On Wednesday, January 5, 1994, we start our consulting trip to India aboard KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and with our Royal Wing Card, we both enjoyed once again an upgrade into Business Class.
Around noon on Thursday, we landed in Amsterdam, The Netherlands and after calling my Parents, we headed to hotel Ibis for some rest and a shower.
We departed for Bombay (Mumbai) India on Friday, around 10:30 and arrived on Saturday, January 8, by 1:00 at hotel Centaur Airport, the very same hotel Pieter stayed at during his DANGEROUS solo trip (see link below post).
We did rise early as we had a flight at 8:00 to Coimbatore.
From Coimbatore, the road by car up into the mountains and instead of the usual 2.5 hours it would take us today 3.5 hours because of a detour.
On September 30, 1993, the deadliest earthquake in Maharashtra, Mumbai, presumably caused an underground long tear, so the mountains shifted.
Mother Nature's POWER.
There was another 'cloud burst' on 11th November 1993 in the upper reach of Marappalam of Coonoor Taluk, about 18 huts situated below the road and washing away Coonoor MTP ghat Road for about 1.5 km. The road traffic was suspended for more than a fort night. Twelve persons lost their live and 15 persons missing. It is said that 21 passengers were washed away with two buses. An important highway, sheared stretched of rail road for about 300m.
To the right, the landslide damage is still visible...
We both have seen the rail road, the one that we traveled once to work that stretch, was sticking up in the air like matches! See below post about My 1st Trip to India...
Like a giant hand had stripped the entire mountain side bare, removing everything in its path...
~
We did arrive finally at our guest house in Ooty, Pieter was as carsick as one can get from the longer road up into the mountains.
That was on Saturday, January 09.
This guest house's shower was a rather puritan experience!
No window, but a hole in the wall, that was only provided with metal slats, which did not close...
We had a small electric heater, to turn in any case not completely blue from cold, from shower to bedroom.
This also helped us with getting into our clothes fast; just like a couple of drilled soldiers!
Keep in mind - this is HIGH IN THE MOUNTAINS!
Lovely mountains... but rather cold and windy during the night!
On Sunday, January 10, we did drive through the mountains to the mushroom farm to start our work period together as consultants.
We always enjoyed our beautiful surroundings in the Queen of Hills
Mother nature can be rough at times but when the sun shines down, it looks awesome...
People in the mountains for sure are not wealthy...
This is how they live close to that mushroom farm.
Two donkeys on the side of the road...
Yes, India is a vast country and one of many contrasts!
Looking down on the mushroom farm, visible through the trees.
And here the mushroom farm is in full view...
Of course it is hard to capture it in one shot!
We did work intensely for one week and on Friday, January 14, we left from the farm, after a meeting with the entire staff, on our way to Coimbatore.
This time we could travel via the normal route as of 14:00 o'clock that day, they had opened a Bailey Bridge, put in place by the military, to be used for light vehicles.
There was a sign: One Vehicle at a Time but we saw another vehicle coming our way!
It looked terribly scary! In Indonesia we saw more often a land slide but never such a devastation as here!
The two of us are never afraid, but we both know for certain that there is really such a thing as a Guardian Angel!!!
A miracle often, that we once again got out unscathed.
Also good to see up close such destruction from a natural disaster!
This teaches us once more very clearly, that there is still someone who is many times more powerful than we, small measly ants on this little globe.
We arrived in Coimbatore and traveled again, like the previous consulting trip together, by train to Madras (Chennai). This stretch of some 600 km we managed in 10 hours, in a first class sleeping compartment. Two rows of bunk beds for 4 people. Both of us slept at the top.
One staff member was with us and another unknown businessman.
We arrived around 5:00 and were being dropped off at a chic Sheraton Hotel (far more luxurious in India than here in the USA!).
After a shower and change of clothes, we had our usual wrap-up meeting with the general manager from Pond's India, at their main office in Chennai.
It took quite some effort and even courage for always being straight forward, but still righteous, to give our opinion about things and people. This was required of our job, being consultants...
We always felt relieved, when starting the return journey.
With our luggage packed up again, we left around 14:30 to the airport of Madras.
Flying to Delhi, first class; thus they found us worthy of that!
