Country of contrasts

While travelling through India, this shot of a satellite dish next to rounds of cow dung on the roof of a house illustrated the contrasts of the country.

The modern technical age, next to the traditional, sustainable and recyclable past.

I was impressed with the tolerance the people showed to each other and to the blend of cultures in the face of a new fast-paced world.

Indian Motivators

The snakeboats are huge with over 100 people on each one. There are 5 people steering, 100 paddlers and 5 motivators.

I was impressed with the idea of having these motivators throughout the boat to get the best out of the paddlers. I wonder what would happen to workplaces if they employed motivators to help get the best out of staff?

We got to row with the locals & even though I didn't understand a word they were saying, I was motivated by the noise, whistling and enthusiasm.

Check out the video for a taste...

Insurance in India

On my recent trip to India I thought about insurance & how it works.

This picture of a farmer taking his produce to market led me to think about the early types of insurance, where farmers would share their produce on different boats, so that if one sank, no single person would lose their entire produce.

This is how insurance still works today - where we pay a small amount to protect a much larger amount.

Lesson from India about happiness

I just returned from an amazing holiday in Incredible India.

It was more than a holiday - it was an education.

The country has so many contrasts - rich & poor, beauty & filth, however it has an underlying message of tolerance & happiness.

One day I was staying in a palace watching a worker scare away pigeons. Yes, that was his full time job - banging a sheet with a stick to scare the birds. First I thought what a meaningless job it was, then I reflected on what he was doing. Walking around a 6 star garden, keeping it beautiful for the guests to enjoy. I have a feeling he took pride in what he achieved.

Another day we called on a village that looked like a shot from a Save the Children campaign. It was run down & dirty, however they were thrilled that we called in to meet them.

It reminded me that happiness is not about what I have, it's about how I choose to be.

What do you get when you combine passion, vision & expertise?

This fantastic presentation introduces the extraordinary World Wide Telescope to your desktop & makes travel back in time possible.

Watch this video from TED

Travel tips for New Zealand #3 - Rotorua

Paradise Valley Springs advertises being able to pat lion cubs as its main draw card, however in my opinion the fresh water spring was the highlight.

Make sure you take a drink bottle so you can fill it directly from this amazing spring. The water is cold & so very fresh.

The animals are varied and interesting and you are able to pat many of them. You can buy a small bag of grains to feed the animals and trout as you walk around.

It's worth packing a picnic although a small cafe is on site.

Travel tips for New Zealand #2 - Rotorua

We were a little disappointed at the quality of the motel in Rotorua. Don't always believe what you see on the internet. The mineral plunge pool was more of a paddling pool. My advice is to do your homework first.

The first attraction we went to was the gondola & luge. This was a lot of fun & I would highly recommend it. The gondola provides some great views. The luge is a huge amount of fun, for all ages & abilities. It is very safe.

There are lockers available for your bags at the top of the gondola plus food and a souvenir shop. You can buy photos of yourself as you speed down the luge course or travelling in the gondola.

Best to go early in the day during busy periods as the course fills up but the lines were well managed.

Travel tips for New Zealand #1

I had an idea to share what we did & learnt on our holiday to Rotorua, Taupo & Auckland (North Island, New Zealand), so that others might also have a memorable and enjoyable experience. I'll post a few blogs over the next few days/ weeks.

We travelled by van, breaking up the journey with regular stops.

One of the best things we did was to give each family member (Mum, Dad, 2 girls & 2 boys) a sports bag. If something didn't fit, we didn't take it. This meant there was no excess luggage or cramped conditions in the vehicle.

When travelling in New Zealand in summer take:
Sunscreen
Sunhat
Sunglasses
Shorts
Pants
Tops
Socks
Swim wear
Enough underwear for the whole trip
Laundry bag
Camera
Journal or travel diary
Map
Drinks & nibbles
Good footwear

Tap water is safe to drink.

New Zealand is generally a safe country to travel in, but like every country has its criminal element. Lock valuables away and don't stray from groups late at night.

By planning ahead you will make the best use of your time in this beautiful country.