Try before you buy Britain

Listen to the grandfather clock chime in Anne Hathaway’s cottage, take a leisurely stroll on the beach at Durdle Door, or enjoy the choir singing at Rosslyn Chapel. These are just some of the things tourists can now do in Britain - before they even arrive.

The national tourism agency, VisitBritain, has commissioned a series of immersive 360-degree experiences giving overseas visitors an opportunity to step inside some of Britain’s most-loved attractions.

As part of its government’s 'GREAT' tourism campaign, this activity aims to drive more international visitors out across the nations and regions of Britain. 

The entire panoramic series, and much more inspirational content, can be found on its new site. The panoramas were created by 360-degree specialist Rod Edwards. 

Not only will this immersive experience allow potential visitors to snoop around some of our greatest tourist attractions before they arrive, but it will inspire and motivate more travel across the country.

London is a huge asset for Britain – a dynamic, cosmopolitan and well-connected city that visitors aspire to visit. The challenge is to encourage visitors to explore even other destinations like Wales and Scotland during their holiday and making sure they know how easy it is to get around.

Guest post: Onboard the MS Mara

As we reached the landing dock to catch MS Mara, I saw the prettiest sight ever. She was moored to the bank amidst the backdrop of the mountains, which were now a bluish-pink hue. Stunning!

Off we went on the dam in MS Mara, which is basically a boat with two sets of inflatables on both sides and a deck for guests to relax in and enjoy the sun-downers. I won’t go into details of this as words cannot explain the experience and the emotion on this ride. One just has to experience it.

With enough Droewors and Bells inside me, it was time to rejoin the flying Dutchman and his lady love on a night safari back to the lodge. It seems that they drove around a bit and saw some general game before they returned to fetch me and now as the evening got colder, we were all set to head back.

The lodge had transformed itself. Warm fires and lanterns lit up the parking lot and we were greeted with hot towels and glasses of wine and sherry. Complete bliss! With glass in hand, we headed up to the bonfire overlooking those mysterious mountains again. Here, we met up with other guests of the hotel and swapped stories before heading off to our tables for an early dinner. Dinner was again Table d’ hote and stunning. I distinctly remember the juiciness of the meat and the flavor of the sauce, before I hit the sack and into oblivion.

The next morning started off at 5am with lions roaring in the distance. I quickly showered and ran up to the lounge area with the hope of spotting them from there while I sipped on some hot coffee. No such luck but I could hear them calling out to each other as they got closer and closer. We were off in hot pursuit as soon as Hein turned up along with the Dutch. All the lodge vehicles had split up to try and locate them. It was Jomi who spotted them first – four of them, two males and two females.

The females looked really hungry and one was in estrous. Among the males, one was extremely lazy and one had different ideas for one of the lionesses. We trailed them for over an hour, watching the females stalk a herd of wildebeest only to be constantly interrupted by the frisky male who had only one agenda…to mate with the female, making it impossible for the ladies to hunt. They gave up and we moved on. After a quick coffee break I headed over to the Marataba TrailsLodge.

Set up in a valley with stunning views of the forest below is Marataba Trails Lodge. A five-suite lodge is built into the mountain with the concept ‘switch off’ written all over it. No electricity, only solar lighting, and no kids below 16 since everything is open to the wild. It also has a single dining table for community dining as one would do at home. Really nice, considering there is nothing else to do here anyways in the evenings.

 

Marataba Trails Lodge

The premise of this property is walking the trails around the property. Everything here is about nature. Every morning, you choose your breakfast and pack it into your knapsack. Then off you go with one guide in the front and one at the back. The trails range from trekking over the top of the Kransberg Range to traversing through the gorges. The slowest guest determines the difficulty of the trek. It really doesn’t matter where you go, you will always encounter wildlife and that’s what makes this unique from any other property, as there are no vehicles to scare them away.

In the evenings, after a short walk one can sit by the fire pit and swap stories watching the sun lazily go down as the mountain range constantly changes colour… This is the way I will always remember Marataba…a place truly magical.

The first two parts of Shantanu's adventures in South Africa include The magic of Marataba and Marataba continues to delight. 

