I Can’t Believe We Are Going to India
I can’t believe we are going to India! Dave and I always have this discussion about being “real” global travelers. We never quite consider ourselves hard core (we want to be, but we always feel that it has eluded us) Before each trip we always say “After this country we are definitely going to feel like true world nomads.” But after every trip, we realize that we still have so much to see and many other adventures to do.
Are We Really Hard Core?
When we left for Africa, we thought that after cycling through 9 countries, we would definitely consider ourselves “true world travelers,” but it didn’t happen. The real adventurers that we admire have been everywhere and explored all of the hidden and most remote destinations on the planet. We feel that we haven’t even scratched the surface yet.
That is when we realized that we couldn’t possible be satisfied with our travel resumé until we tackled India.
India Bound
In our minds, you haven’t truly traveled until you have gone to India. All the real hard core backpackers go there for a tough, character building, frustrating and yet enlightening travel.
We have purposely put off traveling to India for years. We always questioned if we were ready for it; having heard so many stories about the trials and tribulations of travel there. The lack of personal space, the filth, the rudeness, the scams and the dismal treatment of animals. We always pondered…Do we really want to experience that?
Nobody that we have ever talked to personally had many positive things to say about their time in India.
Love it, But Can’t Explain it
Whenever I watched a person talk about their time there though, I would notice their faces light up and hear the excitement in their voices.
No matter how much a person complained about India, they would always finish the conversation with, “But I loved it” or “I wouldn’t change a thing” or “But you are going to love it” and “I am so excited for you”
So what else could we do but finally go and check out India for ourselves. After all we love a great adventure and this is going to be our biggest yet.
Are We Ready??
Will we be able to handle it? Or are all of the stories overblown and we are far more savvy travelers than we give ourselves credit for. We have been in some crazy situations ourselves and we have experienced many of the negative aspects of India that we have listed above in other countries.
We have witnessed animal cruelty, we have been scammed, we have stayed in some pretty horrible accommodations and we have gone into bathrooms that have literally scared the crap right back into us.
Can we handle India? I don’t know. But we are going to write about the good, the bad and the ugly during out time there. We are going to relay every sound, taste, sight and smell that we discover and you can follow along to see just how much we hate or love India.
22 Responses to I Can’t Believe We Are Going to India
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I am a traveller from India and have been reading your blog for quite sometime (a few months to be precise).
One advice… you have to keep aside all your pre-conceived views and take it as it comes. In spite of filth, poverty, lack of personal space etc, people will love you. India is full of contrasts.
In fact, this makes me want to write why Indians behave in such a manner when they see any foreigners.
What is your itinerary ? Where all you are planning to visit?
Feel free to approach me in case you need any help.
Hi Nisha thanks so much! We are starting in Trivandrum, and then working our way around from there. We are going to be staying for at least a couple of months working our way North and eventually heading into Nepal. We will definitely keep in touch and pick our brain.
“The lack of personal space, the filth, the rudeness, the scams and the dismal treatment of animals. We always pondered…Do we really want to experience that?”
I agree with Nisha. India is a wild and unique place (full of contrasts, absolutely), but go in with an open mind and you’ll have a better shot at seeing its beauty.
Can’t WAIT to read updates!!
Alan
.-= Alan´s last blog ..Sunday Sandbox #4: Indian Food Around The World =-.
Hi Alan. Yes that line certainly sounds negative doesn’t it. But these really were questions that we have asked ourselves in the past. Of course we didn’t let all of the negative things that we have heard about India stop us from eventually going, it just took us longer to get there. We are definitely looking forward to spending time exploring India and don’t worry, we are not going in with a chip on our shoulder. We are going to go with the flow and enjoy the experience.
Ohhh, so that’s where you two are off to next- interested to hear about where you are going- I would love to see kashmir- but safety does factor in, I suppose. Just remember which hand is which, and have a blast!
I am so excited for you guys! I can’t believe how close it is getting!!! Nisha, naturally has it right, I wasn’t fully enjoying India until I surrendered to the chaos and let it take me on my journey!
Many warm thoughts with you guys as you prepare these final weeks.
.-= Shannon OD´s last blog ..A Little Scenic…The Absolute Most Picturesque Drive in Ireland =-.
