Author: Samyu Neera

To celebrate my “Ides of March” birthday, I visited my high school bestie, Alice, in St. Louis, Missouri. She and her husband, Nick, moved back to St. Louis from Tampa last year. This is my fourth time going to St. Louis and so I already have been to a lot of the tourist attractions like the Arch (photo above), Forest Park, City Museum, and the Cathedral Basilica. This trip was about spending time with Alice and exploring hidden gems of this modest city.

St. Louis is a little over 4 hours via train from Chicago; I took the Amtrak to get down there. Amtrak does have accessible facilities and trains but depending on the station and train, you may have to advocate for yourself to get assistance. The train I took to St. Louis was the Texas Eagle (no Wi-Fi on this one, sadly). I chose a coach seat on the lower level but they assigned me to the top row. It was a little tough because I had to lift my suitcase while walking up the stairs. Going back was better because I was able to get help, and the seats were only on the main level. And there was free internet! Next time, if the train conductor assigns you to a top row, ask for the main level or look for the accessible entrance.

One of the highlights of the weekend was the Meramec Caverns. The caves are a 1-hour drive from St. Louis. The tour we went on lasted about 1.5 hours, and it was a 1.25 mile walk roundtrip. The facilities are wheelchair accessible but the caves themselves are not completely accessible. There is a part that involves climbing a set of steep stairs, and a couple of paths become narrow and wind down to where a wheelchair user might have some difficulty navigating. The Meramec Caverns are over 400 million years old and have ever growing formations of limestone deposits. It first opened as an attraction in 1935. A sight to see indeed!

Other things we did: Soulard Farmer’s Market (open year round), Laumeier Sculpture Park, World Chess Hall of Fame, and we went to the Repertory Theatre see a play called “Murder on the Orient Express”, based on the Agatha Christie novel.

Restaurants to try: Zia’s (my favorite restaurant in St. Louis, located on The Hill, which is known for its many Italian spots) and Loaded Nachos.

Only a few days after delivering an impactful keynote address on inclusion (I also highlighted this blog and shared some travel experiences to emphasize the importance of accommodations), I flew to Palm Springs, California to attend a Conscious Inclusion Summit! This two day conference took place in early December, and several other colleagues from my work came as well. I had a really great time and learned a lot!

I flew on Southwest Airlines out of Chicago Midway (MDW) and had a layover in Phoenix (PHX) both ways. Unfortunately, both flights going out of Phoenix were delayed at least a couple of hours. One was because the flight we were taking was coming from Las Vegas, and the airport there had construction on the runaway, which slowed things down dramatically. Thankfully, I wasn’t alone as a couple co-workers were on the same flight as me, but it made our day longer and more tiring. Moving forward, I’ll book only direct flights even if the price is a little higher.

The Conscious Inclusion Summit was held at the Westin Rancho Mirage Golf Resort & Spa, which is a 15 minute drive from the Palm Springs airport (PSP). Palm Springs is located in the Sonoran Desert of Southern California, and is known for its hot springs, spas, and golf courses. In December, the temperatures go up to the 60s during the day and go down to the low 50s at night. Bring a jacket and wear layers if you go during this time of the year. If you are interested in learning more about the accessibility of Palm Springs, I invite you to check out this post by another disabled travel blogger, Cory Lee.

As always, when I made my hotel reservation online, I requested a standard room and a step stool. A week before the Summit, I called the hotel to confirm that they would provide the stool for me. It turns out that they booked me an ADA-compliant room without asking me. What’s important to know that ADA-compliant rooms are necessary to have in hotels but they are not conducive for me. Hotels shouldn’t assume all people with disabilities require an ADA-compliant room. If they’re not sure, they should consult with us first. I told the hotel that I will just need a standard hotel room and a step stool. The manager said that the housekeeping staff were going to look and see if they had a stool on hand and if not, they would purchase one for me to use.

When I got to the hotel, I didn’t realize that the hotel rooms were in different buildings spread out across the property. You have to either walk 5-10 minutes from the lobby or take a golf cart shuttle to get to your room. The buildings don’t have any elevators so if you have difficulties walking up the stairs, make sure to request a room on the ground floor near the lobby of the hotel. The property itself has wheelchair accessible pathways but golf cart shuttles are not. So be sure to plan extra time to get to the meeting rooms and other amenities of the hotel. My hotel room was spacious but it looked a bit outdated. The bathtub leaked, and the bathroom faucets were rusty. The step stool also wasn’t in my room when I arrived (which I reminded them to do), so I had to wait a while for staff to bring it. And since we’re in different buildings, it took longer for them to come.

