Incredible India!

Bangalore is a wonderful city to visit in India. One can find everything from ancient temples to nightclubs blaring the latest American music. In the recent past, many major computer companies have set up offices in Bangalore. The city is full of highly skilled, educated computer professionals. Bangalore has one of the most educated populations in India.

The people are extremely friendly. I am an American and find that many people I encounter are fascinated by my life, where I live, what I do for a living, etc. They are very curious and ask many questions. It seems as though they are used to Europeans but not as many Americans.

India is a shopper’s paradise, as the exchange rate from most countries makes nearly all Indian-made products, arts and crafts extremely affordable. It’s hard to resist all the bargains. In most shops, it is necessary to haggle. Some favorite tourist items include silk, sandalwood, jewelry and exquisite handmade rugs.

It is extremely necessary to take all precautions with food and water here, as the standards are not like those of a developed nation. I got sick on my third meal in India, and it was at a very nice restaurant. Insist all food be piping hot and drink only bottled water in which the seal was opened in front of you. That said, I find the restaurants amazingly affordable compared to Western standards. I find the service in restaurants impeccable and the staff more than friendly.

There are many wonderful trips which one may take from Bangalore to see jungles, temples and beautiful beaches.

Quick Tips:

There is a smaller homeless and begging population here than in other parts of India, but it is still very large. If it is to be one’s first trip to India, I recommend researching this unfortunate part of Indian life, as it is extremely disturbing when arriving to India. There are many excellent books to read before your journey regarding culture shock into India. I recommend keeping candies in your bag for the many children that you will encounter. It is recommended in many of the travel books not to give money until your last day or the begging people will bombard you.

Best Way To Get Around:

Most travel in Bangalore is done by "autoricksaws," which are open-air, three-wheeled vehicles. The local residents commonly call these vehicles "ricks." They are extremely affordable; however, one will find that most drivers speak Hindi and little English. If traveling far, I suggest always knowing a major landmark to tell the driver. They are required to use the meter during the day, but I notice at night the prices are more negotiable as the drivers raise the prices.

Private taxis are available for longer distances. Foreigners are strictly advised not to drive in India, because it is like nothing you will have encountered outside the country. When one rents a car in India, it comes with a driver.

Orange County Resort is located in a very rural area outside of Siddupur, India. It requires an 8-hour drive (245 km) from the closest international airport, which is Bangalore International. Coorg is located at the top of a mountain in a very lush rainforest area. The area is a welcome respite from the pollution of Bangalore.

At the edge of the resort, there are electric wire fences. These are there for two reasons. One is to protect the young teak forests to prevent illegal harvesting of trees, and secondly to prevent elephants from coming into resort. My visit took place during the monsoon season, so there was always a refreshing light mist, which would give way to huge downpours of rain.

Orange County Resort is an RCI Gold Crown Resort and for good reason. The resort is very luxurious with a gorgeous swimming pool. There is lovely lake as well as picturesque rice fields. On the resort grounds, one can stroll past lime trees, jasmine, coffee and peppercorn growing.

There are two restaurants on site, which have a wonderful waitstaff. The resort has an Ayervedic treatment center. There are many assorted Ayervedic treatments available starting at Rs 740 per treatment. The Ayervedic massage is a must to unwind and release stress.

The resort has an on-site activities director to help in the planning of day trips. Some day trips available from the resort include the second largest Tibetan monastery outside of Tibet, an elephant camp (in season), coffee plantation tours, and jungle tours.

The Hotel Ivory Towers is an economy hotel situated in an excellent location on M.G. Road in Bangalore. The hotel takes up the 12th floor of the 13-floor Barton Centre. The hotel is very small, only having 18 suites. Because of the size, the staff is very attentive. The staff of this hotel go out of their way to ensure a wonderful visit for their guests.

The hotel has three different room styles. All rooms have a small balcony. The rooms are equipped with showers without bathtubs. The largest is "The Grand Master Suite," which has a living room, a dining area and a master suite which has a king size bed. A Grand Master breakfast is included in the price of this room. "The Ivory Suite" has a sleeping area and a separate living area, which has a small dinette table. "The Business Suite" is a standard hotel room without a separated living area.

