Backpacking guide and impressions of the first time in magical, unusual India.. India, you were nice to me

Why did I choose India? Because it’s so different, special and for years I wanted to visit this nest of contrasts and history. India rules with the spirituality that’s rooted in her ancient heart, and colourful dresses that bring India so special. Vegetarinism in India is happening so easy bringing space to meditation, so popular in India.

Natural beauties and architecture speak of India as the place with its unique and enticing charm. Even some plants are so unique for India like so much curative neem that it makes you wonder how it grows by itself everywhere through the country. You have to experience it by yourself as originality is the one that helps.

If you survive India, you’ll survive everything

They say India is not everyone, that if you survive India you will survive anything. Many things have I already survived so I didn’t except anything expect wondering how many people, specially girls travel to India alone. But maybe it’s just a cliché.

Why travelling in India alone?

They say how is that possible to travel to India alone?

I always wanted to have a company when traveling, but that’s not so easy to find. My friends also say they torture themelves with the wishes and discoveries where to go that it’s better not to go anywhere. It’s easier to lean on somebody as we can be relaxed just enjoying somebody’s company, discovering places together is much more funnier and easier and that includes taking photos as well. Even when I was in hostels and couldn’t find a company for daily visits, it felt disturbing going alone somwhere while the stuff tells you “Go by yourself” and even dedicates your time to find you a company or entertain you on their own.

Choosing the amazing solo female destinations in India will give you certain benefits. Colourful and enchanting Rajasthan is definitely one of them.

Travelling with trains in India

Traveling with trains in India deserves a special attention and keeping your bag under your clothes. Although the local people can watch you innocently like they won’t do you anything. But choosing a sitting place in the train while the freezing December occupies the place of yourself brings pleasant surprises. While window keeps opening, some kids try to fix it offering help if I ever needed, providing me blanket that saved my night and even leaving me one other tiny blanket when they had to get off the train. The girl that wanted to take picture with me in the train or even change my place felt me so secure keeping the thought that India has the warmest heart of its people.

Everybody wants to take picture with you in India

Oh yes, and the pictures. Everybody will ask you to take a picture with them which will make you wonder what they do with all these pictures. I guess it’s just a reaction when they see foreigners. Actually, when you get too many questions like these it starts to get annoying. Specially I experienced that in Bengal during New Year’s program in “meditation” village.

Even the Taj Mahal was very foggy that I couldn’t see anything but impressions of meeting people can sometimes be more important than seeing Taj Mahal. Of course, don’t forget the feeling that you’re in front of Taj Mahal, one and only.

“Where you’re from”- question that happens do often in India

People stoping you in front of their shops or wherever you pass is the fact non seen in the western world, actually nowhere in the world. It’s the way to accept no for an anwswer, not only for them but for you also. People can sometimes be annoying with their questions, specially when the first one is “where you from” before any introduction. Sometimes they just want to talk, to feel you friendly and these moments keep them particular in your eyes. Sometimes they want to sell you something but in fact these will be the things you’ll be grateful for as they will save your life under the hot tropic Sun. Even in dressing you will have to learn to become like the local which will help you to fill your bag easier to not become overfilled.

Regarding the question “where you from” I wish that I was from the country that’s much easier to pronounce or understand when you pronounce it. Like France or Italy that everybody knows where it is. So I decided sometimes to say that I’m from France. I even feel like that instead of telling the total history of my country from the Turchs onwards. Even if kro-ej-shia sometimes becomes the neighbour of Russia under people’s opinions. Sometimes we’re so pressed with this “where you from”, isn’t it?

Is it India so dirty?

They say that India is dirty and it is so true. But hostels I was staying are very clean and the stuff makes much effort to keep it so. Even the area around them. What I noticed is that the ecological consciousness brings it to the value of dirtiness as people keep on throwing the papers from their hands, from the windows of the train or their car.

Scams in India

Regarding the scams, I noticed once something weird. In the hostel they told me that Uber to the train station will cost me 150 rupies but instead I had to pay more than 500 rupies. Even for Uber that I understand comes to be the cheaper version of Taxi but that is too much. Even for the driver who could not speak English, what can you do about it?

In the local buses where there are too much people, even indian ladies behave careless so it is up to us all to take care first of yourself. Then you will not be lost, even if bad things happen.

Prices in India

Regarding the prices, of course India is cheap but sometimes hostels can hold western prices. Even the food, but sometimes can be pretty cheap. I used to make many indian sweets myself, so I wondered why I cannot see it in India. Finally, in Bengal I saw many of them.

Final thoughts

Don’t be afraid to go to India because it’s one and unique. Even if train distances and awkwardnesses may disturb you, always go for the better solution. Sleeping trains and buses are one of the biggest surprises, even the private buses that keep on time. Waiting in the travel agency is just what it is.

Travelling question can be for indian people the big mistery, the poor people that I met in the village of Bengal. How can they buy the flight ticket or why would they go anywhere if they would feel lonely but meeting so many international people at one place can bring the solution. Learning is the key, even if we may never experience anything else except our own.