It’s strongly recommended for organizations that host meetings at hotels to include accessibility info in their email communications to the attendees. That way people with disabilities can come prepared and know what to expect so we all can have an enjoyable and smooth experience.

If you’re looking to have some great seafood in Palm Springs, check out the Pacifica Seafood Restaurant. My colleagues and I went there for dinner one night, and I had the pan seared Chilean seabass. Yummy!!

Since March, I have traveled 6 more times. Most of these trips were for work, visiting family and friends, or to places I have been before and posted about already. So, instead of a full-length blog post for each, I’m sharing a list of the places I went to and a slideshow of pictures from all of them below. I am grateful to not have encountered any accessibility related issues on these trips. Yeah!

1. Washington DC (April)
2. New York City (May)
3. Houston, Texas (July)
4. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina (September)
5. Boston, Massachusetts (October)
6. San Diego, California (November)

Helloooo, San Diegooooo!!! In late March, Kaveri, Ivory, and I took a peaceful vacation to the shores of La Jolla, which is a seaside village in San Diego, California. La Jolla is known for its rugged coastline, the Pacific Ocean views, and cheerful sea lions. San Diego is one of my favorite cities, and I was thrilled to come back again after eight years. The temperature in late March was in the high 60’s/low 70’s. If you go more inland like to the downtown part of San Diego, the weather is much warmer (wear layers!). At this time, California lifted the COVID-19 mask mandate, so wearing masks in indoor facilities are optional.

Flights from Chicago to San Diego are very pricey. Ivory and I ended up booking a flight through American Airlines; the flight back to Chicago was a red eye, landing in O’Hare International Airport at 5am. It was my first time flying American, but it wasn’t a bad experience. The only drawback was that there was not much space underneath the seat to store my carry-on suitcase.

We stayed at the Grande Colonial, which is a boutique hotel right in the heart of La Jolla. Our stay was pleasant overall; the hotel was accommodating and they provided a step stool for me to use in the room. One tip I’d like to give is that when you enter your accommodation requests in the online reservation, be sure to follow up with the hotel front desk directly to ensure that your requests will be met. The reservations department is not necessarily equipped to handle special requests, they only pass them along to the appropriate people. The Grande Colonial was within close proximity to many restaurants, shops, and the beaches, so we mostly walked everywhere. Even though the hotel is accessible, La Jolla is very hilly, so getting around may be difficult with the sloped streets and sidewalks.

Trip Highlights and Must-Sees
It was really nice just walking along the trails by the coast, seeing sea lions on the La Jolla Shores, and the many cliffs of Bird Rock (a neighborhood in La Jolla).

Bobboi – We hit this fabulous gelato shop at least three times on our trip. I had the unforgettable hazelnut dark chocolate gelato. A popular spot in La Jolla!

Open Aire Farmer’s Market – The farmer’s market is held every Sunday morning in La Jolla. We had a great time checking out the local goods here. Try the fresh roasted almonds if you go!

Sunset Cruise in Mission Bay – On one night, we went on a boat ride around Mission Bay to watch the sunset. Note that this boat company does NOT have wheelchair accessible boats, but if you call the number on the website, they can direct you to a boat tour that will accommodate.

The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch – About thirty minutes north of La Jolla are fifty colorful acres of giant ranunculus flowers. The flower fields were in full bloom when we visited; this was one of the most memorable parts of the trip for me. They have wagon rides and other family-friendly activities as well.

Japanese Friendship Garden – This serene garden is located in Balboa Park, which is home to many museums, cultural centers, and the San Diego Zoo. The park is located in the downtown area of San Diego, so we took an Uber to get there from La Jolla.

Restaurants: Oscar’s Mexican Seafood (tacos), The Cottage (brunch), Richard Walker’s Pancake House (you have to try their baked apple pancake!!!), Bistro Pazzo (Italian cuisine – I had the yummy lobster risotto) and Sugar & Scribe Bakery (brunch)

Happy 2022! My first trip of the year was to Galveston, Texas for Kaveri and Stefano’s bachelor(ette) party and to celebrate their upcoming marriage. Ivory, Karen, and I helped plan the festivities that took place during Martin Luther King Jr. weekend. It was also a pleasant respite from the bitter Chicago winter.

Galveston is a beach town and its own barrier island in the Gulf of Mexico right off the Texas coast. It’s about an hour away from the Houston Hobby airport. There are many beaches in Galveston, and they are not very clean due to the silt washing up the shoreline and the waters are polluted. But there are plenty of fun attractions to check out, and I share some of them below.

