India, Wheelchairs & Promises by Trish

May 2010

We started in the Kerala region in the south of India, relaxing on the shores of Vembanad Lake & discovering the backwaters of Kerala on a traditional houseboat. Seafood was the speciality in this area and the spices of the south were fantastic.

On day 5 of my 2 week trip we flew north to Udaipur and then my dream trip came to what I thought would be an abrupt end.  As I came down the steps of the plane I managed to cut the back of my leg on the step. So there I was, standing on the tarmac in 47c, looking at the back of my leg, thinking yep, this needs stitches. I remember thinking that I had come all this way and I might not get to see the Taj Mahal. Thankfully the heat took over and I fainted.

When I came to there was my trusty A&K tour guide, Vivek, assuring me that this was not a problem. He took me to the Hospital where he managed to arrange for the General Manager of the Hospital to be outside waiting for me, sort of like a meet and greet. I bypassed all the other hordes of people trying to get medical help, was wisked straight through to theatre and 22 stitches later I was on my way, arriving in the Hotel only 21/2 hours after the rest of the group.

My main concern was that I couldn’t continue the trip. But Vivek was great, he said – Trish, I promise that you can still travel. It will be okay, we can get you a wheelchair. Yeah right, I thought. But when he arranged for me to be carried down more than 50 steps to a waiting boat to take me to the Taj Lake Palace, where I was wheeled into my stunning room, complete with my own Butler, I thought that maybe he might just mean it.

From here my trip was about what I could do more so than what I couldn’t. Vivek would say –

Trish - I promise you that you will do the rickshaw ride in Delhi. And after arriving into Delhi there I was in the rickshaw winding my way through the narrow alleys of the busy market, among the spices, leather, fruit and veg, even the bizarre roadside dentists.

Trish - I promise that you will see the Taj Mahal. Yep, he delivered again. Getting up close with the Taj is a humbling experience. Nothing prepares you for the size, the majesty and the breathtaking luxury of the Taj. Words cannot describe it, you simply have to see it for yourself, wheelchair or not.

Trish - I promise that you will ride the Elephants in Jaipur. Once again, Vivek was right. And by the time I’d got to Amber Fort there was no way that I wasn’t walking around the place, I loved it!

I’ve always thought of myself as a bit of an intrepid traveller, revelling in camping trips, hopping on a bike to get from A to B and so forth, but this trip was outstanding with not only it’s luxury, the great Hotels and fantastic guides, but also with the way that A&K can just make things happen, even in the most trying of circumstances. They even have their own wheelchair!  Put simply, Abercrombie & Kent showed me the best of India for 14 days. If I’d travelled with anyone else the dream would have been over on day 5.