tunisia, and the recently-completed gorilla
safari in Uganda and Rwanda.
TOTO: You and Ray always pick really great trips. Which of the above
destinations stand out in your mind as favorites?
ERNIE: To tell you the truth they were all outstanding trips, but if I
had to pick one I would pick Egypt
as my favorite trip. Ray and I both were inspired by the historic
content of our trip and were awed by the sheer enormity of the pyramids and
temples we visited. Abu Simbel, the cruise on the Nile, Luxor, and having a cocktail at the Old Cataract
Hotel which inspired Agatha Christie’s Death on the Nile
were all memorable. To even see the graffiti left by Napoleon’s army on
the Sphinx was surprising when one realized this was done in
the 1800s and was still preserved.
TOTO: Costa Rica
was your first trip with us. What was it about that tour that got you hooked on
Toto Tours and has kept you coming back for more?
ERNIE: As a first trip, we relied on the Out and About Gay Travel Newsletter Award that Toto Tours received
to venture out with this gay travel company. Costa Rica was a great primer on what
we could expect from future trips with Toto. This was a coast-to-coast
tour of the best of Costa
Rica. The opportunity to spend
Thanksgiving with my new “family” in an exotic locale
was unforgettable. We made lifelong friends on this first trip
and have since journeyed with many of these same travelers on subsequent Toto Tours.
The repeat business is a testament to the varied and interesting itineraries
that Toto creates, and I envy those who will celebrate Thanksgiving
together on the Amalfi
Coast next month!
TOTO: I know quite a few prospective travelers who feel that going to
a place like Uganda,
which has had a lot of negative press recently regarding its stance on gay
rights, was foolhardy and unnecessarily risky. How did you feel during our travels
there? Was there ever a time when you felt in danger? When you felt unaccepted
or discriminated against?
ERNIE: We are first “world” travelers who wanted to visit one of the “thousand
places to see before you die.” Being a “gay” traveler was incidental to
seeing the endangered mountain gorillas while it was still possible. I
never felt unsafe or insecure during the whole trip. I found the people
of Uganda and Rwanda to be
both welcoming and interested in us. While not wearing gay “on our sleeves,”
if they knew (or suspected) we were gay I believe that our presence would help
educate the locals in understanding how
important tourism is to their economy and that we are truly not
different than any other visitor desiring to learn more of their culture and to
see the beauty of their country.
TOTO: What was your impression of getting “up close and personal” with
the Mountain Gorillas? Was it difficult to do? Would you recommend the
experience to others?
ERNIE: Viewing the gorillas “up close” was not an exaggeration, and
it was an incredible experience. In many cases we were within 10 feet of
them (and sometimes closer). These families did not seem bothered by our
presence and we were respectful of their territory. We were well prepared
for this trip in advance. The packing list was comprehensive. I
exercised regularly to get into shape, but in reality, it was not at all
difficult. Walking sticks were provided and the gorilla trackers hacked
(with machetes) a path for us on our way to the nests. The elevation was
more of a challenge than the hike itself. The ability to visit these
gorillas is extremely controlled and limited. This may be your last
chance to see these “gentle giants” in their natural habitat.
TOTO: This was almost a three-week trip. What do you do for a living,
and was it difficult for you to get this much time off?
ERNIE: I work for the federal government and I find that 2 weeks is
about the maximum I can take comfortably. Since it included the weekends,
I was able to get the extra time off for this special trip. My partner
Ray has to block his vacation time about a year in advance so timing can be
tricky. We appreciate it when Dan Ware is able to give us advance notice
of any tours he is planning.
TOTO: Tell us a little bit about your personal background and early
life? Where did you grow up? When did you meet Ray?
ERNIE: I am an American-born Chinese; my parents met in
New York
while attending college and married there. I grew up mostly in Michigan and received my B.S. from Michigan
State University
and J.D. from DePaul
University. After a
stint in the U.S. Navy and being away from Michigan
for almost 15 years, I returned home to Michigan.
Ray and I met at a business networking group called the Motor City Business
Forum in 1989. Unfortunately, they are no longer in existence.
TOTO: You and Ray both
come from dramatically different cultural backgrounds. Has this been a
challenge? How have your extended families responded?
ERNIE: Ray and I dated for 3 years before we bought a
home together in 1992. This year we are celebrating our
20th anniversary. Our cultural backgrounds are not so dramatically
different. We both have Asian backgrounds (Ray is
south Asian) and our parental upbringings were surprising
similar. While I believe that neither of us were looking for an “Asian”
partner, we both were looking for a long-term relationship. It was by
chance we met and we have been together ever since. If I had not returned
to Michigan,
we would never have met! Both of our parents and siblings have always
been very accepting and supportive of our relationship.
TOTO: What are your hobbies and special interests? Are you involved in
any organizations outside your career?
ERNIE: I am a runner. I have run in four marathons: Honolulu, Chicago, Columbus and Detroit.
I occasionally run in shorter races. Presently, I am also learning Vipassana
meditation which I practice on a daily basis. It is a practice of
moment-to-moment awareness known as mindfulness to quiet the mind and body
experiences.