Kaveri asked all of the guests to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test before traveling. She also gave us each an at-home test for after we get back home. There were ten of us that came down for the long weekend, and we all stayed in a beach house together. So it was important to take all the precautions while still having a great time. The state of Texas does not require a mask in any indoor/outdoor setting, but our group wore masks whenever we were not in the beach house. I strongly recommend that anyone who travels be fully vaccinated and boosted.

The house we stayed in overlooked Sunny Beach. Galveston Island gets a lot of flooding, so most of the beach houses are built on stilts to be high up from the water. On one of the days, there were very high winds, and you could feel the house moving back and forth from inside. A few beach houses are wheelchair accessible and have elevators, but they are a lot more expensive to stay in. The main streets have curb cuts, but the sidewalks are a several inches off the road to protect from flooding and they are inlaid with brick. Some corners had curb cuts missing as well.

Bachelor(ette) Event Highlights

Food: Brunch at Yaga’s Cafe, Ice Cream and Chocolate at La King’s Confectionary, Smoked Chicken Tacos at The Pit Room (BBQ), Drinks at The Rum Shack, and Pupusas (a thick griddled flatbread from Central America) at a food truck in Houston

Yaga’s and La King’s are one of many eateries located on The Strand, which is the historic district of Galveston. I want to also point out that though the food at the Rum Shack was good, the restaurant manager was ignorant. He brought over a child’s booster seat when Kaveri asked for a stool so I can get onto the high top chair, and he made racially profiling comments to our group.

Manicures and Pedicures at Joy Nails – Stefano and his friend joined us as well!

Murder Mystery Party: Kaveri and Stephano booked through Murder Mystery Co. I got an award for the best costume (I dressed up as Maleficent!) and Ivory’s character was the murderer in the end.

Ghost Tour – On the last evening of the trip, our group went on a haunted tour of Galveston. Be prepared to do a lot of walking as there are multiple stops along the tour. We learned a lot about the island’s history and even though I don’t believe in ghosts, I couldn’t help but feel a little creeped out when looking at some of the old buildings.

It was a successful bachelor(ette) weekend, and both Kaveri and Stefano were very happy with how everything turned out. Congratulations and lots of love to the wonderful couple!

• 

In late October 2021, my friends Lucy, Randall, Kaveri, Stefano, Ivory, Karen, and I went on another mountain cabin trip. This time, we relaxed and rejuvenated in the majestic Rocky Mountains, located in the state of Colorado. All of us were fully vaccinated, and that enabled us to enjoy a more fulfilling vacation.

Ivory and I flew via Southwest airlines into the Denver International Airport (one of the biggest and busiest airports in the US), and we met up with Kaveri and Stefano. The four of us rented a four wheel drive SUV to aid in our 2.5 hour excursion into the mountains and to the cabin we rented in Grand Lake, CO. Thank you to Stefano for driving us up the mountains safely and back!

After leaving the airport, we stopped for lunch at the ToCabe Restaurant, which is a Native American eatery in downtown Denver. I had this delicious grilled chicken stuffed taco that was fried and topped with fresh veggies, salsa and chipotle sauce. You can see a picture of it in my slideshow below. There are about 7,000 people from the indigenous community that currently live in Denver today, a little over one percent of the total city’s population. Coming back from the mountains, we got donuts from Parlor Doughnuts. This place is known for their layered croissant-style donuts. Yummy!

We booked our cabin through the Vrbo website. If you look at the cabin photos on the site, you’ll see the microwave is up on a higher shelf. I contacted the cabin owners prior to booking and they said the microwave could be moved to the counter so I can access it. The owners also provided a step stool for me to use when we were there. To ensure a safe and smooth stay at any facility, don’t be afraid to be as specific as possible about what you need . One of the highlights of this cabin was that we had our own private access to Shadow Mountain Lake. Since it’s in the mountains, the stairs leading down to the lake are long and narrow. We also were able to use the canoes and kayaks the cabin owner provided. During our stay, we bought groceries and cooked all the meals in the cabin. There weren’t a lot of eating out options nearby and many of them closed early in the day.