We met again with our contact person whom we had not seen in two years, because of our non-stop direct flight to Bombay (Mumbai) but on Saturday, there was no Bombay/Amsterdam flight.
In completing the Royal Treatment, they brought us for one night to the Taj Palace Inter Continental Hotel...
Again, such a stark contrast with so many poor people in that country, such luxury for only two people!
We got up at 4:30 on Sunday, January 16 and started our flight back on Royal Dutch Airlines.
Again we got an upgrade to Business Class, due to our Royal Wing card and flew to Amsterdam, The Netherlands and on to Detroit, MI before going to Atlanta, GA.
Back in the USA...
Thanks for your visit and comment!
Around noon on Thursday, we landed in Amsterdam, The Netherlands and after calling my Parents, we headed to hotel Ibis for some rest and a shower.
We departed for Bombay (Mumbai) India on Friday, around 10:30 and arrived on Saturday, January 8, by 1:00 at hotel Centaur Airport, the very same hotel Pieter stayed at during his DANGEROUS solo trip (see link below post).
We did rise early as we had a flight at 8:00 to Coimbatore.
From Coimbatore, the road by car up into the mountains and instead of the usual 2.5 hours it would take us today 3.5 hours because of a detour.
On September 30, 1993, the deadliest earthquake in Maharashtra, Mumbai, presumably caused an underground long tear, so the mountains shifted.
The Hindu Re-crowning the Queen of Hills for above image
From a distance we got to see this bare mountain side, it makes one skip a breath... Mother Nature's POWER.
We both have seen the rail road, the one that we traveled once to work that stretch, was sticking up in the air like matches! See below post about My 1st Trip to India...
Like a giant hand had stripped the entire mountain side bare, removing everything in its path...
~
We did arrive finally at our guest house in Ooty, Pieter was as carsick as one can get from the longer road up into the mountains.
That was on Saturday, January 09.
This guest house's shower was a rather puritan experience!
No window, but a hole in the wall, that was only provided with metal slats, which did not close...
We had a small electric heater, to turn in any case not completely blue from cold, from shower to bedroom.
This also helped us with getting into our clothes fast; just like a couple of drilled soldiers!
Keep in mind - this is HIGH IN THE MOUNTAINS!
On Sunday, January 10, we did drive through the mountains to the mushroom farm to start our work period together as consultants.
This is how they live close to that mushroom farm.
Yes, India is a vast country and one of many contrasts!
We did work intensely for one week and on Friday, January 14, we left from the farm, after a meeting with the entire staff, on our way to Coimbatore.
This time we could travel via the normal route as of 14:00 o'clock that day, they had opened a Bailey Bridge, put in place by the military, to be used for light vehicles.
There was a sign: One Vehicle at a Time but we saw another vehicle coming our way!
It looked terribly scary! In Indonesia we saw more often a land slide but never such a devastation as here!
The two of us are never afraid, but we both know for certain that there is really such a thing as a Guardian Angel!!!
A miracle often, that we once again got out unscathed.
Also good to see up close such destruction from a natural disaster!
This teaches us once more very clearly, that there is still someone who is many times more powerful than we, small measly ants on this little globe.
We arrived in Coimbatore and traveled again, like the previous consulting trip together, by train to Madras (Chennai). This stretch of some 600 km we managed in 10 hours, in a first class sleeping compartment. Two rows of bunk beds for 4 people. Both of us slept at the top.
One staff member was with us and another unknown businessman.
We arrived around 5:00 and were being dropped off at a chic Sheraton Hotel (far more luxurious in India than here in the USA!).
After a shower and change of clothes, we had our usual wrap-up meeting with the general manager from Pond's India, at their main office in Chennai.
It took quite some effort and even courage for always being straight forward, but still righteous, to give our opinion about things and people. This was required of our job, being consultants...
We always felt relieved, when starting the return journey.
With our luggage packed up again, we left around 14:30 to the airport of Madras.
Flying to Delhi, first class; thus they found us worthy of that!
We met again with our contact person whom we had not seen in two years, because of our non-stop direct flight to Bombay (Mumbai) but on Saturday, there was no Bombay/Amsterdam flight.
