all photos credited to Y.I.Wada
*Note: All travelers must be WSN Members. To receive your WSN Membership(n0n-refundable), purchase here ($100 first-time, $50 renewal)
EXPLORE SOUTH INDIA, two exciting cities in Western India, and New Delhi! 2/13 -3/04/2015
AHMEDABAD – COCHIN (Kochi) – ALLEPPY (Alappuzha) – MUNNAR – MADURAI – COIMBATORE/POLLACHI – NEW DELHI – JAIPUR
(Full detailed information about each city below)
Meet in Ahmedabad on Feb 13, 2015
Main program: Feb 13 – 28 (16 days) – Leave Delhi on Feb 28
Main and Jaipur Extension : Feb 13 – Mar 4 (20 days) – Program ends in Delhi on Mar 4 after breakfast
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Registration Closed – 2015 Program FULL!
Registration is now open for India 2015. Waitlisting is on first come basis.
Please visit our Registration page to fill out the appropriate form and follow instructions:
- Activate WSN membership by completing online SFS Form, and purchasing a New Membership($100), or Renewal($50).
- Remit Tour Deposit $500.00 USD to secure your spot.
- Sign and return Acknowledgement and Disclaimer forms. Available December 2014
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PAYMENTS
In order to reserve your spot, please pay the SFS $500.00 USD deposit here. Deposit amount will be credited towards full land tour balance. Second payment of half the land tour balance ( minus the deposit amount) will be due on 12/22/14. The third payment of the remaining full land tour balance will be due on or before 1/15/15.
See Reservation page for payment instruction.
Refer to payment schedule in Payments
- Land tour costs:
Main Program $4600 USD without Jaipur extension (16 days) plus International and 2 Domestic flights on your own;
Main + Jaipur Extension $5400 USD (20 days) plus International and Domestic 2 flights on your own. Tour price is inclusive of most meals and entry fees, all surface transportation except departure airport transfer in Delhi, accommodations at unique, interesting and elegant hotels including a houseboat, all day seminar in Pollachi, mini workshops in Ahmedabad, and special private studio and home visits. 3 half day natural dye, printing, etc workshop at Aranya is optional.
- $500 deposit to WSN – pay immediately to secure your spot
- Payment 1 to WSN, half the land tour balance ( minus the deposit amount) – due on 12/22/14
- Payment 2 to WSN –The third payment of the remaining full land tour balance – due on or before 1/15/15.
*NOTE On your own : Extra night on your own for early arrival ( before midnight of the previous day or very early morning of the 13 Feb.); International and 2 domestic flights; departure airport transfer in Delhi.
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IMPORTANT INFORMATION
- Tour Info Packet (TBD) Includes: Terms & Cancellation Policy; Payment Schedule; Package details; Air Travel Schedule (must purchase own int’l and domestic flights, see suggestion below).
- Single Room Supplement – please inquire
- Detailed Itinerary, with hotels (TBD)
- FAQ Travel Prep
- Disclaimer Form (please sign and return)
- Reminder: submit your flight information via online Flight Info form,
Regarding INTERNATIONAL flights: You may purchase tickets online or through our recommended travel agent: PAN AIR TRAVEL & TOURS in Los Angeles, Contact name Mr. Gazhi Jamshed,
Email your information following the below guidelines to: ceo@panairusa.com // t: 1 (0) 310-915-0088 Mr. Gazhi currently has a reasonable round trip airfare into Ahmedabad and out from Delhi.
- Email Subject: SFS india 2015 S. SMITH
- Provide, your name as it appears on passport, last name in CAPITAL, your contact info including your email. phone numbers. address.
- Provide Dates of international travel, i.e. 11 Feb 2015/ SFO to Ahmedabad returning on 4 March 2015 Delhi to SFO
- Preference on flight, i.e economy vs business, aisle vs window, dietary needs, frequent flyer mileage numbers
Regarding DOMESTIC flights: Coordinate with Yoshiko, as soon as possible in order to purchase tickets on the same flight as the rest of the group.
Cancellation Policy: If WSN office is notified via email, fax or phone on or before 12/20/14, $450 USD of $500 USD SFS deposit will be refunded to participant, and 90% of remaining full land tour balance paid to WSN at time of cancellation. Cancellation after or on 12/21/14 or before 1/15, replacement must be found to get 90% refund, otherwise %50 refund of remaining full land tour balance paid to WSN at time of cancellation. If WSN office is notified via email, fax or phone of cancellation on or after 1/15/15, no refund will be granted, unless replacement is found.