If you ever decide to take a trip to the Rocky Mountains, be sure to give yourself a couple of days to get acclimated to the high altitudes. My friends and I went on a hiking trail the first day and some of us had a hard time adjusting to the mountain elevation (heart palpitations, headaches, heavy breathing and sinus pressure). The trails we went on were 1-2 miles above sea level so it’s important to listen to your body and pace yourself. I also recommend wearing layers in the fall and bringing good walking shoes/boots. On our last mountain trip to the Smokies, Karen let me use one of her hiking sticks. I bought the same exact pair following that, but it didn’t end up fitting in my carry-on bag. If you plan to bring hiking sticks, see if you can put them in a checked bag or check them in as a separate item. Southwest Airlines allows you to check two bags for free. It also wouldn’t be a bad idea if the national park had hiking sticks for people to rent on the trails.

Before going on hiking trails, do your research ahead of time to determine how accessible the trails would be for you. The Rocky Mountains National Park labels certain trails as ADA-compliant, which means that it meets the design requirements set by the ADA Standards for Accessible Design, and are accessible for people with disabilities. However, that was not the case for the two trails that we went on which were designated as “ADA-compliant” (Adams Falls and Lake Irene trails). My rule of thumb is that if a wheelchair user can’t navigate the entire trail smoothly and safely, then it is not accessible. The trails were flat in some parts, but rocky and sloped in others. The Lake Irene trail was also icy and I had to hold on to Kaveri’s arm most of the way. Adams Fall trail took us to a really nice waterfall, but there are drop offs that no one who is afraid of heights should go near. Though I was able to hike these trails, it doesn’t mean everyone else can. If the national park can’t redesign the hiking trails, then they need to be completely honest on how accessible the trails really are. That way, people with dwarfism and other disabilities know what trails to avoid, and we can plan our trip without getting disappointed and running into any issues that can be potentially be putting someone’s life at risk. A helpful website/app you can check out is AllTrails, which provides real reviews and photos of various hiking trails by regular people. It can give you a better idea of what the trails really look like, what other people experienced and exactly how accessible it may be.

NYC/Long Island

As of May 1st this year, I became fully vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus and felt comfortable enough to fly on a plane again. My first trip post-quarantine (note that we are still in the middle of a pandemic) was to New York! All five of us sisters came together in mid-May to celebrate my sister Savannah’s birthday in Long Island.

Despite the fact that I got the vaccine and that travel restrictions loosened, I wore two masks while navigating the airport and on the flight. Southwest Airlines allowed use of the middle seat again, and I didn’t want to take any chances. The mask mandate is still in place at the airport but no one follows social distancing guidelines in the check – in lines or at the boarding gate.

I booked a black car service from LaGuardia Airport to my sister Kristine’s apartment in Manhattan. The price to take an Uber in New York City has skyrocketed during the pandemic because there are less drivers and the demand is low. My sister said that it can cost anywhere from $60-$100 depending on the time of day. The car service worked pretty well. I didn’t have to wait, the ride was smooth, and I paid a little less than what the current price of an Uber would be. I spent the first part of the day relaxing in Manhattan while my sisters worked. Kristine’s apartment is a block away from Times Square and there was a lot of noise and construction as the city was opening up from the pandemic. Savannah and I walked to Bryant Park and we all enjoyed lunch from Hudson Bagels. Did you know that the original style of bagels in the USA started in New York? After Kristine came back from work, we drove through the intense NYC traffic and got to Long Island by nightfall. Savannah brought a step stool for me to use in the Airbnb. The area we stayed in is called Bay Shore, which is a short distance from the coast.

Highlights of the trip included going to the beach in Robert Moses State Park (we went in the late morning and it was chilly!), dinner at Takumi Hibachi, and wine tasting at Loughlin’s Vineyard. When we first got to the winery, the host said I didn’t need to show an ID because I was a “child”. My sisters and I all chimed in together saying that I was an adult and the host stood there surprised watching me as I took out my driver’s license to show her that I was of drinking age. Like with many encounters, I did not let it bother me by shrugging it off and moving on. Later, the host came by our table and gave us a free bottle of wine as an apology for her ignorance.

The weekend went by quickly, but going to Long Island with the sisters was a much needed getaway after a whole year of quarantine.

Tampa Part 2: Alice Weds Nick

In early June, I got to travel back to Tampa, FL and witness my best friend, Alice, marry the love of her life! My friends Ivory and Kaveri came with and were my plus ones for the wedding; I was also looking forward to get some good vacationing in.

Florida in my opinion, is one of the states that didn’t take the COVID-19 pandemic as seriously as other parts of the country did. I was a little nervous about flying there as they didn’t have a mask mandate but it helped being fully vaccinated. Plus, Alice and Nick kept the pandemic in mind and limited the number of guests for their big day.

