Preparations!

Today, Barb and I hied ourselves down to the Indian Consulate in Surrey to apply for our visas!  After a longish wait (you are 862.  Currently serving 839…) we finally got to submit our applications.  Barb’s was fine; in my case the photo I was given by London Drugs was the wrong size,  Nevertheless, they agreed to accept the app provided I could bring in another picture before closing time (or that particular agent going offshift).  So, back to London Drugs for another photo—this time I showed them the size and specifications in writing—back to the Consulate.  (By now Barb was headed back to Westbank)….STILL the wrong size (although closer!).  The  very nice guy at the Consulate told me to run across the street to Superstore and do it there; I was back in about 10 mins with the correct size photo, gave it to my agent…and we are ‘in process’!  Should take a week to ten days and then I can pick up both visas.  The staff at the Indian Consulate was very helpful and pleasant, in spite of facing an apparently endless line of applicants all asking the same questions and making the same mistakes!

This was our last “task” to accomplish!  Now it’s pretty much just a matter of packing and we’re off!  Woo hoo!

Plans, plans, plans!

OK, so after much discussion, and advice and help from Mrs Vineeta Jalan, we have finally arrived at a PLAN!
As per our original itinerary, we arrive in New Delhi at 2:05 am on the 10th of February.  at 9:40 am we will fly via IndiGo Air to Dibrugarh, Assam, arriving 1:50 pm.

We will then spend the next four days at the home of Manoj and Vineeta Jalan in Assam, during which time we will hopefully get in some riding, and see some sights, including a park, where I understand we can ride elephants!  (Maybe I should pack the BIG helmet!)

We will try to not be too obnoxious, and will hopefully avoiding putting too big a strain on Indo-Canadian relations!

On the 14th of February, we fly back to New Delhi (again via IndiGo Air—I love that name!), arriving at 6:55 pm.  At this point, IndoAsia Tours takes over our care and management.  We spend the nights of the 14th and 15th  in New Delhi, probably at the Radisson Marina Hotel (not confirmed yet).  On the 16th, we leave for Agra, probably spending the night of the 16th at the Clark Shiraz.  Back to New Delhi on the 17th, flying home 3:20 am on the 18th…  Here’s the ‘tour’

15 Feb:             Delhi
After breakfast enjoy a full day city tour of Old & New Delhi. Visit the Red Fort  ‑ the 17th century imposing fortress built in red sandstone is surrounded by a huge 33m high boundary wall. Inside are exquisite palaces and beautiful gardens.
Opposite the Red Fort lies Jama Masjid (Friday Mosque) made of red sandstone and white marble, completed in 1656 at a cost of one million Rupees has perfect proportions. India's largest mosque where more than 20.000 people can kneel in prayer. The interior of the prayer hall is divided into aisles by arches. The walls and floors are of marble inlay panels.
Also visit the Raj Ghat on the banks of the river Yamuna is Mahatma Gandhi's Memorial, where he was cremated following his assassination in January 1948. The memorial lies in the midst of landscaped gardens and made of a simple square platform of black marble inscribed with his last words "Hey Ram". An eternal flame burns 24 hours.
Drive through Lutyens Delhi and see India Gate ‑ Built of Bharatpur‑stone, commemorates the 70,000 Indian soldiers who died in the 1st world war. 13516 names of British and Indian soldiers killed in the Afghan War of 1919 are engraved on the arch and foundations. Photo stop at Rashtrapati Bhawan once the Viceroy's residence is now the official residence of the President of India. 
Later in the afternoon explore New Delhi. Visit the Humayun's Tomb, built by his wife Haji Begum in the 16th. Century. An early example of Mughal architecture considered the predecessor of the Taj Mahal. The elements in its design ‑ a squat building, lighted by high arched entrances, topped by bulbous dome and surrounded by the char bagh (garden divided into quadrants), water channels and fountains.
Later visit the Qutub Minar ‑ the landmark of Delhi, a huge tower of victory started in 1199 and completed in 1368. The Minar is 72.5m high with a diameter at the base 14.4m and 2.7m at the top. The tower has 379 steps to the top.
In the evening enjoy Light and Show program at Red Fort, New Delhi.
Overnight at the Hotel
 16 Feb:             Delhi – Agra
After breakfast drive to Agra. En-route visit Sikandra. The mausoleum of the great Mughal King Akbar (1556-1605). Akbar began building it during his lifetime and his son, the Mughal Emperor Jahangir, completed it. It has a large arched entrance and green lawns, on which deer can be seen grazing, surround the tomb.
The entrance is decorated with marble inlay work around the arch, and the inner surface of the dome of the tomb is decorated with images of flowers, geometric designs and Islamic calligraphy.
Later continue your drive to Agra.
Agra stands on the right bank of the river Yamuna, was once the seat of the Mughal rulers, the zenith of art and an en‑shrined romance. A town famous for its beautiful medieval monuments. The passion of the Mughals for building endowed it with some of the loveliest buildings in the world.
On arrival at Agra, transfer to the hotel and check in.
Later visit Agra Fort. Designed and built by Akbar in 1565 A.D., the fort is surrounded by a 70 feet high wall. It houses the beautiful Pearl Mosque and numerous palaces. The Agra fort happens to be on the same bank of the river Yamuna as the Taj Mahal, which is visible in all its beauty from one side of the fort. Emperor Shahjahan, a prisoner of his son Aurangzeb in his old age was put in a cell from where he could gaze at the Taj Mahal at a distance from his cell in the Agra Fort. It is an imposing structure with walls of red sandstone almost three kilometers long.
Overnight at the Hotel
17 Feb:             Agra – Delhi
After breakfast visit Taj Mahal- a poem in white marble, built by the Mughal Emperor Shahjahan in the memory of his beloved wife, Mumtaj Mahal. Today India's most fascinating and beautiful masterpiece, this perfectly symmetrical edifice is set amidst landscaped gardens on the banks of the Yamuna River. Its marble exterior reflects rose and golden tints at sunrise and sunset, while it is dazzling white during the day and glows pearl-like in the moonlight and during the monsoon.
Later drive to Delhi. On arrival in Delhi, enjoy Dinner at the local Restaurant.
After dinner, transfer to the International airport to board the flight to onward journey.
18 Feb:             Fly back to home.
 
