Vanuatu

Vanuatu

This year started on a good note. Past 3 years I did not travel as much as I normally do. I have been to few places in the past 2 years but not many new countries. Always new cities but same countries in Europe. But this year I travelled to a small new country called Vanuatu. This is my 42^nd country. The new year started good, and I am hopeful that this year I will visit a few new countries.  I feel lucky to have this opportunity to travel around the world.

I never heard the name of this country before, but my sister suggested me to travel there during my stay in Australia. I agreed immediately and started searching for this country. Vanuatu is a South Pacific Ocean nation made up of roughly 83 islands. It is a beautiful small island country. Their currency is called Vatu. The country is not very chip for the tourists, and it is always better to have cash with you when you go around.

I never saw in any country such a happy and smiling immigration officer as in Vanuatu airport. When we landed there and went through immigration, the officer smiled at us and asked about us and wished us a happy stay in his country. This one thing we experienced during our stay is that everyone is very thankful to the tourists and says often that they are thankful to us for choosing their country as a tourist destination.

People are very relaxed and always ready to help and smiling. Most of the population is Melanesian and some Polynesian. There are More than 100 local Melanesian languages and dialects are spoken; Bislama, an English-based Melanesian pidgin, is the national language and, along with English and French, is one of three official languages. They also write in a broken English e.g. True is written as Tru. Or belong is written as blong.

The main attraction for me was to go to the Tanna Volcano Day trip but unfortunately all the trips during my stay were full and I could not go there. I was very disappointed. But this means I will go there again who knows. I was then in the main city called port vila during my visit to Vanuatu. I was still able to enjoy it there. Did a few good day trips and the rest of the time just relaxed in our resort.

One day I went to 83 island distilleries for Rum tasting. The interesting thing about this rum is that it is made from sugarcane. Normally rum is made from molasses but in Vanuatu distillery they make it from locally produced sugarcane. This way the local farmers get some money. This distillery is new, only 6 years old and small. Currently they supply the rum to all the hotels and resorts on the island but soon they will export it to Australia and New Zealand too. I got to taste 6 different rums. The sugar cane rum was very smooth. In the rum production area, there was always this sweet smell of sugarcane which was very similar to the jaggary we use in India. Also, this smell made me nostalgic and took me back to the old days in Pune where we used to drink this sugarcane juice very often.

The lady who gave me the tour was very nice and friendly. Luckily, I was the only one on that day for the tour, so it was like my private tour.

We also did the bush walking tour with the tour company Vanuatu Ecotours. This was the best tour. The walk was very easy and informative. Our guide took us through pure nature, showed us different trees and fruits and took us to the house of the village chief. This chief was very nice and generous. He gave us the taste of the fresh fruits from his trees. Showed us how they really live ecofriendly. He told us to become a chief you should have many trees, pigs and chickens because if local people come to you asking for help you should be able to give them something. His garden, well it’s much bigger than the garden, was full of fruit trees and vegetables, chickens, and pigs.

One day we also did a trip to see the culture and the traditional ways the people follow in small villages or in some tribes. One can also do many day trips to nearby islands where you can go snorkeling, kayaking, or just walking on the sandy beach.

The island people are very relaxed, and they are not very rich, but they are happy and enjoying their nature and ecofriendly, sustainable lifestyle. Thanx to my sister I was able to travel to this beautiful country this year.

 

#31 blog post challange for OCT.2022 #day10

          Korea Impression 

I got a chance to go to Korea to attend my Korean friend's wedding few years back.  I love korean food and so I was very happy that finally I will get to eat real korean food 😀

My trip to Korea was excellent . In general I think people are same everywhere in the world , we all have same emotions , almost same  expectations from life . I would like to talk about my experience from my friend's wedding. 

The wedding was a mix of American and traditional korean wedding rituals. So when actually the wedding ceremony started and my friend's mother stood in front of the  mike to talk, she was talking in korean. ofcourse none of us understand the language but at that point it was not even necessary to understand the language to feel the emotions of a mother who is sending her daughter to her new house , new family. Her chocked voice , and eyes filled with tears conveyed her emotions to us even without the language. How it can be different from any mother in the world. That was really heart touching moment for all of us , her non-Korean friends.

the ceremony was beautiful . My friend wanted to have that venue only but the venue owner had never given that venue for any wedding before and so was reluctant to agree to this. But my friend and her family tried very hard to convince him and finally managed to get the wedding venue.  

I saw the korean wedding before only once in my favorite TV serial Gilmore Girls so that was the only reference I had . But to large extent this is how the korean weddings are. It is very short event and people really just com , eat , give gift and go. no big , long parties, no singing-dancing.

My friend's wedding was a bit different as it was a mix of typical American and Korean styles and so was a bit longer than the normal weddings. It was also bit delayed than they originally planned and my friend told us later that they had to send the letter to guests apologizing for the delay. 

