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At last, the India podcast. I hope it conveys the outstanding time I had in those two weeks.
Click here to see the photos.
Thanks again to all that sponsored me – all the money I raised through your generous donations, 1750 pounds sterling (half the cost of the trip), went directly to the charities you hear about at the end of the podcast: The Rainbow Trust, The Mother Theresa Educational And Charitable Society, and the World Wild Life Fund.
Let me know what you think in the comments below, and if you are interested in taking part in Enduro India, then see their web page.
Heather Wood
8 Mar 06 at 3:33 pm
Dear Ben
Thank you for undertaking Enduro India and raising much needed funds towards our work with families who have a very sick child. Fritha has come back brimming with excitement having travelled with such an interesting group and clearly enjoyed the trip very much whilst representing Rainbow too.
The photos and commentary are brilliant and give great insight into the wonders of the people, scenery and places you have visited.
My heartfelt thanks on behalf of all at Rainbow and the families you have helped us to help.
With best wishes
Heather Wood CEO
Lawrence
9 Mar 06 at 12:58 am
Well done Ben. The comment above says it all.
A really worthwhile thing to do and some fascinating listening to boot.
I loved the sounds of the people and the descriptions of the smells and of cows wandering down streets. We get excited down my street if we spot a squirrel.
It sounded like a great and out of the ordinary experience.
Randy McCallister
9 Mar 06 at 1:27 am
Dear Ben,
Enduro was an incredible job of editing and production. Your equipment and your knowledge of the equipment is outstanding. The quality of the experience that you were able to share was just fantastic. I felt like I was listening in living color!
Thank you for sharing your experiences and senses from India.
Best Wishes. I enjoy all of your and Marina’s podcasts.
- Randy
jt_skip
9 Mar 06 at 8:33 pm
Hola Ben,
Brilliant editing, and once again I really enjoyed listening to the sounds of your Journey. Thank you for allowing myself and your audience to share that experience!
I can say that my image of India has been shattered!
best regards,
jt_skip
Ben
9 Mar 06 at 8:54 pm
Shattered in a good way or a bad way?!
Sin
9 Mar 06 at 11:13 pm
Great podcast, great pics, Ben. That clip about the lost bag is wonderful.
Enrique
10 Mar 06 at 4:04 pm
Spectacular job, Ben! Congratulations!
jt_skip
10 Mar 06 at 4:42 pm
Shattered in a good way, I think!
just to expand on that, traditionally when I think of India, I think of a desolate land, inhospitable, depressing poverty. And I’m sure there is some of that, for that is what we see sometimes. I was delighted to see and hear something completely different, the images of a beautiful place and a people that have found happyness despite thier means. I don’t think I explain it well, but lets just say that “preconcieved notions” should be checked at the door!
I think that is just one of the reasons I enjoy listening to your podcast. I feel that you do a great job of capturing an experience, opening a window if you will, no matter if it is just cooking up a little dinner in your kitchen with Marina, or as in this case with India.
best regards,
jt_skip
Ed Ovett
11 Mar 06 at 3:54 pm
Very enlightening and great photos! Looking forward to the next episode!
Ben
12 Mar 06 at 8:59 am
Jt_skip – Same happened to me in India in fact, all pre-conceived notions flew out of the window shortly after arrival!
Jon Walker
12 Mar 06 at 9:25 pm
Just when I thought the memory was fading the podcast took me right back. Captured India in 23Mb! Excellent photos too.
viv rogers
12 Mar 06 at 9:31 pm
Hi Ben. What a wonderful way to record the trip of a lifetime. It is lovely to sit here and just shut my eyes and be transported back to Inida. Well done mate
Ben
14 Mar 06 at 9:30 am
Thanks guys!
Rui Abecassis
15 Mar 06 at 9:42 pm
Hola Ben
Que divertida esa aventura y la naturalidad de tu podcast. Como es esto del enduro india, muy caro o se puede hacer? Voy seguir mirando tu pagina, pero igual te queria felicitar por el programa y la generosidad con que descriviste India, los chicos los Saris etc , que son las memorias que guardo de mi viaje a India en el 1997. Saludos, buen trabajo, un abrazo, Rui
Ben
15 Mar 06 at 10:22 pm
Si que es caro, pero la idea es que recaudas un parte del dinero con donativos, algo muy comum en inglaterra. Yo recaude la mitaz que es la parte que va destinada a los ong’s, pero hay gente que incluso saca todo el precio en donativos.
