TRAVEL SPECIAL ...................THEN AND NOW

 THEN AND NOW

As India has changed, the way India travels has changed too. See how we did things then, and what happens now instead. Bon voyage!

THEN: Stealing those mini soaps and shampoos from posh hotels. NOW: Eyeing the cushioned, satin clothes hangers too.

NOW: Six-night-sevenday group tour of the foreign destination of the moment. English-speaking guide. Adventure activities. Indian food.

THEN: Quick multiplication tables in your head when you saw the prices of anything abroad.

NOW: There’s an app for that, plus you can use your international credit card.

THEN: Manali/Alibaug was lovely, let’s go back.

NOW: Pick one international destination. Visit. Tick off list. Start with another place.

THEN: Budget travel meant picking a place where an NRI relative had a house and spare bed.

NOW: Backpacking, youth hostels, Air BnB, Couchsurfing and yes, the NRI relative’s house too.

THEN: Nashik = Sai Baba. NOW: Nashik = Sulafest.

THEN: Guidebooks, huge maps you could never fold back the same way.

NOW: Internet listicles, and GPS. THEN: Let’s not go where we will not like the food.

NOW: Veg options practically everywhere, Indian restaurants abound.

THEN: Same kindly neighbourhood cabbie took you to the airport.

NOW: Ola cabs booked and ready. Driver Samir is on his way.

THEN: Modest State Tourism resorts, with “bed tea”. What? Hot water in the morning only?

NOW: Four-star plush resorts with buffet breakfast. What? No bathtub in every room?

THEN: Mr Sharma went to Bali, so we must go too.

NOW: Let’s go to Croatia. No one I know has been.

THEN: Tour operator lists six sights in this place. We see all six and come back.

NOW: Customised food tours, nature trails, heritage walks, music festivals and shopping holidays.

THEN: Airline tickets look like chequebooks.

NOW: Web check-in.

THEN: Does the hotel room have a TV?

NOW: Does it also have free WiFi, and enough plug points for phone charger?

THEN: Collecting postcards.

NOW: Collecting air miles.

THEN: Being able to disconnect on holiday.

NOW: If you have a smartphone, no chance!

THEN: Requesting the kindly local or fellow tourist to take one family photo of all of you.

NOW: Selfie stick, panorama mode, multiple shots and smile-finder on your cellphone.

THEN: Wish I could be on holiday forever.

NOW: I want to be a travel

HTBR22MAR15