Loose Leaf Notes

-The following first appeared in The Floyd Press on December 1, 2016. 

Jody Rose and Tom Franko recently exchanged rings for their 30^th wedding anniversary at the Taj Mahal in Agra, India.  Considered an architectural wonder, the shimmering white marble “crown palace” is the embodiment of a love story. It was built in the mid 1600’s by a Mughal Shah in memory of his wife and is highlighted by gemstone inlay ornamentation, formal gardens and pools.

“What could be more romantic?” asked Jody Rose Franko, owner of Rose of the Winds Travel Company.  She was speaking to a crowd of more than 50 who attended a recent Indian Night at Tuggles Gap Restaurant. The evening consisted of traditional Indian food that was prepared by the restaurant’s chef, who comes from the Mumbai region of India, and a slide show presentation of the couple’s 15-day trip. The travel adventure included the Golden Triangle of India – Delhi, Agra and Jaipur – as well as Nepal.

Franko spoke of Indian antiquities, religion, cuisine, arts and crafts, “But it was the people that really made the trip for us,” she said. Throughout their travels, the Frankos made friends and connections that will help make upcoming  Rose of the Winds packages to India and Nepal more personal and in depth.

 The slides showed the musical instruments, customs, colorful clothing, local markets, sacred sites and landscape of the region.  A trip to Galtaji, a Hindu pilgrimage site revered for its natural springs and inhabited by tribes of monkeys, was part of the presentation.  Other sites and scenes that the Frankos documented included Gandhi’s memorial, a Muslim Mosque where more than 25,000 people pray on Fridays, holy men that had given up worldly possessions, giant bamboo swings, and rickshaw transportation.

The Frankos were impressed with a Sikh house of worship, where more than 10,000 people a day were fed for free.  The Sikhs were originally a warrior caste but now focus on volunteerism, Franko said.  She added that tour-goers will have an opportunity to volunteer for two hours in the kitchen on the next Rose of the Winds India trip.

In the bustling city of Delhi, Tom got a street haircut for 50 rupees, or 75 cents.  He described oxen carts going by as he sat in a barber’s wooden chair.  “It’s the best haircut he ever had,” said Jody Franko, who got a henna design on her hand, also for 50 rupees.  Although the city is overcrowded, she said, “I handled it better than New York City.” As an alternative to giving money to young beggars, the couple passed out over 1,500 pencils.

In Nepal the Frankos stayed at the Peaceful Cottage Hotel, overlooking the Himalaya Mountains.  They were among the first guests who stayed there since the April 2015 earthquake, and repairs were still being made.  “You know the Best Marigold Hotel?” Franko asked, referring to a popular movie, “It was like that.”

They met young monks at a Buddhist monastery, watched a hand-labor rice harvest and attended the Dashain Festival, a 15-day-long celebration in which all businesses and schools close down and each day is devoted to different ceremonies.  Tom hiked while Jody went paragliding.  They met up with Floyd friend Toby Gralla when they discovered through Facebook that he was traveling nearby.  Franko described that meet-up as checking off a dream-come-true bucket list wish.

At the close of the presentation, Franko introduced two new trips her travel company is offering for the fall of 2017:  a 7-day, 5-star all-inclusive trip to Golden Triangle for 15 – 20 people and a 14 day Nepal adventure for 8 called “Our Heads Above the Clouds.”  “After visiting both countries, we’ve taken the best, added what we missed and woven trips that will be packed with culture, antiquities, the majestic Himalayas, wildlife, delicious cuisines and off-the-beaten-track connections with locals,” she said.

Photo #3: Jody and Tom Franko pose in front of a table of handmade wares they brought home from their trip to India and Nepal.  They took orders via Facebook for some of the very affordable items, such as yak wool shawls and wool dolls.   Photo #4 . Joyti Minnich is pleased with her purchase of a handmade wool doll that was adorned with bead work.  Photo #8. Chef Kailash Patel (right) from the Mumbai region of India enjoyed sharing her country’s cuisine.  She is pictured with Chef Maria Vargas. Photo #9 Slide shot of Jody and Tom’s anniversary pose at the Taj Mahal.

– For more information on customized small group adventures go to roseofthewindstravel.com or visit Rose of the Winds on Facebook.