Again, such a stark contrast with so many poor people in that country, such luxury for only two people!
We got up at 4:30 on Sunday, January 16 and started our flight back on Royal Dutch Airlines.
Again we got an upgrade to Business Class, due to our Royal Wing card and flew to Amsterdam, The Netherlands and on to Detroit, MI before going to Atlanta, GA.
Back in the USA...
Thanks for your visit and comment!
Related links:
Husband Pieter's DANGEROUS Trip back from India | previous post by me
My 3rd trip to India - Consulting Together with Husband Pieter | previous post by me
Consulting for Pond's (India) Limited Mushroom Project | previous post by me
My 2nd trip to India - Consulting Together with Husband Pieter | previous post by me
Brindavan Gardens Mysore with Luxury Heritage Hotel | previous post by me
My 3rd trip to India - Consulting Together with Husband Pieter | previous post by me
Consulting for Pond's (India) Limited Mushroom Project | previous post by me
My 2nd trip to India - Consulting Together with Husband Pieter | previous post by me
Brindavan Gardens Mysore with Luxury Heritage Hotel | previous post by me
Lalitha Mahal and Maharaja Palace Mysore | previous post by me
Chamundeshwari Temple and Chamundi Hills in Mysuru India | previous post by me
Trip from Ooty to Mysuru through Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary | previous post by me
Wearing a Saree for ONE Day and Lending my Jeans | previous post by me
Pond's (India) Limited Mushroom Project | previous post by me
My 1st Trip to India - Consulting Together with Husband Pieter | previous post by me
Husband Pieter's ADVENTUROUS 2nd Trip to India | previous post by me showing the Qutb Minar
Chamundeshwari Temple and Chamundi Hills in Mysuru India | previous post by me
Trip from Ooty to Mysuru through Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary | previous post by me
Wearing a Saree for ONE Day and Lending my Jeans | previous post by me
Pond's (India) Limited Mushroom Project | previous post by me
My 1st Trip to India - Consulting Together with Husband Pieter | previous post by me
Husband Pieter's ADVENTUROUS 2nd Trip to India | previous post by me showing the Qutb Minar
Dearest Mariette,
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year to you and Pieter!
Thank you for another Post filled with great pictures and Memories of your and Piters Life!
HAve a lovely weekend ahead,
Love and hugs, Claudia xo
Dearest Claudia,
DeleteThank you for your wishes for New Year.
Indeed, another chronicle about some of our adventures and work in India.
Hugs,
Mariette
Liebe Mariette,
ReplyDeleteein Gedicht.
Alles Liebe
Elisabeth
Liebe Elisabeth,
DeleteWenn schon ein Gedicht, dann eins über die Uhrkraft der Natur und menschlicher Verlust...
Die harte Existenz von vielen Miljarden auf Erde.
Liebe Grüße,
Mariette
Gostei de ver estas recordações da viagem à Índia e as viagens de comboio neste país é uma verdadeira aventura e aproveito para desejar um Feliz Ano Novo.
ReplyDeleteAndarilhar
Dedais de Francisco e Idalisa
O prazer dos livros
Querido Francisco Manuel,
DeleteMais assim é o perigo diário devido àqueles terremotos e deslizamentos de terra enormes que reivindicam tão muitas vidas...
Abraços,
Mariette
How interesting you have been. Have a nice evening Mariette!
ReplyDeleteDearest Anne,
DeleteIt sure was an eye opener to see the devastation by such natural powers!
Also for being confronted with extreme poverty is a life's lesson.
Hugs,
Mariette
Dear Mariette,
ReplyDeleteMust have been a very interesting trip to India and have seen some of the high roads on television shows and they look scary.
Happy New Year dear friend to you and Pieter and best wishes for a wonderful 2019.
Hugs
Carolyn
Dearest Carolyn,
DeleteThe very first time it is interesting such a windy road up into the mountains but when it makes you very carsick, like for Pieter this time, it is not.
We had to make a detour of an hour due to this huge landslide that had stripped bare a huge section of the mountain, no more roads...
May 2019 be a good and healthy year for you and yours.
Hugs,
Mariette
Happy New Year and wishing a prosperous year 2019 for you two!