The wedding mass took place at the Chapel of the Holy Cross at Jesuit High School, which is the school that Alice teaches at. I was in awe of how gorgeous the chapel was. The ceremony followed Catholic rituals and the hymns were sung in a-cappella by the boys choir. One of Alice’s former students played the organ. It was such a lovely ceremony, and Alice looked absolutely stunning in her wedding dress.

The reception took place at the West Shore Grand Tampa, which is the hotel that we stayed at on our trip. The hotel advertises itself as a luxury property since it’s a “Tribute Portfolio” hotel under the Marriott chain, but it wasn’t as upscale as I expected. It was a nice hotel no doubt and definitely better than a Holiday Inn or Hilton Garden but no different from say a Hyatt property. Alice booked a block of rooms at a discount rate for the wedding guests. When I made the hotel reservation a few months prior, I wasn’t sure if I could get the lower rate because I was staying for five nights. Alice could only get the discount for two nights, and I couldn’t use it for more than that. However, the hotel actually ended up giving me a long-term stay discount so it worked out and was less expensive than the regular rate and the wedding discount combined. I was also impressed by the process in requesting a step stool for the hotel room. The hotel reservations department transferred me to a lady named Mary, who is the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) liaison and works in the corporate reservation office. She took down my request and communicated it directly to the hotel guest services manager who said they will provide the stool. It is imperative for all hotels to have an ADA liaison to ensure that people with disabilities get their needs met.

When I checked in at the West Shore Grand, the step stool wasn’t in my room yet. The staff’s reasoning was that due to COVID-19 regulations, they didn’t know what room I was staying in and that they needed extra time for the room to be cleaned and reset after the previous guests checked out. They ended up bringing a step stool a while later. The beds were also surprisingly higher than usual. Even an average sized person would have to climb up to get on the bed. Thankfully, they ended up lowering one of the beds for me, but they should not be that high in the first place.

Here is a list of all the activities we did and restaurants we visited outside of the wedding:

1. Pre-wedding Festivities with Alice: Nails done at Summit Salon Nails Academy and dinner at Armature Works
2. Kaveri, Ivory and I checked out the Sunken Gardens in St. Petersburg
3. Breakfast at the Maple Street Biscuit Company (Carrollwood location), Another Broken Egg Cafe in Clearwater, Waffle House, and Brunchies
4. Dinner at Yah Mon, a popular Caribbean restaurant in Tampa
5. Ice Cream at Revolution Ice Cream Co. – I can’t stop thinking about how yummy the “Euro Trash” flavor was, which is Nutella ice cream with biscoff cookie crumbles
6. On the last day – Kaveri, Ivory, and I hung out at Clearwater Beach and went on a beautiful sunset cruise. The cruise was through Tropics Boat Tours and it was a fitting end to the Florida vacation. Be sure to carry a lot of sunscreen when visiting!

My first trip of 2020 was to Newport Beach, California! This is my third time visiting the Golden State, and I was thrilled to go back again. I recently got a new job at a national membership association for nurses, and within the first few months of working there, they sent me on my first business expedition. My boss, Larry, and I staffed a regional state leadership workshop. It was a pleasure getting experience in meeting planning and working directly with the hotel staff on putting the workshop together.

Newport Beach is a coastal beach town in between Los Angeles and San Diego. Disneyland Anaheim is a short 30 minute drive away. The airport I flew into was the John Wayne Orange County Airport (SNA). Temperatures were in the high 60’s and the sun was shining so it felt warmer.

The hotel where we stayed at and where the meeting was held was the Hyatt Regency Newport Beach. I strongly recommend anyone who is looking for a weekend beach getaway to come here. The resort was beautiful and not over the top lavish which I liked. What is important for me to note was that the hotel staff was outstanding! They went above and beyond to take care of us and see that our event was a success. They even anticipated what we would need ahead of time. For example, they offered to assist me with getting meals in the buffet line without me having to ask someone. When I first got to the hotel, I had requested an early check in to my hotel room. It wasn’t ready right away, so for having me wait, they gave me two vouchers for free drinks at their bar! In addition, Larry and I each received a $50 gift certificate to use at their lounge or onsite restaurant. Having connections with the hotel staff came in handy when requesting room accommodations. They provided two step stools with no issues – I had one to use for getting on the bed and another to reach the bathroom sink.

Most of the meals were eaten at the hotel during the workshop, but I did get to squeeze in some good seafood! On the first night, Larry and I had dinner at Bluewater Grill. It was chilly outside, but the restaurant provided blankets for anyone who needed to keep warm. That was a lovely touch!

