Wayfarers Chapel, Los Angeles - The Abode of Solace

To suggest to your kiddo daughter, who is on her 'vacation of lifetime' - having broken loose from her college at the end of grueling first sem and worst still, from the sever cold of Illinois to visit a chapel, could surely invite ridicule as the new generation is no respecter of age. But lucky as I am, for Kruti is not a stereotype of this 'new generation', that I got her patient hearing. But still I could feel a tinge of disbelief in her tone. "Chapel?" - she sounded mischievous. But she persisted on my suggestion as she trusts that there could be some point in my argument, after all I am a travel professional. More out of her respect for my work and less out of curiosity, she permitted me to persuade her to visit this chapel out of nowhere. But is it?


Wayfarers Chapel, in my reckoning is a 'must see' attraction of Los Angeles area. On the hillock of Palos Verdes and bordered by Redondo Beach and Manhattan Beach in the North and Long Beach in the West, on the tip of the peninsula of Rolling Hills is located this 'abode of solace' for the weary travellers. Capturing the essence of the thirst of travellers for rest and recuperation is built this most aesthetic chapel by the renowned architect Lloyd Wright on the principles of 'tree church' in harmony with nature. It is the Swedenborgian Church that promotes the theology of universal brotherhood and unity of God.


As a traveller, it is a great experience 'to be here'. Far away on the horizon, many ships are receding out of the skyline and one wonders that life is all about travelling. But all this wandering takes its toll, physically and mentally. It is when we seek rest earnestly, that even a most basic caravanserai is good for shelter and solace.Wayfarers Chapel signifies the end of travellers' search for solace. It is the embodiment of man's quest for ultimate peace. The sky touching redwood trees dotting the artistically laid down garden of this humble monument is the epitome of the end of our search and should not be missed by any traveller. 


In the vicinity are the Korean Bell of Friendship and American Merchant Marines Veterans Memorial that can complement your visit to the area. For the information hungry, the website of the chapel contains good information about the sponsoring church, history and architecture along with vivid pictures of the chapel gardens and the vantage pictures of this most scenic location on the California beach.

'Rakhdoo' - the spirit of travel

Many of my friends and colleagues ask me, "Why have you chosen the name 'Rakhdoo'?" I can understand their anxiety and at times displeasure. The name, on the first encounter, fails to invoke respect. And, we Indians, always want to be respected, isn't it? No matter what, I should be honoured - is the general expectation. A kind of 'class' or, so to say, 'caste' consciousness is so deeply imbibed that our guiding spirit tells us what to do and what not to do, in every event of our insignificant life. In such a scenario, 'Rakhdoo' surely appears to be an epithet that may, at best, be avoided.

But there are some who look at the world with "Oolta Chasma - a la Tarak Mehta", and ask 'why not?'

When I launched my website and was searching for the word that would best sum up the 'spirit of travel', I could go no further than this most provoking noun of Indian lexicon - 'Rakhdoo!".

It was much later that I ran into a travelogue written by renowned Kakasaheb Kalelkar in Gujarati - "Rakhadvaano Anand". The title and the content was the affirmation of my faith in this typically expressive noun, that has now become so dear to me, my family, friends and associates.

'Rakhdoo' is no longer being frowned upon. As 2011 is about to set in, I promise, that we will together take this noun of Gujarati lexicon to our global fraternity and audience and hopefully, by 2020 it should become the Word of the Year (WOTY), doing proud to every Indian.

And now, let's welcome 2011 and say 'cheers' to every 'Rakhdoo'- raising the toast to quintessential and undying spirit of travelling, scribbled and stored, deeply and darkly, in the genetic code of the mankind!    

How Liitle Do We Know! The Case of Ahmedabad Aviation Academy.

Recently I visited the educational campus of Ahmedabad Aviation Academy    (A A A), located at Rancharda. The campus is also known as Indus Campus. I had expected to run into a regular billboard training center, as it has now become customary to run an academy or training center by putting up a bill board in some rented premises and collecting a flock of students. But I was in for a good surprise.

Not only the institute is run in a sprawling campus but the facilities were also of high standard. The main building where the classes were conducted was not only spacious but imposing. The halls were large and airy and acoustic sounded satisafctory. However, it was my visit to the lab of this institute that convinced me that Ahmedabad had in its vicinity an aviation academy that could well match international standard.

The 'new age' is the 'age of aviation' as the streets and highways are soon to be flooded by all types of automobiles ('nano' has already arrived). It is predicted that year 2012 onward, it will be an 'age of aviation'. I am glad that my city is well equipped to meet this challenge by providing the trained manpower to fuel tomorrow's need. 

Alas! Till yesterday, I did not know about such an important tourism related institute, just on the outskirt of my city!