Thanks Shannon and Nisha, We are definitely going with an open mind and are really looking forward to it. We just thought that we would talk about all of the stuff that we have heard about before leaving. That way we can either prove the myths wrong or right:)
“Incredible India!” That’s what it’s saying at the airport in Delhi. It preety much says it all! I’ve also seen a few destinations of the world & would not call myself the hardcore traveler, but India was unique. Sure, every other destination is unique, too. But India is “special unique”. Just like you wrote “…backpackers go there for a tough, character building, frustrating and yet enlightening travel.” Or “No matter how much a person complained about India, they would always finish the conversation with, “But I loved it””. It’s just like that. I’m looking forward to read your experiences!
Enjoy Incredible India!
.-= Melvin´s last undefined ..If you register your site for free at =-.
Thanks Melvin. I am looking forward to finally being able to have my own opinions on India. So far all of our information has been second hand, so we are really wanting to see it for ourselves once and for all.
Just came across your blog and I’ll definitely be following your adventures in India. I must confess that I’m an India addict, returning every year for at least 3 months as I simply can’t get enough.
I just wrote a post last week titled “Why Every Traveler Must Visit India” over at my blog if you want to check it out. If not, not problem…I’ll still be following your trip!
Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!!!
Hi there,
I just started following your blog recently and it’s a great read! I’m from Singapore which isn’t that far from India but I’ve only been to Kerala, which was lovely. Will you be visiting Sri Lanka and the Maldives (great diving!) too?
My husband and I have been travelling for the past 8 months, worming our way across North America then down the South American continent. So I’m sending greetings from Ushuaia where we’ve been having a day-long blizzard. So the memories of fresh hot thosai from southern India are quite a torture now.
Have a fulfilling time in India.
Yi Lin
.-= Yi Lin´s last blog ..Santiago =-.
Hi Yi Lin, Thank you for the warm wishes. Try to stay warm! But Patagonia must be amazing. Yes we are going to Sri Lanka as well, not sure about the Maldives, but it would be nice. Enjoy the rest of your travels!
Hey
Its great to hear that you are heading towards India. I can surely promise you that it would be great trip of yours. As you guys are coming to India i would just let you guys give an advice that please don’t miss Himalaya’s and nature and village walk of India, Do visit 360° Leti it will give you the real feel of nature and so close to ground.
You can ask for any suggestions if you need, but yes India is a country full of cultures so wherever you will go in India you will find a new thing to reveal.
Hey guys…I’m not sure if you seen this gastro map of India before but it gives such a cool idea of the diversity of food over there:
http://kunzum.com/2009/11/09/taste-of-india-a-great-gastro-map-of-india/
Every time I go to India I reference the map to make sure I try new foods in some new region…bon appetit!
You are going to LOVE India! It is one of our favorite countries (as you can tell from the numerous guides we have written on it!). If you need someone to tell you about all of the positives, the colors, sounds, tastes, etc. we would relish the opportunity!
Hi Jennifer thanks for the positive comments on India. We are really looking forward to exploring it once and for all for ourselves and hopefully will have the same love for the country that you have when we have travelled there.
India is overwhelming for the senses and at the beginning you may be exhausted at the end of each day from all the stimuli – sounds, smells (good and bad), people, culture, colors. But, it’s such an incredible place. We were just reviewing our photos from there (yes, we’re horribly behind!) and it brought back such great memories. And, we found people friendly and welcoming and happy for us to take photos. My advice – take it slow. Don’t try to rush too many places in a short period of time. Enjoy!!
.-= Audrey´s last blog ..Our U.S. Radio Debut…and Behind the Scenes in Bolivia =-.
India has certainly been what everyone above has described and much more. We’ll be heading to Rajasthan in a few days, then onto the South for the holidays. We’ll watch your blog to see if we cross paths!
.-= Lianna and Nick´s last blog ..Row Row Your Boat =-.
I call India a “culturally dense” place. In that I mean that there is something to overwhelm the senses on almost every block and each part of the country. It’s sensory overload at first and it’s taken me a few trips to really be able to handle it. One thing I’d really recommend though is brushing up on a few of the common taxi and rickshaw scams – very, very prevalent.
Thanks for the tips. We will google the rickshaw scams to see what is up.
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