More ranting, less raving

My maiden travel column was, dare I say, a roaring success. Success because people, (I will demonstrate to prove the veracity of my claims), other than my editor, family and immediate circle of friends read it. And roaring? You decide.

For those of you who didn't read it, a precis "" I drew attention to a recent vacation on which I repeatedly stumbled upon some unhygienic cherubs and their indulgent parents. The setting just happened to be a bungling hotel in Goa. The author "" a seasoned Goa traveller (but who noticed that!). I present the tirade.

"A person who gets unnerved by young kids walking around naked by the pool shouldn't at all venture out on a holiday anywhere in India. Looks like Madam is one of the well heeled types from one of the metros. Madam, please look around you, there will be naked kids roaming about there too... Kids have to be kids, walk around naked, eat naked, dance naked... if Malikka (sic) Sherawat can do it, why not our kids?"

I stand censured for being well-heeled, my cobbler comes recommended. And forever more, I will be flooded with images of Mallika Sherawat every time I spot an unclothed child.

"We Goans believe in "you get what you paid for". You must be staying at some lame standardless hotel (Now don't come back and say you were at Leela Beach)... If you do not like Goa, hey you know what...don't go there".

"There were just too many negatives in the article outweighing the positives that Goa has to offer. What Goa really has to offer does not lie on the insides of its hotels but lies on the beaches, a breath of fresh air, the susegad pace of life, finger licking cuisine and its amazing people".

And here's someone who pretends to get me. But doesn't really...

"I fully agree with you about people in the swimming pool, some do not have the proper swimming costumes. Women make do with shorts and tees or salwars, men in their out of shape underwear...

"On Baga beach, you get these weirdos armed with digital cameras clicking at all the women, and the jet skis come crashing down on your head..."

She needs a column all unto herself.

And so I take it that a column with some good-humoured fun-poking is not for everyone.

On a more celebratory note, Indian hotels, previously largely eclipsed by their South-east Asian counterparts are seemingly making great impact among world travellers.

Ananda in the Himalayas, Park Hyatt's Sereno spa in Goa and The Oberoi Udaivilas were all featured on the Conde Nast list of world's top 25 spas as decided by its readers. And Devigarh in Udaipur topped the Gold list for design (the ambience of 'Armani-sur-Rajasthan,' said panelist Nicholas Coleridge).

Great branding for Destination India, even as the Budget indicated a slightly disappointing spike in tourist numbers. What was noteworthy in the Finance Minister's outline was the announcement that 50 villages with core competencies in handicrafts, handlooms and culture will be identified and developed as tourist hotspots.

Now, the day these villages are flush with visitors and global attention... that will be the real moment of accomplishment.

Here's one for the road.

"Kids are allowed to be raving lunatics in public places to the point of being WMDs of peace & tranquility. Forget hotels & resorts, Indian parents take 10 month old babies for 3 hour long movies. Hey mom, leave the kid at home and let the rest of money-paying public enjoy the movie."

Irate mums can now redirect their anger from me to this gentleman. Hurrah.