The leadership workshop went very well. Our attendees gave a lot of positive feedback. One of the things they mostly enjoyed was the hotel food – the menus I chose were a hit! I made sure the menus had a variety of options and accommodated for people with dietary restrictions. After the workshop ended, Larry and I had the evening to ourselves. We drove down the Pacific Coast Highway (State Route 1) and marveled at the Californian landscape. Then we enjoyed dinner and waterfront views at the Rusty Pelican. Overall a super fun trip!

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, it is best if everyone follows the guidelines set by CDC and avoid all non-essential travel. Since California was one of the first states to contract the virus, I am not ruling out the possibility that I could be carrying it without showing symptoms. With that being said, I will be ceasing my traveling temporarily so I don’t increase the risk of getting sick and getting others sick. I hope all of you are staying healthy and safe!

In mid-October, after 28 years, I was fortunate to come back to India, the motherland and my birthplace. My mom and sister Savannah came on this journey with me. It was Savannah’s first time visiting India as well. Moreover, India is where my mom was born and grew up. The trip lasted 2 weeks; it went by really fast and our time was jam-packed. Rather than going through the ins and outs of each day, I provide a summary of each city we visit, discuss the culture and accessibility of the country, and also include travel pointers for India. India was definitely the trip of the year and one of the best trips I took in my lifetime. 

Trip Highlights

Hyderabad

The main reason we went to India this year was to see another sister of mine, Jennifer. She is studying abroad in India for the semester and has been here since July. The city she was residing in is Hyderabad, the capital and largest city of the recently formed state, Telangana. My mom also spent time in Hyderabad when living in India, so she was very familiar with the city. The main language that is spoken in Hyderabad is Telugu, which is the language my family speaks. This is where we we were for the majority of the trip.

Hyderabad is a bustling historic city of 10 million people, home to the Telugu movie industry (Tollywood) and famous for its high tech industry. A nickname of Hyderabad is “City of Nizams”, because the city was formed by the Nizam ruler Qutb Shahi Ruler Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah in 1591. Nizam is the title given to the rulers of Hyderabad and they ruled the capital for 200 years until India gained independence from the British in 1947. While we were in Hyderabad, we took a bus tour and visited famous landmarks during the Nizam rule, such as the Charminar, Golconda Fort, and Chowmahalla Palace.

One of the memorable times in Hyderabad was getting to know Jennifer’s host family. We celebrated Diwali with them, which is the festival of lights and biggest holiday in India. During Diwali, we visited an arts and crafts village called Shilparamam. They had many different vendors selling local items and had representations of various villages in India. We did some shopping here, which is quite an endeavor in India. You get to learn how to haggle with shopkeepers and it’s so tempting to want to buy everything you lay your eyes on.

Aurangabad

The first weekend of India was spent in Aurangabad, a city in the western state of Maharashtra. Just 40 minutes outside the city lies the magnificent Ellora Caves, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Dating back between the 6th and 10th centuries, these are a series of Buddhist, Hindu, and Jain caves. We were able to walk inside the caves and marvel at the intricate carvings, sculptures, and view the rooms that were utilized in ancient times. The biggest attraction of the cave is the Kailasha temple, which is a giant temple that is carved out of a single rock and dedicated to the Lord Shiva, Hindu God of destruction. This was on my mom’s bucket list to visit, and she was really thrilled to see this in person. The temple had so many carvings of Hindu Gods and Goddesses and various panels detailing Indian history and Hindu mythology. Truly a sight to see!

Though I loved the Ellora Caves, I was not a fan of Aurangabad. The traffic and congestion was very overwhelming, and there was so much trash lying around.

Tirupati

My favorite part of the trip was Tirupati, my birthplace and my mom’s hometown. A temple town surrounded by the glorious Tirumala Hills, Tirupati holds a special place in my heart. Not only because I was born here but also I really felt God’s presence and got to connect with myself spiritually during my time here. We got to see my mom’s childhood home and visit many temples in and around Tirupati such as the Sri Kalahasti Temple, Kapila Teertham, Japali Hanuman Temple, Kodanda Rama Temple, and Padmavathi Devi Temple.

