Sure Travel Journey Vol 4.2 Autumn 2018 | Page 37

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ALL PHOTOS © SAMANTHA REINDERS
R O U T E
/ /
D E S T I N A T I O N
P I C K
Q TRAVEL PLANNER
GETTING THERE: Qatar,
Emirates and Turkish Airlines all fly
daily from Cape Town, Durban and
Johannesburg to Mumbai via their
hubs (Doha, Dubai and Istanbul
respectively). Ask your Sure Travel
consultant for flight options into
other airports across India.
PAPERWORK: South African
citizens require a visa to visit India.
E-visas are ava ilable and valid for a
maximum of 60 days after arrival
GETTING AROUND: Tuk tuks are
nary a tourist in sight.
His name was Himmet – desert guide
and raconteur extraordinaire. We piled
into his jeep and headed far from the
madding crowd into the Indian desert.
What proceeded were 72 very special
(and at times fairly comical) hours. Team
Reinders, all atop long-eyelashed camels,
slowly stomping through sand dunes a
stone’s throw from the Pakistani border.
We camped under the stars using our
saddles as pillows and little else. Before
bed, a Kingfisher beer quart in hand, we
sat around a roaring campfire – made,
appropriately, with camel dung – while
Himmet and his gang sang Hindi love
songs accompanied by a tin plate, a water
bottle and random cutlery as instruments.
We left the desert saddle-sore, but
smiling. And we left India quite possibly
in need of another vacation – that
place is not for sissies. It takes the right
mindset to reign victorious. And Team
Reinders certainly did.
widely available throughout India,
just make sure to negotiate the
price before you get in. If travelling
by metered taxi, ensure the meter
is working and running. Buses are
also a good option, but it can be
challenging to understand the route
networks. Luckily, Uber has hit the
major cities of India. For travelling
between states, India has several
low-cost domestic airlines, making
travel across this vast country
convenient and fairly affordable.
But you haven’t truly travelled India
unless you’ve ridden the country’s
famous rail network. For long
distances it’s advisable to pay the
extra amount for first class.
CURRENCY: South African rand to
Indian rupee is 1:5. Travel cards,
debit cards, credit cards and money
wallets are easily used in most cities,
and ATMs are widely available. Less
so in small towns and villages, where
it’s best to have some cash on hand.
There’s no shortage of transport options.
Mom and Dad, taking in the sights.
LANGUAGE: India has a whopping 22
official languages, and an even more
astounding 1 652 mother tongues
spoken. But don’t panic; English is
widely spoken and understood in just
about every part of India.
BEST TIME TO GO: Each region of
India experiences different climatic
conditions, meaning there’s always
somewhere with great weather. The
higher regions, like the Western
Himalayas and hill stations such
as Darjeeling, Shimla, Manali and
Mussoorie, are not too hot during
the summer months, while popular
destinations such as Mumbai, Kerala,
Hampi, Goa, Rajasthan, Agra and
Varanasi are best visited in winter.
TOP TIP: Delhi Belly is infamous. Try
to eat freshly cooked food, only drink
from sealed water bottles and avoid
fresh fruit and veggies that may have
been washed in tap water (it’s not
safe to drink).
BOOK IT: Whether it’s a fully guided,
air-conditioned five-star tour you’re
after, or an Indian experience
tailor-made just for you, your Sure
Travel consultant can get you to the
land of temples and tigers. Contact
your nearest Sure Travel agent and
ask about great India deals from
Thompsons Holidays and Travel
Vision, or visit www.suretravel.co.za /
call 0861 47 48 49.
MAKE MEMORIES FOR LIFE // 37