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PROGRAM
AHMEDABAD – Gujarat state in the Western India
Sea level, dry. (Temperature range in February: 15-30° Celsius/59-86° Fahrenheit)
Early morning walk in the Old City (the city was founded 1411 by Sultan Ahmed Shah) starting at the colorful Swaminarayan Temple. Ahmedabad is the 7th largest city in India with a city population of ~5.6million (metropolitan population of 6.4 million) however the old city maintains much of flavor from the past. Important sites include Gandhi’s Sabramati Ashram, Shriyas Museum of Folk Costumes, and Louis Kahn architecture. SFS will have a private program in sewing and hand stitching with some demos and/or instruction at RAJKA Workshop – a long time friend of Yoshiko’s. Visits in the morning and afternoon to the beautifully restored Calico Museum with Chauk building houses Mughal Indian and trade textiles from 15th-19th centuries. The Haveli building contains pichwai religious paintings. Visit private homes and studios. Rare opportunity to stay at the National Institute of Design’s Guest Houses in Ahmedabad – an inside glimpse of this prestigious educational institution and their library. Enjoy Gujarati cuisine at a village restaurant or famous chaat house and an optional dinner at famed Agashiye on rooftop restaurant of the House of MG, a boutique heritage hotel in Old City in front of Sidi Saiyad where we stay for a few nights. The hotel and related community projects by Yoshiko’s friend is enchanting and inspiring.
COCHIN (Kochi) – Kerala state in the South India
Sea level, on the Malabar Coast (23-33° C./ 73-91° F.)
Kerala state is one of the oldest Communist government and marks highest literacy rate with hardly any beggars to be seen on the streets. Visit Kasavu Kada (“woven gold border shop”), sightseeing of Old Kochi Fort on the Arabian Ocean where a Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama arrived on the coast of Malabar and found India in 1948
ALLEPPY (Alappuzha) – Kerala state in the South India
Sea level, coastal (23-33° C./ 73-91° F.)
Overnight stay on houseboats sailed from Alleppy. Enjoy backwater rides, observe the way of common people’s life in Kerala, explore old towns/villages along water where you may visit an old Christian church or woodcarver’s studio, and taste freshly made palm toddy. You may see Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary, temples, snake boat, paddy fields, and coconut lagoon. Optional visit to the Revi Karunakaran Museum and a coir fiber factory on the way back to Cochin.
MUNNAR – Kerala state in the South India
(1700m/5600 ft. elevation (11C/52F to 22C/86F)
Drive to Munnar through the changing flora and fauna from sea level to lush mountain forest with spice, coffee, and rubber plantations along the route. Arrive at Aranya for hands-on natural dye and textile workshops specially arranged for us. Workshop participants will be assisted by experienced dyers and printers of the Aranya with varied physical challenges, areas include natural dyeing, woodblock printing, batik and papermaking. Yoshiko will also offer some shaped-resist techniques. Optional activities to relax, visit tea and spice factories and shops, walk among hill covered with tea bushes you will breath the cleanest air. Accommodations are at Hill Station Guest Houses.
MADURAI – Tamil Nadu state in the South India
Elevation 100 m/ 328 ft (20-33° C./68-91° F.)
The historic South Indian temple, Meenaksh Amman temple is the heart of over 2500 years old city of Madurai The grand and beautiful, Yoshiko’s favorite, Hindu temple houses 14 gopurams (gateway towers reaching 45-50 meters in height=170ft).
Madurai is also famous for weaving studios of “gharchola” and “panetar”. These ceremonial wedding textiles, the most symbolic of Hindu and Jain brides, the weaving and subsequent tie-dye decoration technique (bandhani) originated in Saurashtra region of Gujarat sate where the ancestors of weavers migrated almost 350 years ago.
COIMBATORE/POLLACHI – Tamil Nadu state in the South India
Elevation 288 m/ 945 ft (21° C./70° F.)
Drive through the National Park forest to Pollachi. Arrive at an eco-friendly, retreat to relax surrounded by majestic mountains and located near Aliyar Dam Lake in Tamil Nadu. Option to have healing massages. Guests stay in beautiful traditional-style cottages. Take advantage of Ayurvedic treatment center. Enjoy serenity and quiet beauty of the retreat.
Visit the Appachi Cotton Farm and Mill and learn about organic cotton production, from ground soil to finished goods using biodynamic farm methods for healthy and sustainable way of life. Topics: hand spinning, weaving on a traditional handloom, designing for contemporary market.
New DELHI – National Capital Region surrounded by Uttar Pradesh sate in the North Central India.
Elevation 216 m/ 709 ft (13-27° C./56-80° F.)
Orientation of this great city of old and new, and visit artists and friends’ studios and specialty shops in Delhi. Our accommodations are near Sundar Nagar Market in quiet residential neighborhood.
For those leaving India on 28th Feb Saturday evening, you have time to explore Delhi for another day.
OPTIONAL EXTENSION
JAIPUR – Rajasthan state in the Western India in the North
Desert climate, dry. Elevation 431 m/ 1414 ft (10-23° C./50-74° F.)
Explore the famed “Pink City” of Jaipur: The Palace Museum of Maharaja’s and Rajiput architecture and sophisticated arts and crafts. Friends of Yoshiko’s art studios and specialty shops.