Cultural Pursuits -  for alternative travel in North East India

TABLE OF CONTENTS | MAIN PAGE |WORDS FOR TRAVELING |SUSTAINABLE NETWORK |NEWS   |RECOMMENDATIONS |TRIPS

     

    

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION 

STATES

ABOUT ME

NATIONAL PARKS

 

 

I have found out that there ain't no surer way to find out whether you like people or hate them than to travel with them.  ~Mark Twain

 

 

CP Pics & Activities

Flickr Pics

faces

monoliths

phallic rocks

N.C. Hills

Bicycle Challenge

 

Clients Say

 

  • We did so much but it never felt overwhelming. And we saw things we would never have found on our own.  Overall the trip was outstanding - we want to come back to the North East soon and would love to use Cultural Pursuits.

    Kevin

     

  • Saw more variety than expected and had more new experiences - from tribal villages to caves, for the most part well organized.  We will come back to N.E. India, so that is an indication of how much we enjoyed the trip.

 

  • I want to say it was a really great trip.  Thank you for all your help in making it happen.  I was a wonderful experience staying up at ani gompa with Jambay and Ani Tpten.  When I get my photo's developed I will be sending them to them as promised. Thanks again for all your help, I'm really glad I did what I did and will have those memories for the rest of my life.

    Helen Oates

     

  • A note of thanks and appreciation for a great trip. I really had little idea when we started off what an adventure it would be . I remember when I said I'd like to stay in the Tawang hotel and watch the sunset and you said I had no idea of what I would be missing. And you were right - how often does one get the opportunity to walk on a mountain path at 1000 ft + to spend the night in an Ani Gompa, talk to the Anis (with the help of an interpreter) about their thoughts on other religions, eat and sleep in their quarters? This is the real thing!  Even the  challenging path to the toilet in the half dark is memorable and gains in the retelling. The trip to the village was equally amazing - I can walk the path in my mind over the rice fields to the rice beer (bang jang?) house and hear the owner's gleeful cackle as she quickly refilled our cups. I know you reimbursed for our stay, but nonetheless she was very generous in entertaining and accommodating us in her house and showing us her weaving and other crafts. Thanks to Amah. You made it possible to have authentic interactions with ordinary people which goes a long way in dispelling stereotypes and prejudices. You're a peace promoter in your own way and we loved the "philosophy of life" discussions.

Henriette Orth
 

Sometimes one reads recommendations on websites and wonders if there are ever negative comments:  Not to hide anything here is one -

explanation first:  Four Americans travelling as Backpackers not wanting to spend money - the deal was pay Rs. 2000. to me per day total (that I reduced from my regular Rs. 2500.) - for me to take them to a remote village in Nagaland to do something never done before and of which I have worked a long time to make the event happen - digging up skulls from the head hunting days to put on display. They were to take care of food and a donation to house for stay - non of which went through me - actually I paid out from my own pocket for extra to the house as I felt they should get more. Of the Rs. 2000. I pay out Rs. 800. per day to my guide in that area and money out to the house and basic daily expense - I actually likely only took home about Rs. 600 - 800. per day - for 5 days and I spent 2 days getting there and back on my own time, they reluctantly paid for the vehicle rent on one of those days and the diesel.  They asked for a vehicle to be included - that I charged at the rate I rented it for and the actual for diesel. I took my 2 boys along, because of the once in a lifetime experience and left most of the guiding responsibilities to my local guide:  here is what they said when they paid me. And Oh! yes, two were journalist getting photos and articles for selling at what price is non of my business.

  • "Here is the money but with complete un-satisfaction - you are a foreigner but aren't any different than an Indian the way you take so much money. You are the laziest guide we have ever met."  earlier on it had been said that I should not have my other 'two clients' (referring to my boys) on the trip.

Rich, Ryan, Lauren and Christine

 

  • thanks for the news - it has been a while since we came to India for our trip with you in 2006, but we still keep the journey in very good memory - one of the best trips we made so far.
    We are on our way to India again - Katja, Nils and myself (this time without Manfred who wants to spend Christmas at home) are flying to Delhi tomorrow and from there to Paro in Bhutan. We will spend 15 days in Bhutan and are looking forward to see the differences or similarities to the Tawang region we visited with you.

    I hope that you and your family are well and I wish you a nice Christmas and a good new year 2008!

    Best regards from Germany

    Michael Sailer
     

  • A fabulous trip, I would say it was the best trip I have had and i have travelled fairly extensively. I will definately tell others .....  I was very impressed with the amount of information we recieved about the areas we travelled and the experience we had.

Carol Crabtree (Nov 2007)

  • I enjoyed the added company - Gautom is great, Nawang, Ani's, villager were very caring accepting and genuine.  I have truly enjoyed it all! ...  Everything was more than expected, but perhaps the highlight was the stay in Ani Gompa and village near Tawang, I can't imagine why I balked at first.

Henriette Orth (Nov 2007)

(note: I convinced them to get out of hotel room and comfort and experience a real stay in village ....  you always go home to comfort, a couple nights of roughing in and experiencing somebody elses life is an education and vision you seldom will encounter.)

  • Anyway, the guys here were very exited about the results, and very impressed about the handling of logistics for us. So you will most certainly see more of us :) it might take a year or two, but I will return :) .. Say hello to everybody.

Steffen
 

  • Thank you for your support in everything during our trip and for  the news from Shillong.  We returned back with safety on Sunday.  Actually we had no stomach problem at all, and enjoyed our exciting trip in NE India.

                                                    Kenji KATO (Okayama Japan)

 

  • Guess what, I really want to go back there, it was a pure magic. Those treks in the mountain, and that festival, just great...