The most powerful temple of all and in fact one of the most visited and richest temples in the world is the Venkateshwara Swami Temple situated at the top of the Tirumala Hills. Thousands of pilgrims visit the temple each day for a glimpse of Lord Venkateshwara. The act of seeing God is called “Darshan”. Venkateshwara Swami is a representation of the Hindu God Lord Vishnu, the protector of the universe. We believe when people visit Tirumala, they are actually visiting Lord Vishnu’s abode. Because it’s so busy here, the temple board and staff have enacted strict policies to maintain the smooth running of the temple. The lines are so crowded and people push and shove each other. Devotees can’t stand in front of God for more than a literal second because the lines have to keep moving so they can get as much people in the temple per day. They organized it to instead of one big line, it’s divided into multiple different lines where people can go at different times of the day. To get to the temple, there are different routes you can take. Two routes you can take by foot and one by driving. My mom and Savannah decided to walk up to the temple. Because the route is very long at least 3000 steps and very vigorous to climb, my mom’s friend came with me and together we drove up the hills.

The original plan for Darshan was for me to get into a special assistance line for senior citizens and people with disabilities. However, I was not eligible because I was not an Indian citizen and because I can walk, they deemed me as able to manage the regular lines. There is a line for non-residential Indians/passport holders but it is still very packed. My mom’s friend has a brother who works at the temple so once my mom and sister came up the hills, he kept us safe and helped us bypass the lines. The temple was adorned in gold and the spiritual energy was so strong. Once we got inside, the brother lifted me up for a glimpse of Venkateshwara Swami. After that, something that never happened in the history of the temple took place for me. I was already stunned by the experience of seeing God but I also got to pray to him longer because we were pulled out of line and were able to see him on the side for 5 minutes! All while the regular lines were still going through quickly. That was an incredible experience and I feel very blessed for it.

Getting Around India & Travel Roadblocks

When coming to India, I anticipated a big culture shock but what surprised me was that because I already feel very deep in the cultural roots and heritage, it was easy for me to be right at home. One thing about India I will not get over though is the crazy traffic! It is very noisy and there is no such thing as obeying road signs or staying in your own lane. Everyone is driving bumper to bumper and every space is filled up by an auto rickshaw or a scooter. I’m telling you, if you can drive in India, you can drive anywhere. People even casually walk through the traffic and cars won’t stop until they’re so close to hitting them. The chaos really gave us the ride of our lives. Hyderabad has ubers, which we relied on to get to our various destinations. We paid each driver in cash; be prepared to have an uber driver cancel on you if the destination is too far for them or even too close. In Tirupati, my mom’s cousin arranged a cab for us to use the entire time we where there.

Since we were travelling to different cities within India, it felt like most of our time was spent waiting at an airport or on a place. India was 10.5 hours ahead of us and it was easier to adjust to the time change while there. On the other hand, the jet lag hit us harder going back to Chicago. It took me 3 days to get over it. You can’t expect a long trip to be smooth 100% of the time; we definitely had our fair share of obstacles along the way.

Air India

The airlines that we took to India and back was Air India. The flight goes straight to India with a stop in Delhi where we change planes to get to Hyderabad. It is the cheapest way to travel to India, but the poorest and slowest customer service I’ve witnessed. We were supposed to leave at 12pm Chicago time on October 16. But the flight was delayed a whole 12 hours later and we didn’t depart until midnight, and didn’t reach Hyderabad until the following morning on October 18. And because we lost some time, we only had a day to get settled in and rest before our 1am flight to Pune the next morning on. The Air India flight was a whopping 15 hours with no stop in between. I had trouble sleeping on the uncomfortable seats and the meals were tasteless. When we were heading home to Chicago, the flight was delayed a couple hours and we were not notified of the change until we got to the airport. Next time we go to India, we will book ahead of time and on a different airline with a layover such as Lufthansa Airlines. No more Air India for me!

TruJet and IndiGo

The only airline that offered direct flights from Hyderabad to Aurangabad was TruJet. This Indian domestic airline also gave us a negative experience. Our flight to Aurangabad was cancelled for no reason so we needed to figure out another way to reach there the same day. We ended up taking a 1am flight to Pune, Maharashtra and booked a bumpy 4 hour cab ride from Pune to Aurangabad. I am still waiting on the refund for the cancelled flight. And in getting back to Hyderabad the next day, the flight was delayed four hours. It never ends! The recommended domestic airline in India to go with is IndiGo. There was one time where we almost missed our flight back to Hyderabad from Tirupati. One of the flight agents was able to help us get through check in and we got there just in time as boarding started.

