“Throw your dreams into space like a kite, and you do not know what it will bring back, a new life, a new friend, a new love, a new country.”
— Anaïs Nin, writer
A perfect wish for all of us, as we move on to another month. I am embarking on another journey, perhaps two of them, if all goes well. And I hope September gives you whatever you are looking for - dreams and desires. I have always been a dreamer, more of a daydreamer I think, and fascinated by the world of dreams.
Hello and Welcome to this issue of Journeys and Jottings. We are lost in our dreams and lost to the waking world and if you love mythology like me, you will be fascinated by Morpheus too. In this issue, we meet the Bharia tribes from Patalkot in Madhya Pradesh, as I tell you a little bit about my upcoming trip to the state. In People Make Places we speak to Lakshika Gunatilake, the Digital Communications and Social Media Manager of Srilankan Airlines who reassures that Srilanka is safe now for travel.
Tell me your dream.
“People think dreams aren't real just because they aren't made of matter, of particles. Dreams are real. But they are made of viewpoints, of images, of memories and puns and lost hopes.”
― Neil Gaiman
I have been binging on The Sandman on Netflix and Neil Gaiman’s King of Dreams, Morpheus is my favourite god - The Endless.
Who is Morpheus?
The Primordial Greek God of Dreams, who created the world of dreams of mortals, also appeared in them in any form, as a messenger from the Gods. So while we are “in the arms of Morpheus,” and sleeping soundly, the dreams like visions would fade in and fade out of our lives. Morpheus was the son of Hypnos who is the God of Sleep and Pasithea, the Goddess of Rest and Relaxation. Morpheus slept in a cave filled with poppy seeds when he created the dreams of mortals and he could even influence the dreams of the Gods.
I have not read the books yet but as a Neil Gaiman fan, I have been hooked to the show on Netflix. The other show that I strongly recommend if you like this genre is Good Omens on Prime. American Gods is a book I would recommend too. Have you read or seen any of these books or shows?
Madhya Pradesh calls
Talking about dreams, I am heading on a fascinating trip to Madhya Pradesh, which has everything that I like in travel - people and places, heritage and culture and focus on sustainable, responsible, rural tourism. Bhopal will be hosting WTM (World Travel Market) Responsible Tourism India Awards and I am also participating in a panel discussion as a part of the an International Seminar on Responsible Tourism which will be organized by the ‘International Center for Responsible Tourism, UK (ICRT) in collaboration with the Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board.
I will be part of the ICRT team which has representatives from different countries and am honoured to be led by Dr Harold Goodwin, Founding Director of ICRT and Managing Director (MD) of Responsible Tourism Partnership.. We will visit the heritage sites of the state and villages developed under rural tourism, explore village stays and also see some of the various initiatives by MP Tourism including those on solid waste management. This is unlike any media trips that am usually a part of and I am really looking forward to this. As a mindful traveller, I have been wanting to add more depth to my travels and storytelling and do little things that can make a difference. And this I hope is one of the many small steps in that direction. f
I was invited by Manisha Pande, the founder member of ICRT India and Co Founder and Managing Director of Village Ways. Village Ways works in partnership with village communities to develop a collectively owned and managed tourism enterprise, which benefits the entire village and also gives a unique opportunity to guests to stay in beautiful surroundings, experience village life, and have special interactions with the hosts.
Manisha explained, “ I have been involved in this program as one of the founding members of ICRT India and my link with the ‘International Centre of Responsible Tourism’ is through Village Ways. We have been working under the guidance of Dr. Harold Goodwin (Head of ICRT UK) since starting years of our work and Dr. Harold is also the chairman of Village Ways Advisory council.
This program is being organised jointly by ICRT India and Madhya Pradesh Tourism board and the idea is to share and learn from the experiences of RT practitioners from across the country and also from outside India. Looking forward to all the learnings !”
100 Stories from India
Meeting the Bharia Tribes in Madhya Pradesh
The journey did not seem to end. It almost felt like we were plunging deep into the recesses of the earth. Our destination was the mythical and mysterious Patalkot Valley, a horse-shaped valley surrounded by hills, layered with granite and sandstone rocks, carpeted by medicinal herbs and plants in dense forests, and home to a handful of tribal villages huddled next to each other. Our tryst with the Bharia tribe of Madhya Pradesh started with this hidden valley .
Montages of tribal villages whizzed past us as Dr. Vasant Nirgune, our Experience Architect told us that there are 12 villages that are inhabited while another 13 were empty lands, cultivated by the tribes – mainly Bharias and Gonds. In fact, the Bharia tribes, who consider themselves as younger brothers of the Gonds have been living here, isolated in this valley for over 500 years.
As we finally reached Kharyam, one of the last tribal villages, we understood why it was called Patalkot. It was early evening but the hills wrapped the hamlet in its fold, literally shutting out the light. For a moment we felt that we were lost inside the crevices of the valley. I was told that during winters, one gets barely six hours of natural light and most of the valley is impenetrable during monsoon.