She also organized another drinks/food party in the city  after the actual wedding was over for all of us who came from foreign countries . It was a very nice party. We all tried different rice wines there. They were special for 4 different seasons like summer, winter etc..

We did many trips in korea and everywhere we got so many different experiences. But one thing was always common that whenever I told I am from India the different kind of respect I saw in korean people's eyes was really amazing. 

#31 blog post challange for OCT.2022 #day9

           My Bharatnatyam Gurus

My very first Bharatnatyam guru is Klara. When I was new in Germany, I came across Klara's Indian dance performances while browsing the internet. I was pleasantly surprised to see a German girl performing Bharatnatyam, so I reached out to her to inquire if she also taught Bharatnatyam. She responded affirmatively, and I went to meet her. She resided in a small village called Tengen, which was approximately a 40-minute drive from my location. I began learning from her, visiting her house every weekend for lessons. Klara, a young and sweet girl, became not only my guru but also my friend. Her mother was equally kind, and their beautiful typical village house created a welcoming atmosphere. I genuinely enjoyed going there. Klara and her mother made me feel at home, and we developed a special bond. Klara even invited me to her New Year's party with her friends, and we occasionally had lunch at her home. However, after two years, she moved to Switzerland for her studies, and I relocated to Heidelberg, making it impossible for us to meet and continue our dance lessons.

Although I was saddened by this turn of events, I soon found a new teacher. Attending a Diwali program organized by the German-Indian Association, I witnessed a Bharatnatyam performance by a group and discovered advertisements for dance classes. I was elated and immediately joined Alexandra's dance school. I have been learning from her since 2007 and will continue to do so for as long as I can.

Originally from Poland, Alexandra traveled to India in the 1980s to learn Bharatnatyam from Kalakeshtra. After completing her arangetram, she relocated to Germany, where she has been teaching Bharatnatyam for nearly 35 years. Learning in her class is a truly an enriching experience. We discuss various topics related to Indian mythology during our sessions, and Alexandra shares her experiences as a foreign student in India, particularly in Delhi during the 1980s. We often talk about her own teachers in India. This one hour spent in class each week is the highlight of my week. Alexandra always encourages us to enjoy the dance rather than focusing solely on technique, as she believes that when we experience joy, the audience does too. I vividly remember the moments when she introduces a new dance and the music starts playing. I would often worry about the speed, thinking, "Oh no, it's too fast! I can't keep up." But Alexandra would reassure me, saying, "Anagha, don't worry about the speed. First, learn the mudras and choreography, and then you can think about the speed. Once you have mastered all the movements in your mind, the speed will come naturally." And without fail, as we near the completion of the dance, I find myself able to dance at that speed. Alexandra is not just a teacher to us; she is also a friend and sometimes even a mother figure. She takes care of all her students as if they were her family. Every year, we have a dance class gathering, where we perform for our friends and family, and all the dancers bring food for the audience. Alexandra also organizes annual dance workshops with teachers from India exclusively for us. Additionally, we have a special dinner at her home, featuring Indian cuisine. Her knowledge of India, its culture, and mythology surpasses ours. Meeting her and attending her dance classes makes me feel closer to India, a little bit.

I consider myself extremely fortunate to have such wonderful gurus, even in Germany, allowing me to pursue my passion. 

Thank you Klara and Alexandra. 

 

#31 blog post challange for OCT.2022 #day8

            Wine Hiking

When I first moved to the Heidelberg area, I heard a word I had never come across before: wine hike. I was already familiar with hiking and had enjoyed plenty of trails before, but a wine hike? That definitely caught my attention.

In wine regions, these hikes are actually very common and popular events. As summer approaches and the weather gets better, various wine festivals and wine hikes start to pop up everywhere. The idea is simple but brilliant: a specified route winds through beautiful vineyards, with different wine stands set up at intervals along the way. Each stand represents a local winery, offering tastings of their wines. You walk the route, stop for a sip (or two) at each stand, and continue on to the next. There’s usually food available too, along with benches or standing tables where you can relax and soak up the atmosphere.

It’s truly a fun activity, especially with a group of friends! The hikes are typically around 8–10 km long, making them the perfect day out.

Every year, my friends and I kick off the wine hike season on the 1st of May, usually starting from Bensheim or Zwingenberg. That particular hike is quite ambitious—almost 21 km long! Of course, we never quite manage to complete the entire route, but that’s not the point. It’s all about enjoying the day, the wine, and the company. After that, the season is officially open for us, and we try to join as many wine hikes in our region as possible.

This year, I even managed to make it to Vienna for a wine hike! It was absolutely beautiful. The only difference was the local terminology: in Germany, we call it Weinschorle (wine spritzer), whereas in Vienna they simply say Spritzer. But hey, small language differences never get in the way of drinking good wine and having a great time!

At some wine hikes, you even receive a small special glass for tastings, which you can carry from stand to stand. Many people collect these glasses as souvenirs from each year. I’ve managed to collect a few myself—and each one comes with great memories.