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Shantanu Chand is the CEO of Mumbai-based GoBeyond Travels that specialises in African holidays. He can be contacted at shantanu@gobeyondtravels.com.  

Guest post: Marataba continues to delight

I reached the Marataba Safari Lodge by lunch so it looked like a pale yellow range, which reminded me of the old Western movies. I half expected Gregory Peck and Omar Sharif gallop in front of the property.

My tented suite was circular in shape with a deck overlooking the slightly-drying river in front. On entering the room I was hit by the coolness of the air-conditioning. The room was spacious with well-appointed interiors. A large king-sized bed stood in the middle with a writing desk to the side. What got my attention was the open-style bathroom with a free-standing stone bathtub and a rain shower. Both looked out over the river and up to the mountain range in the distance. I never got to use any of them as I trotted out to the outdoor shower with the same view and the cool river water soon ran over my head. The attention to detail in the design of the room was impeccable. Everything was within reach but in its own space.

Marataba Safari Lodge has 15-tented suites for 30 guests. Children of all ages are welcome. I saw a bunch in the pool while I was walking towards the room with a herd of impalas surrounding them.

There are recliners on the deck. I saw an old gent when I was walking to my suite on one of them starting out into space, mesmerized by the scene that lay in front of him…and found him in the same spot doing exactly the same thing when I returned 40 minutes later for lunch.

Wi-fi is available in the public areas. But honestly this is really not the place to be connected with the real world.

Lunch was light and easy. Gazpacho, salad and a burger; all extremely yummy washed down by Windhoek Lager. By the time I finished with my late lunch, tea and coffee were set out just before our game drive.

Our game drive
Driving through the bush we spotted a lot of plains game and birds and then we rounded a curve to come face to face with a white rhino mama and her 2-year-old baby. A very nice sighting, as both were very peaceful and relaxed within a herd of wildebeest only to be periodically disturbed by male impalas scampering around grunting as the rutting season was in full swing.

Leaving that lovely moment behind we headed over to the dam where I was scheduled to get on board the MS MARA. As we rounded a turn we spotted a large bull elephant in the bush just off the trail. As we approached, he began showing some interest in us. Just as we passed him he began chasing us and Hein did the unthinkable…he stopped the vehicle…and switched the engine off!

Now I am thinking to myself, back in East Africa we leave the engine on and if anything we rev the engine to say good-bye to the Massif. Not here. They have a different thought process, which made solid sense. If they ran… the ellie would chase and that’s not a good idea to teach these extremely smart blighters, as they will start chasing guest vehicles as the come up to the lodge… remember the docile female I encountered? So now I got it. In this haze, I hear Hein’s voice talking to the elephant… calm and gentle telling him to go away. I look back and this large bull has locked eyes with the lady at the back, slowly giving her the look over. Men will never change!

He continued to look at her for a good 5 minutes as he thoughtfully chomped away at the brush. I might add that his trunk is now just a foot away from her. She could have been an attraction at Madam Tussuad’s – she was so stiff. I don’t blame her. This was too close for comfort. No one was breathing and you could smell the fear in the air.  Finally even the elephant had had enough. With a sidelong glance, as if to say “I’ll see you later mate” he sauntered off into the bush. A visible sigh of relief spread all over as we drove off to catch MS Mara.

Watch out for the next part of Shantanu's adventures on board the MS Mara in South Africa! To read the first part of this post, click here: The Magic of Marataba. 

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Shantanu Chand is the CEO of Mumbai-based GoBeyond Travels that specialises in African holidays. He can be contacted at shantanu@gobeyondtravels.com.  

Guest post: The magic of Marataba

Driving 4 hours North West of Johannesburg after a 20-hour flight from Mumbai was one of the craziest things I could do…or so I thought.

Driving up N1 on a crisp blue winter morning from Jo’burg’s OR Tambo International Airport towards Polokwane in a brand new Mercedes C-class was magical.

A very comfortable 120km/h on the speedometer…cruise control on…check. Feet up on the seat...check. Sunroof open…check. Coffee in hand…check. The fields roll out in front of me as I whiz down the hard top.

