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Things you won’t find in travelogues - I |
Wasted treasure
Last month we had been to the famed Black Forests of Germany. Triberg waterfalls is the highest in Germany. So off we went to see it. There was an entry ticket of 3 euros per person. Each and every small place of tourist interest has a fee.
If we had to pay for every waterfall visited in
Munnar, we would have to had to shell out at least Rs 100, for it is full of falls water everywhere.
Returning to the Triberg, water falls at two levels: At the lower level, the term waterfall can be justified. Now for the higher one –the one which makes this waterfall the highest in Germany. What a climb it was! Frankly, I thought I would not be able to manage the trail. And the falls was still out of sight.
Then we spotted it. We had gone there with a lot of expectation that a waterfall from such a great height would come down gurgling in all its glory. But instead the impression was that of an open shower in a bathroom. No need to add here how we would have felt about it.
But this is definitely not to say that all the places we visited were disappointments. The point I would like to make here is that, east or west, India is the best. The natural diversities that she offers, her history and the architecture each place has are incomparable. The temple in Guruvayur, the Thanjavur temple, the churches in
Goa are all distinct, offering great variety.
In spite of all the flaws in its infrastructure, India holds the second position as the most preferred tourist spot. Compare this with infrastructure in places abroad, where each and every place is marketed and maintained well. You will realise how important a simple thing like a well-maintained toilet is once you visit a beautiful place like Munnar where there is a lack of it.
That does not mean you can write off visits abroad as nothing more than hype. There is no place in the world which can compare to the artificial ambience offered by Las Vegas, the gambling capital of the world. Or the world famous, perfectly synchronised shows that the place has to offer. Or the way the animals have been trained to entertain in Sea World in San Diego. Or the picture perfect beauty of Switzerland, the museums of Paris. All these places work hard at maintaining their places and grooming what they can deliver to the world. But here we are, blessed by natural beauty in India and doing everything we can to soil the places we go to.
About the infrastructure, there is very little we can do. But taking care of our environment, how easy it is! As easy as not flinging the plastic bag casually on the street. Or leaving our cola bottles, the remains of our eatables sprawling across the places we go to.
Years ago, as a young girl getting history lessons, I remember the rush I felt when I went to visit the Taj Mahal. When I actually saw it, I could not even recognise it. Taj being the epitome of romance, even little-educated rap stars use it in their songs here. Such is her fame and beauty. But when I saw it, it was shabby with flowing water and stinking toilets. And still we have tourists coming in hordes and looking lovingly into each other’s eyes as they hear the ever-moving story, oblivious to the surroundings.
Even a tiny place like Madurai and Trichy can give immense pleasure and enjoyment to a tourist.
Be sure to watch this space next monday on how you can make your travel better, both in our motherland and abroad. Personal tips that you will not get in any travelogue, most importantly money-saving ones which will make your trip enjoyable and cheaper.
Kanakadhara Subramanian
Manikanaka@yahoo.com