TOTO: On which Toto Tour for 2010 are people most likely to find you
and Ray, and have the opportunity to get to know you better?
ERNIE: We are excited about Toto’s trip to Turkey in
October, 2010. We are hoping our friends can join us. What a wonderful
way to celebrate Toto’s 20th anniversary!
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Tag! You're it!
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POST-IT NOTES: Office Chatter
See the Gorillas. Ernie mentioned
how exciting it was to see the mountain gorillas in Uganda
and Rwanda. The tour was so incredible we plan to offer it again in 2010 (dates to be announced). You can read a daily journal and see dramatic photos here: http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog/wareameye/20/tpod.html.
Island Hopping in Greece. Our Labor Day adventure
this year is a trip to the Cyclades Islands of Greece
for trekking and general carousing on Mykonos, Naxos
and Santorini. Dan lands in Athens
on September 3, and will do his best to update his travel blog regularly
throughout the tour. Follow along here: http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog/wareameye/21/tpod.html
A Memorable Thanksgiving. Act
quickly if you want to spend Thanksgiving with a great group of new friends and
family on the gorgeous Amalfi Coast of Italy. Thanksgiving is all about great
food and great company, and we’ll have both in abundance in this incredible
destination! http://www.tototours.com/tours/2009/15Amalfi/html/Amalfi.htm
Ireland Open To All. By special request, the tour of Ireland scheduled for the July 4th Holiday period next year has been opened to men and
women. This is a perfect opportunity to bring along a close friend or family
member.
Tuscany and Umbria
Added. Celebrating Thanksgiving in Italy may become a tradition. Next
year we plan to do it again, but this time in Tuscany
and Umbria.
The dates are November 18 – 28, 2010. Included:
Florence, Siena,
San Gimignano, Lucca, Pisa,
Perugia, Arezzo, Assisi and Gubbio. A
veritable feast of fabulousness!
Current List of Toto Tours
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A riot of colorful figures adorns a temple in Tamil Nadu
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TOTO TIDBITS:
Ten Fun Facts about Kerala and Tamil Nadu
1. Kerala is the size of Switzerland and yet supports a
population of 29 million people. That’s 747 people per square kilometer
compared with 26 in the US.
2. Of its population 60 per cent are Hindu, 20 per cent are
Muslim and 20 per cent are Christian. There is also a small Jewish community.
3. In 1957 Kerala was the first state in the world to bring to
power a communist government via democratic elections rather than revolution.
4. Over 90 per cent of people in Kerala own the land on which
their home stands. Land ownership is limited to eight hectares per family.
5. Kerala’s literacy rate is higher than that of any other
state in India.
The only countries in the Third World to have higher literacy are Cuba, Chile
and Costa Rica.
6. Electors tend to alternate their vote so that no party
stays in power for more than one term. Coalition politics is the norm.
7. Kerala’s quality of life is comparatively high, but in
conventional economic terms it is a poor state lagging behind the rest of India.
8. The position of women is generally better than in other
parts of India
because they are better educated and have fewer children.
9. Chennai has 7.5 million population, making it the fourth
largest city in India.
10. Chennai has one of the longest continuous beaches in
the world.
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Houseboating in the backwaters of Kerala
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PERSPECTIVES: India
The Word from Tour Participants on Toto’s previous tours to India:
“I continue to be amazed at Dan’s ability to handle any
situation with joie de vivre and tact and to uplift the group at all times.” –
Ian R., New York, NY
“Favorite moment? Hmmm, too many to count.” – Aaron R., Seattle, WA
“What an exciting cultural, educational experience.” – Jeff
H., Columbus, OH
“Brilliant and confronting/challenging on a personal level.
One trip I will treasure forever for its diversity and the friends that I have
made.” – Trevor B., Victoria,
Australia
“Outstanding tour. All of my travel goals were met.” – Richard
T., Rancho Mirage, CA
“Thanksgiving at the Lake
Palace will undoubtedly
be retold by me for the rest of my life. Thanks, Toto, for a once-in-a-lifetime
experience.” – Paul F., Pacific Grove,
CA
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At one of the tea plantations in the highlands of Kerala
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BY THE NUMBERS: South India Tour
Dates: February 4 – 20, 2010
Group Size: 21 maximum
Spaces Remaining: 14
Tour Leader: Dan Ware
Wow Factor: A cultural feast of temples and traditions,
costumes and dancing, heavenly Ayurvedic healing and spa treatments, World
Heritage sites, blissful beaches, magical mountains covered with emerald-green
tea plantations and nature preserves, bustling cities and boating on serene
backwaters.
Deadlines: Such a faraway destination requires advance
planning – particularly if you want to upgrade from economy to business class
using frequent-flyer miles. Now that this tour is guaranteed, grab one of those
coveted seats now!
Specials: New bookings for this Southern
India tour postmarked by September 30, 2009 can receive
a $100 price discount. To qualify, simply write “September Special” on your
reservation form.
Click the reservation form link below to transport yourself to incredible India in February!
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South India Reservation Form
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