Cruising down that highway I again think to myself - Why did I do this? My answer came 4 hours later as I turned off the highway to pass Hoopsdal Police Station (my last landmark before the entry gate). Here Mac the security guard greeted me with an indemnity form stating that I am now responsible for my own life and property. Fair enough. Wild animals are unpredictable just as most humans. I signed off and was ready to go. Before I took off…Mac gave me last minute instructions. Follow the road for 7kms. Cross the wooden bridge…then take a right.

Just 7kms to go before a hot shower and a cold beer. I was wrong. This was the longest 7kms I ever drove. Mercedes Benz C Class was a bad move. I had to watch every bump and stone in the road, these vehicles aren’t designed for dirt tracks. So here I am with my nose stuck to the windscreen and staring straight down in front of me when I see it! Fresh elephant poo! I see some trees knocked down as well. Now I am worried.

Marataba Safari Lodge

I am thinking a male elephant in musth which is probably the worst thing that you can encounter in the wild. Musth is when a male elephant’s testosterone is at its highest. This bloke is ready to mate and is extremely aggressive. Best way to recognize an elephant in musth is the secretion from its temporal duct behind the eye which makes it look like its crying.

I am on my guard as I inch forward with my foot now hovering between the brake and accelerator. More destruction and I head on. More dung too…and then I see…HER, very docile, chomping away on the leaves not giving a hoot about my presence. I pull over to have a look. All is well and she is happy and I am too as I take off leaving her gazing at me with utmost disinterest.

Finally, I arrive at the lodge with a few impala encounters skipping, hopping and darting all around the bush like little children playing in the garden.

As I step out of my vehicle a big friendly “hello hello” greets me. I am met with a cold towel and a cold drink as I am quickly chaperoned into the lounge area. Quick introductions and as I sign another declaration form I look over my shoulder…and there it is. The magic of Marataba, a stunningly beautiful mountain range with grasslands before it.



Watch out for the next part of Shantanu's adventures at Marataba, South Africa! 

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Shantanu Chand is the CEO of Mumbai-based GoBeyond Travels that specialises in African holidays. He can be contacted at shantanu@gobeyondtravels.com.  

Easy tips on getting a US visa

That was just a ruse to get you here! Truth is, there are no real tips for you to circumvent the US Consulate visa application procedure. But there is another truth that you should know about getting a US visa. It’s become easier.

Not only has the Consulate relaxed the process for short-term visas but it has also been working on changing the mindsets of tourists (and travel agents) that it isn’t really an impossible task. And the Consulate is going through a lot of trouble to achieve this.

It has broken the entire process down to three steps:

1> Start your application 
          a. Fill out your form
          b. Create your user account

2> Pay your visa fee
          a. Via mobile phone
          b. Via Electronic Fund Transfer
          c. In cash at Axis or Citibank branches

3> Schedule 2 separate appointments online:
          a. One for a visa interview at the US Embassy or Consulate
          b. Another for biometric at one of the Visa Application Centres before the interview appointment

It’s not just coming from the US Consulate but a lot of friends and acquaintances applying for a US visa are getting it, and getting it easily for a minimum of 10 years or more with multiple entries.

Che, who is the Consular Officer at the Consulate, told us that as long as all the required documents are there and there is no hint of funny business, the Consulate will grant you the visa.

There is one tip I can share with you after all. If you are sponsoring your trip yourself with everything else in order, your chances of getting a visa improve dramatically.

For any short-term travel – whether it is for a holiday, visiting friends or family, or even going for your child’s graduation, or a business trip – it is the B1 or B2 visa category that you need to apply for.

The Consulate staff in Mumbai can speak a minimum of 4 languages: English, Hindi, Gujarati and Marathi. But it can sometimes also handle other regional languages.

For visa-related questions, email to support-india@ustraveldocs.com

For more information on US visas, click here.

Call centre numbers: (91-120) 484-4644; (91-40) 4625-8222

(Timing: 8am to 8pm on Monday through Friday; 9am to 6pm on Sunday)

Guest post II: Big pleasures in tiny New Zealand

This is a continuation of my friend Maansi Sharma's narrative of her experience in New Zealand. You can read the first part of her article here. 

