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Topic: Ian goes to India

Ian Price
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1714
From: Denver, CO
Registered: Jun 99

posted 04-23-2004 10:44 PM

In June, I am traveling to India to visit a former employee who has been in a volunteer program over there for the past 6-months.

I will be flying Singapore Airlines in Business Class. [Cool]

I spent every single mile I had in United’s Mileage Plus program for this ticket, which would normally cost $4,400. The flight is stopping is some pretty cool places. The plane will land in Seoul South Korea, Hong Kong and Singapore on it’s way to India. Unfortunately I will not be able to spend any time in these places. I’m just passing through. I would love to see all three cities. [Frown]

I’m arriving in Mumbai/Bombay and will be in that city just a day or two. We will then take a 16-hour train trip to Delhi. I’m looking forward to this. The Indian train system is famous as one of the great trips to take. From Delhi we will be taking a 10-day trek in to the Himalayas.

Description of the Trek:

quote:
Markha Valley via Chilling

The Markha valley is by far most one of the most beautiful valleys in Ladakh and a popular destination due to its proximity of its whole circuit to Leh. A varied trek across high passes with tremendous views of the snow capped mountains, gorges, arid landscape dotted with villages with their colorful fields of mustard and barley, make this trip a trekker’s delight to see its countryside as well as meet with the locals thus getting a good cultural insight.

However, on this particular itinerary, we do not take the standard route but begin from the little village of Chilling, the only village where metalwork is done in Ladakh. Spending a night here, we cross the Zanskar River by cable to meet with our horse on the other side meeting up with the popular route at Skiu. At the end of the trek and well acclimatized, we cross the Kongmarula pass at 5200m to descend down a beautiful gorge to Chogdo and the road head at Martselang where we meet with our vehicles, visit the monastery of Hemis and return to Leh.

5200 Meters is 17,060 Feet! [Eek!]

I have never been above 14,000 feet and I took the Pikes Peak Cog Railway to get there.

After that, if I am not dead, we will spend a week in and around Delhi visiting places like the Taj Mahal and the Red Fort.

Let’s see what the weather might be in Delhi in July. Discomfort from heat and humidity are said to be extreme with an average low of 80 and an average high of 97 the record low is 72 and the record high is 113. Humidity is between 59% and 75%. Precipitation is 7.10 inches for the month of July with an average of 8 rainy days.

Why you ask would I go to India in the summertime? Well it is the only time that the treks in the Himalayas are accessible. The mountain passes will have just opened up as the snow melts. So if you want to see the Himalayas, you go in the summertime.

My plan is to visit a couple of movie theatres, more if they are air-conditioned. I will try to photograph for Cinematour.

Do any of the forum members from India have any tips? Do you have any recommendations on theatres to visit? Are there must see things having to do with cinema in either Bombay or Delhi?

A couple of months ago I challenged the Theatre Dorks over at Cinematour to an International Cinema Tour. They politely declined and said that their interests lie in these United States at the moment. Well the gauntlet is thrown; top this. [Big Grin]

I challenge Brad, Adam, Scott and Joe to travel to strange lands, eat weird food, suffer heat and humidity, cold and frost, swat at really large bugs and live a truly international cinema experience. [Razz]