                                                    Thiery Falise (Photo Journalist)

 

  • Hi, James,

    How are you and how is your family? Has your second child already been born? We hope everybody is fine.  We would like to thank you again for organizing the Nagaland tour for us. It was really a very special experience. Now we have got our photos. So in our memory we relive the tour again. There are some really nice photos among them.  We were so fascinated by the tribal culture - especially at Mon and Pangsha - that we have decided to come back to Eastern India. There are some parts in eastern Arunachal Pradesh that might be very interesting, too.  Although it is quite a long time till we can come, we have already booked tickets to Delhi (unluckily there was no good connection at a reasonable price to Kolkata). There we will arrive on December 22 and leave on January 6. Have you also contacts to Arunachal? And if so, would you be willing to organize another tour for us?

                                                    Christa and Guenter

 

  • Now that I'm back in Bombay, I thought I would drop you both a quick note to say thank you once again for making my trip to Shillong such a worthwhile, informative - and enjoyable one.   All the people I met through you provided me with a wealth of valuable information on Khasi traditions, beliefs and values.  I'm looking forward to transcribing all my notes crafting an engrossing piece on a unique people and culture.  there is enough material for more than one article, and I will pursue this when I get home.  Shillong is worth promoting as a destination piece, all by itself. Kaziranga exceeded my expectations & Baruah was the most generous of hosts.  

                                                  Margaret Deefholts (Journalist)

 

  • Steve is a pathologist and Chie is a psychotherapist who took a Christmas holiday trip from Los Angeles:  We enjoyed  Samu's knowledge and interest in the tribal peoples of the north east. We felt his expertise in the field almost matches his driving and mechanical ability in keeping the Ambassador going.  The diversity of the tribes having a chance to observe the Garo people more closely during our 3-day trek was fascinating to Steve who had been a Cultural Anthropology major in college.  A particular high point was staying at the Shalom guest house in Tura and being invited to celebrate Christmas dinner with the family. We  learned a lot about the country from the euridite Mr. Pratap Singh Ingty.   We also enjoyed meeting Somu's family including his wife Shirley and son Chong.  In summary, We felt the trip had it all:

                                                        STEVE AND CHIE

  • Interesting and friendly people, beautiful scenery, interesting walks and game parks.

                                            Sincerely,

                                                    Stephen Lee

  • Just a short note to say we are back. More details to come later.  Suffice it to say we had the best holiday we ever had.  Assam and Meghalaya are both beautiful with incredible scenery and warm people. We even got to Majuli. A highlight. But you know all this is true so why go on & on.

    Thanks for your time, your company and for helping live a real
    adventure.

                                                    Frank Ernest


  • Re:  Cultural Pursuits

    To whom It May Concern


    I had the very great pleasure of visiting Norhteast India during three weeks in January of this year.  My tour was organized and guided by Anup Ingty John and his partner, Jim Perry, of the company Cultural Pursuits.  I am writing to express my enthusiasm for the skill and care they have taken to introduce visitors to this part of India. 

    I visited many fascinating and diverse parts of Assam and Meghalaya in the course of my trip, encountering natural regions and experiencing the way of life of the people in both the cities and remote communities of the area.  Rhinos in Kaziranga, bat caves in Siju, hiking Chitmang Peak and the Sacred Forest of Mawphlang, shopping in markets and staying in small villages just a few of many highlights I experienced there.  Mr. Ingty John was an invaluable guide and source of  information throughout my trip, and without doubt added immensely to my education and understanding of what I saw.   

    I would highly recommend this company and its tours to anyone.  Their sensitivity to the needs of both the tourists and the local residents helps bring people together for their mutural advantage.  I had the opportunity to discuss aspects of India's past and present with Mr. Ingty John, and support his efforts in developing a travel business in Northeast India that promotes the future wellbeing of the region.

                                                                Dr. Eric S. Grace

 

  • To Whom it May Concern


    In November of 1996 I employed the services of Cultural Pursuits Adventures on my tour of the North East States.  This trip was much facilitated by the guide services provided by Cultural Pursuits.  I feel they represent the Cultural and natural riches of the region very well to an outsider and that they promote tourism in non-damaging ways, for the benefit of foreign tourist but of local people perhaps even more.  The trip will be covered in the New York Times Newspaper as a featured travel article.  Cultural Pursuits and its services will be mentioned as part of the trip to Southwest Meghalaya

                                                    Thankyou

                                                       Kate Wheeler,  (writer)

   

  • Thanks for your update on CP's plans and for your email of 3 June.  We are delighted to learn that you both have developed the new programs. We will happily spread the word to any prospects and pass them along.

    As for ourselves we consider our travel with Cultural Pursuits, to be one of two highlights in our travels to more than 90 countries.   We will remember forever the warmth and hospitality with which we were received in all of the towns and villages.  As westerners who like a cold drink in hot weather, Frank and Rex will never forget that the order for ice in the hotel was fulfilled with a 50 pound block that had apparently been fetched on a bicycle!  There were so many wonderful experiences created out of imminent adversity, preparing dinner  in the dark and serving by candlelight when the power failed, buying chickens for dinner at the un-staffed game reserve and last but most important to some of our party -  providing modern toilet facilities at all stops.

    If Assam wasn't so far away we would visit every year.

    We wish you great success with your expanded program and will send you any ideas, as well as clients, that we develop.   Am sure we convey similar wishes from the Roberts.
     

                                            All the best,  Frank and Barrie Sebastian

 

  
Telephone: (0) 94363 03978 - Email:
 
CULTURAL PURSUITS
c/o Hotel Alpine Continental
Thana Road,
Shillong 793001, Meghalaya - India
 
          
"Tread Softly, lest you destroy that which you so desperately seek" JMP