How about THAT, eh?

The saga continues…

India has really been hit hard by this glanders outbreak; several extremely significant equestrian events have had to be cancelled.  Basically, moving horses or allowing them to congregate anywhere in India is problematic right now.
There have been a flurry of emails.  To summarize the situation from my own point of view… First of all, although I purchased cancellation insurance, it does not cover this kind of problem!  Long story short—I can’t get my money back for the airline tickets.  Given that starting point, my feeling and Barb’s is that we should go anyway and just be tourists.
The organizing committee and everyone associated with this clearly feel very badly, and have been trying to come up with alternatives.  At first, it was suggested the ride be moved to another location; I will copy you the email from the Indian Federation (since this, I believe the quarantine has become even more restrictive):

Dear Mr Ian Williams,

We ,at the Equestrian Federation of India, have more than 

enthusiastically planned the ride with full awareness that

the event will be precursor for stronger Endurance

discipline in the country. Cancelling it was a hard yet 

inevitable option. The Organizing Committee had made all

the required arrangements. Mr Manoj Jalan and other

EFI officials visited the venue and were satisfied with the

preparations and provisions. Glanders, being a notified disease, 

there was no room for resorting to half-measures-both technically

and administratively. Hence, the hardhearted and inescapable

decision to cancel the ride was taken.

The venue of the ride has only 06 Endurance qualified horses. 

The rest of the horses have to reach the venue through areas 

wherein the movement of horses has been banned. Besides,

the government policy discourages the congregation of equines

in the area. As you may be aware, the discipline of Endurance

is still at an early stage in the country and total number

of qualified horses is not more than 22 and all of these are

in Meerut ,Hempur and Saharanpur-the area having outbreak of

Glanders. In the Dibrugarh ride last year, majority of the horses

were from this belt.

The extant guidelines of the concerned Ministry restrict the

movements for a period of three months from the last case reported.

A fresh case was reported as late as on 07th January. Hence,

the postponement was ruled out. The NF has cancelled other

events, including the prestigious All India Police Equestrian meet.

The available Endurance qualified horses are located in the affected

Zone or in its close vicinity. The option of having a ride at an

alternate location was not viable as moving out the

horses from the Zone is not permitted. We do not have sufficient

number of Endurance horses at any other place to organize a ride.

We sincerely hope that our constraints are put in perspective and acknowledged.

With kind regards,

Col S S Ahlawat ,  VSM
Secretary General

So, as you can see, they are really stuck.  It appears that many of us are in the same boat as myself (unable to get a refund for our airline tickets), so…discussion of what other possibilities exist.  Obviously, we can all just go as tourists…

TODAY—get this!:

Hallo Everyone,

Today the FEI has heard further news from India and sadly, it would appears that despite everyone's

best efforts it will not be possible to organize any kind of equestrian event in and around Delhi

during your arranged visit dates.

However we have today been advised by Mr. Manor Jalan that he would  be happy to host those who will

still make the trip to India for three to four days at his home in Assam.

Here you would have the opportunity to visit the site of the 2010 Endurance Event, visit the tea

plantations and most important of all, enjoy some riding in and around the area which would extend

to riding along the banks of the mighty rivers that originate high in the nearby Himalayan Mountains.

Also available in the region of Assam, is the world famous Kaziranga National Park where it is possible

to ride on elephants whilst spotting the white rhino and other  animals in the reserve.

Everyone is terribly disappointed in what has happened over the unavoidable cancellation of the event.

but it is hoped that those who still travel to India and take up the offer from Mr. and Mrs. Jalan will

still enjoy their visit and experience some memorable riding in the shadow of the Himalya.

Pretty great, eh?  What a wonderful invitation!  I’m discussing with Barb, but whatever we decide I think you’ll agree that our Indian hosts

are doing everything in their power to make the best of this for us.  Stay tuned!

Oh, CRAP!

Dear Sir/Madam,

1.The Equestrian Federation of India regrets to inform you that FEI CEI* Endurance ride at Hempur stands cancelled in response to directions received from the Directorate of Remount Veterinary Services letter number 81370/Q/RV-2(EFI) dated 07 Jan 2011. The cancellation has been necessitated due to an outbreak of GLANDERS in equine population in the adjoining areas.

2. The Organizing Committee had geared itself for the ride and all arrangements were in place to receive, inter alia , officials and riders from abroad. The rare opportunity to host you has frittered due to an unforeseen and unavoidable happening.

3. We sincerely hope that, some time in future, an international ride can be arranged in India .

Expressing our regrets once again,

With regards,

Col S S Ahlawat ,  VSM
Secretary General
Lt Col C S Sohal

Joint Secretary Administration

EQUESTRIAN FEDERATION OF INDIA      www.equestrian-india.org

The Rest of the Invited Riders

Heard today that two invited riders have had to cancel; they are looking for replacements.  In the meantime—this is us:

Terre O'Brennan from Canada

Ludi Scheffer from Botswana

Jenny Commons from Switzerland

James Sheahan from Australia

Jane Edwards from Great Britain

Victor Rios Salas from Chile

Rafael Salvador from Brazil

Nicolas Walhen from France

 

We are gonna have FUN!!