The Bharia tribes have virtually been the exclusive inhabitants of the land and hence they are titled Bhumia or Lord of the Soil. Bhumia is also the title given to the village priest. As traditional healers or Bhumkas, with expert knowledge of the flora, they know every herb and shrub in the valley and their medicinal and toxic qualities. They are aware of every hidden route and path in the mountains and can navigate their way through the wilderness. Historically, they say that the Bhonsle kings had dug a hidden tunnel and had escaped the British through this underground passage. Although roads have slowly been paved here, the valley itself has been discovered only recently.
People Make Places
After my recent visit to Srilanka, one question was on everyone’s mind - Is Srilanka safe to visit now ? The general worry was whether tourism was open. Some wondered if they will be stranded on streets without transport because of the fuel crisis. Many wanted to know if the prices are too high to travel. Another question was about food and its availability of it for both tourists and locals. While I reiterated that Srilanka is indeed stable and safe and locals do want tourism to pick up to help them cope with the economic crisis, it still seemed more reassuring if I could get these questions answered by a credible and authentic voice from Srilanka. In People Make Places, we speak to Lakshika Gunatilake, the Digital Communications and Social Media Manager of Srilankan Airlines.
1. Travellers are a bit confused with all the media reports and it would be great if you can share some advice and tips for travellers
Sri Lanka, no doubt, is going through a period of transition and did experience people staging protests against the rise of cost of living and shortage of essential commodities. Despite all, the country just had a new president appointed and the certain shortages are being bridged as we speak. A tourist hardly feels these when touring Sri Lanka, as hotels function as usual, tourist sites are open and the people are ever so warm and welcoming. We would like to assure our valued visitors that you can tour without fear, as we always await your arrival and your safety is always our priority. You may experience short spells of power interruptions which is hardly felt as most of the hotels have generators to bridge the power requirement. The country still encourages wearing masks in public places, therefore basic heath protocols need to be followed.
2.Is Srilanka safe for travel and tourists now ?
Yes, Sri Lanka is very much safe to travel. Only a couple of days ago, France scaled down its travel advisory and we hope the other countries will do so in the coming days. Nothing has drastically changed in thia period.
3. Are public transport, taxis, autos available and can one book them easily on the roads ?
With the rationing of fuel, public transportation can be little crowded, but cabs and trishaws can be booked via mobile apps.
4.Is it advisable to take package tours or be an independent traveller planning on the go ?
Both have their pros and cons. Booking a package tour will take you out of the trouble of making arrangements and finding your own way. With the convenience comes the factor of being obediently following what the package has in store for you, which leaves little space to be spontaneous. Independent travelling on the other hand, gives you the freedom to take your own time, explore the destination the way you want—the disadvantage is that, you need to deal with the stress of having to sort out things on your own.
This being the situation, Sri Lanka has a range of renowned tour operators who can offer you tailor made destination experiences based on your preference, past experience etc. if you are travelling as a group or with family, an all inclusive holiday will be the ideal option. If not, nothing should stop you from grabbing a map and making a beeline to the hot sports that you are waiting to explore. Whether you are a traveller on a holiday package, or a free-spirited explorer, Sri Lanka is safe, open and is ready to welcome you with open arms.
5.Is it advisable to be in the big cities and tourist destinations or explore remote villages and offbeat destinations too ?
Big cities are more prepared to receive visitors. Even a visitor, in a city, will have more comfort, convenience and more accessibility to facilities. The charm of offbeat destinations is that, you can experience the island life in its more authentic form. Given the current power cuts and certain delays and congestion in public transport, visiting villages can be still be an option, if the traveller can arrange for logistics through a tour service provider.
If you have any more questions for me or Lakshika, you can comment here ot send them to be my mail to lakshmi.sharath@gmail.com. Plan your trip to Srilanka now. Here is an article on the Ramayana Trail that I had written on my blog earlier.
Feedback
I do hope that you enjoyed reading this issue. Looking forward to your feedback as always. We are going to keep the flow of conversations going and I would really appreciate it if you will share my newsletter with your friends and family.
See you soon! You can also read my travel stories on my blog and follow me on my social media.
Blog - www.lakshmisharath.com
Twitter - www.twitter.com/lakshmisharath
Facebook - www.facebook.com/travelwithlakshmi
Instagram - www.instagram.com/lakshmisharath
I always love a good Anais Nin quote. And the one that has been my life motto is "Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage."
Your photos are gorgeous. I've looked at a few of your posts now, as well as your travel blog, and I'm amazed by the breadth that you cover and the places you go and have been! And, of course, I absolutely adore your philosophy that "People Make Places." If I may make just one suggestion: instead of numbering your posts, perhaps give them individual titles / identifiers. This would make it much easier to find a post based on content. Meanwhile, carry on and travel well!
I’m glad to read about your exploration of the tribes in India who are still living rather than surviving like the people in the urban areas. I’m fascinated by reading more about the tribes in various parts of the country. I would suggest that you can compile such details into a book.