Accessibility in India

Except for the airports and city malls, India is unfortunately not an accessible and disability friendly country. Unlike the US, there are no established regulations that mandate public places be accessible. A lot of temples and famous historical sites are very old and have not been updated to accommodate people with disabilities. So while most places have stairs, sometimes they could be uneven and hard to climb because of the wide distance between each step. I am able to walk long distances and climb stairs but there were points where I needed extra time to get from one place to another. It was exhausting on the day we did the bus tour in Hyderabad because of all the walking and hiking we did. Getting onto the bus was tricky as well because the first step was too high for me to climb. We brought a portable stool with us for me to use in the airbnbs, and it was beneficial to have my family with me whenever I needed assistance getting around. A couple of the airbnbs had an elevator to get to a higher floor, but it was not big enough for wheelchair/scooter to fit in. There would even be a step up to the bathroom or the main entrance. The roads are not smooth at all and there are no sidewalks; you really have to be alert and careful while finding your way. So if anyone is planning to visit India, I strongly advise not to travel alone and that proper steps are taken for you to ensure that your travel is safe and smooth.

Trip Preparations and Tips

1. In order to get to India, you will need your passport and a tourist visa. I include the link here to apply for the visa online.
2. As mentioned above, book your flight tickets ahead of time, at least 3-6 months in advance to get the best prices.
3. If you’re not staying with family or friends, I recommend booking an accessible airbnb. We stayed at airbnbs in all 3 cities and had a positive experience with each of them.
4. Be prepared to wait in line for a very long time while getting through airport immigration. It took us 2 hours to get through immigration in Delhi.
5. Do NOT drink the tap water in India. Ask for bottled water or filtered water wherever you go.
6. Depending the part of India you’re visiting and how long you’re staying, you may need to get certain vaccinations before you leave. My family and I did not get any vaccinations because our trip was short and we were going to the urban areas.
7. Besides the regular toiletries, here are some items you don’t want to forget to pack for India: travel power plug adapter, bug spray, light breezy clothing, international plan/sim card for phone, sunscreen, toilet paper/ flushable wet wipes
8. Don’t overpack and leave plenty of space for souvenirs!
9. The exchange rate is much less if you exchange dollars to rupees at the airport in India versus the US.
10. Comfortable walking shoes are a must!
11. Familiarize yourself with common phrases in Hindi and the regional language so you can get what you need and to where you need to go.
12. As stated above, light breezy cotton clothing is the way to go in the hot weather. In October, the weather is high 80’s during the day and 70’s at night. There are lots of places in India where people dress conservatively so I don’t recommend wearing shorts. Jeans are common in India, and if you have doubts you can always buy clothing there.

Fun Facts about India

• A dollar goes a long way in India. 1 US Dollar is 70 Indian rupees.
• One observation I had in India is that the people have a very laid back attitude. They don’t seem to be under any pressure or hurry to get somewhere; it’s very easy going unlike the society in the United States.
• Rice and tea is a staple for India. The food can be really spicy and the levels vary depending on what part of India you’re in and who is making the food.
  • Biryani is very popular rice dish in Hyderabad
  • Common breakfast items: Idly, Dosa, Puri, Upma
  • For dinner/Lunch: Rice, Chapati with variety vegetable curries, Dal/Sambar
  • Almost every meal is accompanied by yogurt to help cool the spicy food down
• Since India is the 2nd most populous country in the world, be prepared for congestion and LOTS of crowds.
• I did have to deal with lots of people staring. I don’t like to generalize, but Indians tend to stare at everyone who is deemed to be “different.” They can even tell if you’re foreign and not from India. Sometimes it got to the point where I couldn’t ignore it. So I would respond by either greeting them with my hands folded and saying “Namaste” or “Namaskar”, and short phrases like “Kya Chal Raha Hai”, which means “What’s up/what’s going on” in Hindi.
• India has a vast history and is a diversely rich country. Every region and village has their own story to tell. And with its diversity comes a variety of wildlife. You will spot monkeys near temples and lizards crawling up walls.
• Cows are sacred in India; there are plenty of them wandering the streets and people leave them alone.
• Shoes are not allowed inside the temple or on temple grounds. There are designated places to leave them outside.
• Only recently is India is working to better take care of the environment. The sewage and drainage system is not as advanced and so we did experience bad odors from time to time.
• Because the demand of electricity is higher than the supply in India, sometimes there would be power cuts during the day. Hot water is also a commodity; the airbnbs had hot water geysers where you would have to turn the hot water on and wait for some time for it to be ready.

It’s been a month since we went back to India, and I’m still reflecting on the trip and the wonderful experience we had. The next time I visit, I would like to stay for at least 3 weeks to a month. We just scratched the surface of India on this trip, and there is SO much more to cover.

If you have questions or are looking for additional tips, please leave a comment below or contact me directly. Thanks for reading!

This slideshow requires JavaScript.