Our next stop after Rotorua was Queenstown, and I didn’t even have to touch ground to know that this destination was going to be my favourite. When you land in Queenstown, you land through a mountain range. And we went in winter, which meant, when we looked out the window, we were met with snow-capped mountains as far as our eyes could see. I just know I am never going to find looking out of a window while landing as thrilling after this.

Queenstown

Queenstown was freezing, to say the least. And all our activities were in open air. First, we got on to the Southern Discoveries ship for a lake cruise. We had the option of indoor seating with hot chocolate. But we couldn’t stay in our seats when there were rolling hills and a bright blue sky to take in from the top deck. We risked getting blown off the side of the ship by strong winds, but it was totally worth it.

The next morning we went jet-boating and at the jetty we were handed a sweater, a rain jacket, a life vest, gloves and a cap. We looked like giant marshmallows and I felt ridiculous but only till the boat started moving and we realised that we were on a high speed jet boat out on an open lake at 8 am in the dead of winter. All the layers we had on were just not enough. On the plus side, having our hands frozen onto the handle bars and the rest of our bodies numb with cold five minutes into the ride helped keep us in place while we took in the beauty of Queenstown one last time before heading to our next destination – Mount Cook.

Mount Cook is the tallest peak in the region and the most magnificent sight there. All the hotels have rooms in such a way that each one of them has a view of it, ensuring you spend every free minute in your room staring out of the window in awe. It was here that I participated in an activity I didn’t even know existed – glacier exploring.

We got on to little boats that had a (very sexy) guide who explained the nature of icebergs to us and showed us quite a few, before taking us to see the largest glacier in the region – The Tasman Glacier. Rapidly receding, the glacier is much smaller now than when it was first formed, and judging by the predictions made about the rate of the ice melting, I am glad I got a chance to see it at least once in my life.

Glacier exploring

Our last stop was Christchurch. My heart went out to that city. Still reeling from the damages caused by earthquakes that hit in 2011, and slow progress in rebuilding due to bureaucratic red tape, the city is powering on in the midst of its debris. In an attempt to bring some colour into the city’s macabre look after the disaster, walls have been covered in beautiful graffiti and a colourful open air mall called Re:Start has been built in the centre of town. There is also a small canal full of ducks that runs through the centre of the city, where punting is just the most serene experience.

A graffiti in Christchurch

The old tram system has been rebuilt and used as for sightseeing in the day and as a moving restaurant at night. The old church has been rebuilt using a temporary facade made entirely of cardboard with a stained glass entrance. Just behind it is a memorial to those who perished in the earthquake – 185 chairs, each a different shape and design to represent each individual lost in the disaster.

Cardboard church in Christchurch

This is an account of just the places I stayed in. While driving from one destination to the other though I got to see and experience so much more. There were quaint towns like Arrowtown that look like they are straight out of a storybook. There is a lakeside church that would make you want to sit and rethink your life completely. There is a memorial built for Collies who are considered great contributors to the New Zealand society. There is a golf course surrounded by hills with a pond in the centre that makes you want to forget all life’s problems and stretch out on the greens…

Christchurch earthquake memorial

New Zealand is the first country I have seen that has made the most of the little it has. The country has no mammals, only birds, but the locals are incredibly careful not to disturb their natural habitat. They show a respect to nature that a lot of us do not despite being blessed with so much more in the way of wildlife. They don’t have land and weather conducive to growing coffee beans, but have perfected the art of coffee to brew a cup that is incomparable. It has bustling cities but has left the surrounding countryside and virgin land untouched. I could go on and on.

I have left my favourite part of New Zealand for the last. What I will miss the most about that country is the sunset. When you drive down the road at dusk and look out left, the sky is orange and yellow. Yet when you look right it is purple and pink. It is indescribably breath-taking, and I sincerely hope everyone gets to experience it at least once in their lives.

A New Zealand sunset

For information on how to get there, click here.

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Maansi Sharma writes for a travel magazine. Originally from Pune, she has now made Mumbai her home. She loves her gadgets, her food and her books - and in that order! If you wish to know more about New Zealand or any of the vast number of destinations she has visited, she can be reached at ms.maansi@gmail.com.