Para mas informacion, precios etc, ver http://www.enduroindia.com
Rob Mockett
24 Mar 06 at 6:12 pm
Hi Ben !! What a fantastic thing your podcast is!! I have found it difficult to settle down having got back from enduro India ,I keep thinking ,3 weeks ago we were here ,4 weeks ago we were there ,5 weeks ago we were just setting off!The Podcast brings it all back to life again ,a great thing for those of us that were there and tantilising for those who have yet to do it!!I thank you for helping keep the memories very much alive and will now be a regular listener to your interesting broadcasts,especially as we travel to spain quite a bit.Again well done and keep well All the best Rob Mockett(one of the ambulance users!!)
Wendy Smith
27 Mar 06 at 4:07 pm
Hi Ben, this is totally fantastic, what a terrific thing you have done. A lovely way to remember the trip and for keeping the memories fresh. Thankyou so much. All the best, Enduro nurse Wendy x
Ben
28 Mar 06 at 8:45 am
Hi Wendy, I’m really glad you enjoyed it!
Ben
Bernard Ferguson
4 Apr 06 at 9:27 am
Hi Ben, Came across the site when I was researching Enduro India experiences – I am booked in for 2007. Found the pictures great and the podcast amazing. Seemed pretty self assured to be working on that with all the mayhem around you. Could you let me know what equipment you used for the podcast – recording and editing. Great Job!! Bernard
Ben
4 Apr 06 at 9:34 am
Hi Bernard, lucky you, you’ll have the time of your life next year! The equipment I use is described here:
http://www.notesfromspain.com/80
Good luck with the preperations and let me know if you have any more questions!
Ben
Micah
6 Apr 06 at 8:38 am
Thank you for taking the Enduro trip. I felt as if I were a part of it. I’ve always enjoyed learning and experienceing Indian culture and this was just great. I certainly enjoyed every bit of the Podcast and look forward to more from you.
Ben
6 Apr 06 at 1:37 pm
Thanks Micah, glad you enjoyed it!
mexist
3 May 06 at 3:36 am
Very cool. How did the charity thing work? Was part of the cost for this trip donated? I just returned from India myself, and I was doing volunteer work for a humanitarian organization called Karuna Society for Animals and Nature. Here’s my India page:
http://www.mexist.com/travel/india/
Ben
3 May 06 at 12:53 pm
Yup, about half the money went to charity. I’ll check out your site too!
Alice McDougall
14 May 06 at 9:32 pm
Hi Ben and Marina,
We really enjoyed hearing about your life in spain via podcasts and Ben and John’s india trip. Ben, your descriptions of everyday in India are very vivid and bought back memories of the time I spent working in Calcutta and Madhya Pradesh in 1993. India is a wonderful, challenging country and hard to convey to those who haven’t been, but youv’e succeeded. Congratulations!
Ben
14 May 06 at 10:26 pm
Thanks Alice, I’m really glad you heard it! Hi to you both,
B and M
Colin Chesterman
28 Nov 06 at 6:07 pm
My compliments Ben for your great podcast and pictures of Enduro India.
I have signed up for this in Feb 2007, and your piece was a real insight for me. Glad you made it intact, and thanks for sharing your thoughts on the trip.
Colin C
Ben
28 Nov 06 at 7:37 pm
Glad you liked them Colin. You are going to have such a great time. I wish I was off again this Feb!
Steven Sears
15 Mar 07 at 9:18 pm
Awesome Ben, great podcast and the pictures brought it all to life. I am very pleased you made it through the trip and hope I manage the same feat when I go in February 2008!
Thank you for sharing the pictures and a big well done!
Kim Rieck
5 Jul 07 at 8:33 pm
Well, now you’ve done it. Found the podcast last winter and now I’m signed up for the 2008 trip and looking into airline flights from the States. I’ve watched the movie about 12 times and my family is pretty sure I’m around the bend. And you started it, Ben!
Ben
6 Jul 07 at 6:40 am
Great, you won’t regret it for one minute!