Travel: Old Is Nothing

Deepali and I just returned from what is billed as the most spectacular train ride in the world; the Whistler Mountaineer from the city of Vancouver, Canada to Whistler, a ski resort in British Columbia. I haven’t been on all the train rides in the world, but I can well believe this claim. No other railway in the world takes you up through the spectacular British Columbia coast, with the sea on one side and evergreen forests, gushing white-water rivers and snow-capped mountains on the other. These areas are prime breeding grounds for killer whales, bears (grizzlies and black bears), salmon and bald eagles. We rode past Howe Sound, which is the southernmost fjord (glacier-carved sea inlet) in North America, through the hamlet of Squamish, considered the recreation and outdoors capital of Canada and up into the ski resort of Whistler.

I will be posting photos soon. Photos of course do not do justice to the awe-inspiring beauty of this train ride. I now have to admit that in my book, British Columbia is right up there with the Himalayas as the most beautiful place in the world. While the mountains here are lower, one also gets a view of the ocean and fjords at the same time.

We had a memorable ride on the Whistler Mountaineer. The train had a “Glacier Dome” compartment, one that was completely encased in glass and offered a 360 degree view of the natural beauty on offer. Since we paid an arm and leg for the trip, we were pampered with local Okanagan Valley wine, smoked salmon sandwiches, Glenfiddich scotch whiskey and lemon tarts. I must say it was a dining experience like no other.

What astonished me was the number of senior citizens on board the train. At least 80% of the travellers on the train were aged 65 and above. Many of them were in their 70s and a few of them were in their 80s. Older people in the West are so active and still have so much zest for life. I find that admirable. Here in Vancouver, the number of older runners and joggers outnumber their younger counterparts. I consider myself quite fit, but some of these elderly athletes put me to shame.

It is heartening to see so many senior citizens going mobile. But it is not surprising, considering the facilities that are always available for them, right from wheelchairs, clean and easily accessible toilets and medical staff. It is a pity that such facilities are not easily available in most places in India. Senior citizens often have worked a lifetime and have cash to spend, and would be an ideal market segment for tourism. Unfortunately, despite the so-called “Incredible India” tourism campaign mounted by the Indian government in the last few years, very little has changed on the ground as far as travel is concerned. Buildings are not easy to access for those who are disabled or elderly, medical care in smaller cities is not good and public toilets in India are few and far between (and indescribably filthy when you do find them).

India, along with the United States of America, has the most diverse natural attractions on offer – right from snow-capped mountains to beaches to deserts. We also have some of the most historic tourist sites in the world, from the Taj Mahal to the ruins of Hampi and so many forts, palaces and castles. We have an ancient civilization that rivals Rome, Greece, China and Persia. But we get so few international tourists, and even fewer elderly tourists.

We need those tourist dollars. The money could be spent to provide livelihoods to millions of people and give a major boost to the rural economy that would be a godsend in places where employment options are few. A carefully crafted and delivered tourism strategy would lift millions out of poverty. But is anyone in the government listening?

Coming back to those senior tourists I saw on the train, I salute them and their enthusiasm for life. Getting old doesn’t mean that one is waiting to die. The whole world is out there, waiting to be explored. And what better time to do it than when one is retired, the kids are independent and one has both time as well as money to spare? To paraphrase the punch-line from a running shoe commercial; “Old is nothing”