ReplyDeleteOh, we all experience some kind of disaster in our own countries, hope this year will be the safe year for all of us. Thank you SO much for sharing your trip to India; very educational for the unknown country.
Sending Lots of Love and Hugs from Japan to my Dear friend, xoxo Miyako*
Dearest Miyako,
DeleteIndeed, Japan knows very well about earthquakes, Tsunamis and the like!
It is always so devastating to see the affected area afterwards and the repair of roads and railroads takes quite some effort and time.
Life goes on... and the population in the mountains is very poor!
Hugs,
Mariette
Hello dear Mariette!
ReplyDeleteHappy new year to you and Pieter with good health and happiness!
Great post and beautiful pictures from your trip to India!
It really was a great adventure for you both!
Thank you for sharing! Have a lovely weekend! Hugs!
Dimi...
Dearest Dimi,
DeleteThank you very much and indeed good health is the most important one!
India has been a country with lots of adventures and surprises but we loved it.
Hugs and happy weekend to you.
Mariette
Hello dear Mariette,
ReplyDeleteI wish you both a very happy New Year with good health!
Your travels to India have been rich in memories.
Hugs and happy weekend
Dearest Nathalie,
DeleteThank you and the very same to you both.
Yes, India has been a chapter in our lives full of memories and adventures.
Hugs,
Mariette
Indeed, Mother Nature can be very rough at times, but also incredibly beautiful. And one country can have lot of different faces.
ReplyDeleteHugs and have a wonderful weekend! xo
Dearest Tamago,
DeleteYes she can, just look at Japan what an earthquake/Tsunami combination can cause. Devastating.
The good thing always is that Mother Nature usually heals from her wounds over time. Sad is the loss of lives...
We have to always keep looking for the beauty of a country and seal those memories in.
Hugs and happy Sunday!
Mariette
Your word "small measly ants on this little globe" is breathtaking. Your experience is precious. I think nothing can destroy a hope which is made under the cooperation of many ants.
ReplyDeleteDearest RTC,
DeleteThank you and that's precisely how we often felt about certain situations. It only makes you so aware of WHO really is in charge in our big universe!
Like with the beautiful cooperation amongst ants, we humans likewise should keep our hope high; it all can be done!
Hugs,
Mariette
Dear Mariette,
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year to you and Pieter
I hope 2019 will be the best for you all.
It is very interesting to see the mushroom farm and donkeys on the road.
I am finally getting back to my daily routine. I will return to your posts again!
Dearest Tomoko,
DeleteAnd the very same to you and yours!
May indeed 2019 bring us good things.
One good thing for sure is several kind and warm blogging friends that we know over many years and you are such a treasured one.
A post with several contrasts of life in the vast country of India.
Hugs,
Mariette
hi Mariette,
ReplyDeleteSorry to bother you.
Can you please try, https://from-a-girls-mind.blogspot.com/
The screenshot you sent me , I found that the URL starts http:// instead of https://
I'm still searching the problem.
Thanks a lot again pointing it out. XOXO
Dearest Krishna,
DeleteJust did that and YAY, it works!
What a difference the added 's' does make.
When clicking here above on your name and than on your Blogger profile on My blogs: From a girl's mind it goes to your blog and in the URl there is no s! Further more I get the message here in Google Chrome: not secure to the left of that URL... Weird things. You might have to look into your Blogger info and put it in there as well with the 's' added to your URL.
At least I'm so happy for having you back on my side line after some 9 months!
Hugs,
Mariette
Hello Mariette, Thanks for adding the link in your recent post. This was only from 2019, so I can't imagine how I could have missed it, but sometimes my reader plays tricks on me. I have never seen anything like that first photo--it shows that we all had better take Mother Nature very seriously. Also, although it was horrible for those victims in its path, it was lucky that this did not happen in a heavily populated area!
ReplyDelete--Jim
Dearest Jim,
DeleteWe both were shocked seeing that bare mountain side as if a humongous hand had scraped the mountain off. Hard to imagine of not seen in person... You bet we have to take Mother Nature very serious; there is something far more powerful than human beings!
True, this was in a very rural area, at least for India.
Hugs,
Mariette