A day spent in nature with friends, walking, chatting, and enjoying good drinks—what’s not to love about that?

And if you’re not a wine lover, don’t worry. You can still join the fun and enjoy non-alcoholic options—no judgment here! The most important thing is to have a great walk, meet wonderful people, and simply have fun.

Cheers 👍

 

 

#31 blog post challange for OCT.2022 #day7

                           Mansaf

Mansaf is a traditional Jordanian dish made of lamb cooked in a goat milk yogurt and served with rice and topped with almond slices . it is very mild taste dish. This yogurt is prepared by the boiling of sheep or goat milk. This sauce has a very distinct fermented and salty flavor. It is Jordan's national dish.

When we traveled to Jordan last year we had a unique experience of Jordanian hospitality while eating this famous dish Mansaf. 

It was a day before we flew back home and me and 2 more friends wanted to eat this famous dish. 

We searched one restaurant in the market area  and went there. One of my friends can talk Arabic so she talked with the cook and asked how to eat this dish and ordered accordingly for us. The yogurt sauce and rice is served separately and we have to take a scoop of rice and then add the sauce and some roasted nuts  on the top in each plate and eat it. 

So we 3 were eating it and speaking in English and having fun. There was a young man sitting on the next table alone and eating and also looking at us every now and then. But we did not really pay much attention to him. After some time he finished his food and came to out table and spoke in very good english to us. He said Hello and asked us if we like the Mansaf . we said yes for sure. He politely asked us if he could give some more details of this dish and explained a bot more. We thanked him and he wished us good time and turned and started walking downstairs and while going down he told us by the way I have already paid for your food. We were so surprised and stunned that we could just say Thank you it is really not necessary to pay for us. But he did not give us chance to say anything more and said you all are our guests and welcome in my country. This is a Jordanian welcome to you and went out. 

We 3 were really speechless. Mansaf tasted even better after that 😃In Jordan we met such nice people many times. We don't even know that young man's name but we thank him from bottom of our heart .

Travel is all about taking different experiences and  I am very lucky that all of my travels till now made me rich with many beautiful, interesting experiences.

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#31 blog post challange for OCT.2022 #day6

                             Hotel zur Sonne

Hotel Sonne is the hotel and restaurant I stayed for the very first time when I came to Germany. A small family owned hotel in a small village Donaueschingen.  My first job was in a small village Donaueschingen in black forest area and my company organized my accommodation in this hotel for first few months. 

That was the first time I met this wonderful old couple and they became important part of my life and my first pair of parents in Germany.  I don't know how our relation developed and became so loving and real that I cannot imagine how horrible my life would have been without them around me at every step of my life. This was the only couple in that small village who was able to speak to English and very kind towards foreigners. I used to call them Uncle sonne and Aunty sonne.  Aunty was originally from Switzerland and Uncle from Germany. they both met at hotel school in Switzerland and then fall in love with each other. When I met them they were already in their 70s but still working and managing this beautiful family hotel and restaurant. Uncle was a cook and Aunty was managing the hotel administration. 

Even after I left the hotel accommodation  I was still in contact with them and after few months I lost my job so I was a  bit worried . I was still new in Germany and was not good in language either. That time I asked them if they know any cheap place for me to stay so I can leave my current flat and save some money. They offered me a room in their hotel with breakfast for around 150 euro . I was so happy and thankful to them. Since that day they became my real parents. They always used to check on me . if I need anything , which friends I have, with whom I go out and so on. They were taking care of me just like their own daughter. 

Every Monday when restaurant was closed  they both used to take me in their car and we 3 used to go on a day trip somewhere nearby . I had the best time with them. Even their children who used to live far away but they also considered me as part of their family. After when I moved to a different city , I used to visit them at least once a month and we used to even celebrate Christmas together. Every time when I used to drive from their hotel to my home, Aunty used to say Drive safe and call when you reach home. She never missed even once to say this to me 😊 I still hear  in my ears her voice when I start driving. 

They even introduced me to their old friends and we all used to have the best time in the evening after restaurant was closed. There I got to meet their good friend Heinrich who was a police commissioner of Rottweil  that time. This old man also became my father soon and helped me to find a job. he gave my CV to the owner of one company and told me now its your job to give a good interview and get the job. I was lucky enough to get that job. I used to go everyday from Donaueschingen to Rottweil by train for my job till I find a new apartment in Rottweil . This police commissioner was so nice that he instructed his secretary to pick me up every morning from the train station and drive to the company so I do not have to wait for the bus and reach in time to the office. I still don't understand how these people believed on me so much and helped me , took care of me like their own daughter.

I feel my self really lucky to find such a wonderful people around me. I must have done  something really good in my past life to meet these kind , wonderful, helping people. They trusted on a girl coming from some far away country and gave her the love of a family. I really wonder how people meet from different parts of the world and get together and become a family. 

These people have always a special place in my heart. Love you my adopted family and wish you the best.