Above the hotel, on the 13th floor, is the Ebony Restaurant, which has a wonderful view of the city. The restaurant has a wide variety of food styles including: French, Indian, Thai, Parsi and Balti. The full menu of the Ebony is available for room service.

After a nice meal at the Ebony, it’s time to head across the hall to the wonderful bar called the 13th Floor. The 13th Floor has a wonderful drink menu and great Western music. The view is what attracts the 20-30’s crowd for after-work drinks.

Best Things Nearby:
Near the resort are gorgeous tea plantations, which make for a wonderful tour. Ooty is also famous throughout India for its amazing, handmade chocolates that come in a variety of styles such as almond, cashew and white chocolate. There is a rose garden park in Ooty. There is a lake right in Ooty, but Pykara lake that is about 25 kilometers away is nicer. There are boat rentals available at the lake.

Doddabetta is the highest peak (2623 meters) in the Nilgiris, which is only about 10 kilometers away from Ooty. I thoroughly enjoyed the short hike up to the top of the peak. From the peak, you can literally see miles and miles away. The view is gorgeous undeveloped India at its most beautiful. Do make sure to bring a camera to this stop!

Additionally, the Mudumalai National Park and the Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary are within 36 kilometers from the resort. At the national park, it is common to see elephant, deer, bison and monkeys. This park is a wonderful example of the newly developing eco-tourism market in India. Hopefully, India will take countries like Costa Rica as an example of profits to be made if it protects its natural eco-system.

Best Things About the Resort:
Ooty is a beautiful Hill Station in the state of Tamil Nadu, which is the capital of the Nilgiri district. The resort sits at about 7500 feet above sea level. Ooty was made famous because The East India Company established tea plantations here in the late 1700’s to early 1800’s. Currently Ooty is still a tea capital with tea festivals attracting tea lovers from around the world. From your resort unit, you can view India’s "Blue Mountains". The mountains are breathtaking. The weather is much cooler than one would expect in India that make hats, scarves and sweaters a "must pack". It is a small town, so it is a great retreat from the hustle and bustle of the major cities. The area has fascinating scenery and very clear air which was a welcome relief coming from Bangalore. I found the staff the most friendly of any resort at which I have stayed.

Resort Experience:
The resort was originally the home of a Danish couple that built the Victorian-style home in the mid 1800’s. Club Mahindra kept the architecture of the original home, while building a completely new building, which is a seamless transition of style. I did not know until I was told that both buildings were not original.

I stayed in a studio apartment that was very spacious and well appointed. There is a partial kitchen in the unit with a dining table. The bathroom was outfitted in beautiful tile. The rooms were very well maintained. There was a king-sized bed in the condo.

The resort has a restaurant which has a traditional Indian breakfast, lunch and dinner buffet. The resorts chefs are more than happy to make any type of food including Continental and Chinese. The chefs request a two-hour notice of special food requests. I found service at the restaurant impeccable.

• Unit Type: Studio
• Activities: Very Good
• Amenities: Very Good
• Unit Satisfaction: Excellent
• Family Friendliness: Excellent
• Service: Excellent

The Mysore Palace is one of the main tourist attractions of this town, which is about a 3-hour drive from Bangalore. The palace is also called "The Maharaja’s Palace." This palace was designed for the Maharaja of Mysore by a British architect and built in 1897. While the King once owned it, the Indian government now owns it. The architecture style is called Indo-Saracenic. There are two beautiful Hindu temples on the palace grounds.

The palace is full of exquisite stained-glass windows, glazed tile and amazing art. There are wonderful collections of gifts given to the Maharaja on display. The palace is completely walled on all sides. The interior of the palace is beyond description. It is absolutely amazing. It is full of all of the finest India has to offer. The palace still has many of the former King’s belongings.

There are four entrances creating a cross shape. The highlight of the week in Mysore is on Sunday evening, when the palace is completely lit, creating a beautiful sight. There are camel rides and elephant rides for hire on the palace grounds. It is required to remove shoes before entering the palace. No photography is allowed in the palace.