Only in India | Meganotravels
Author: http://www.facebook.com/meganotravels1
Description: I have never been as scared to travel to a country as I was to go to India. I read every single horror story I could get my hands on before leaving–I read about acid attacks, rapes, muggings, hotel break-ins–whatever I could find, I consumed. I hate how I feed into things like that, but
Date: 2015-05-08T13:00:49+00:00

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#### INDIA

# Only in India

I have never been as scared to travel to a country as I was to go to India. I read every single horror story I could get my hands on before leaving–I read about acid attacks, rapes, muggings, hotel break-ins–whatever I could find, I consumed. I hate how I feed into things like that, but I absolutely do. While I never believe an entire country is the sum total of what its horrible people do, I still like to be informed. And in this case, I’m glad I did. It totally worked in my favor because I ended up having one of the best experiences of my entire life!

Before leaving, all I could think about was my time in Morocco and how that had been such a hard experience for me–the noise, the smells, the people in my face, the scams, everything. And I was dreading the exponential degree to which I’d face all of those things in India. I had severe anxiety about it, but knew it was still something I had to do. In talking to an Indian friend about my fears, he said, “let go and let India happen to you.” As difficult as that is for me to do, it’s exactly what I did. I let India sink deep into my bones. I lived by the motto, “que sera, sera” (“whatever will be, will be”).

By embracing India and all its faults and many things I would have ordinarily hated (incessant honking, insane traffic patterns, pushy touts), I left there absolutely in love with a nation I was scared I’d despise because of culture shock. The colors were more vibrant and beautiful than I’d expected; the people (children, especially) more friendly and helpful; the food more flavorful than I’d ever tasted; and the chai–just the right amount of spice to sweet.

Each city I visited was more insane than the last–from Delhi to Jaipur to Agra to Varanasi. I was grateful for the small village reprieves in between and the ability to communicate with locals–those are memories I will forever cherish. The simplicity of how they lived versus the chaos of big-city living was absolute perfection. And the children were running after yelling “Hello, friend!” and “One photo! One photo!” I was blown away by their unbridled curiosity and questions, “What’s your name? Where are you from? How old are you? Are you married?” And I loved their giggles and excitement when I’d just take a second to acknowledge them and spend a moment in time with them.

I was also shocked and saddened by many things I saw and had never encountered in such magnitude before: the garbage and filth everywhere–just piles upon piles and people throwing more in the streets and waterways at every corner; the number of physically disabled people and the level of which they were disabled–legs, which were completely mangled, forcing people to drag themselves by their hands or roll on makeshift skateboards; and the poverty, just devastating–I was grateful to have sunglasses on while passing a slum at one point on the journey because I just started crying at the living conditions. These are things which made want to change the world they live in, help their country change, but ultimately left me feeling utterly helpless.

It’s hard to sum up an entire trip and every emotion I felt in just a few words. I will end this by simply saying: India is incredible. I’ve come across so many people who have no desire to visit and all I can say now having been is they’re missing out. It was hands-down one of the most musical, chaotic, colorful, cacophonous, and inspirational places I’ve ever been. And in the two weeks since I’ve been home, I’ve felt this hole where India lived while I was traveling there–and I can’t wait to get back there and explore even more. Curiosity has long been one of my biggest motivators, and I feel like I could spend an entire lifetime asking questions and learning about India and not get bored.

I hope you look forward to more posts with stories about my travels through India. I can’t wait to share them. For now, a small video summing up my time there:

### Author: Megan

Megan is an ordinary girl who outgrew her small town and decided to try the world on for size. She's on a mission to travel, photograph, and write about the world.

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- Nice post. Did you go solo? I’m doing my first solo trip around the world trip this year. I left India off because of all the fears you listed. I think I will save it for when a friend can join me. Great video! Love all the music.

  Reply

- Great post. TFS!

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- Great post, Megan. I am glad you visited India despite all your fears. And I agree about what you said about Morocco. Not everyone but majority of the people there made it a “difficult experience “. I just spent a month in Rishikesh, India for Holi and the International yoga festival and it is difficult to fill the hole it left behind. I went to Turkey, England and am in Paris right now and although I am enjoying the trip it is not enough to fill the hole. India, even though I complain quite a bit about the roads, garbage, honking, etc I can’t stay away and will be back soon.

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- Lovely post. These are the things that I see every single day in Mumbai: some days I am immune to it (it’s the only way to survive living in Mumbai), and other days I feel so utterly, utterly helpless. Travelling in India certainly makes you see things from a different perspective, doesn’t it?
  RunawayBrit recently posted..Summer’s Coming, and I’m Going to Europe!

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- This is a great post – I am glad you went anyway, but I do think being informed before you go is the responsible way to travel so I’m glad you read up! I have never been to India but I can imagine it must be a very different experience. Loved the video!
  Rika | Cubicle Throwdown recently posted..Planning a Dive Vacation in Lanzarote

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- I think I would have the same anxiety about a trip to India. It’s one place that I’m curious about but would definitely want to explore with a tour group for the first time. I think it would be completely overwhelming otherwise.
  Melissa | Suitcase and Heels recently posted..A CFA’s Guide to Newfoundland Slang

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- Nice post! I was just in India about 6 weeks ago. I agree that India is difficult to sum up in one post or in one trip. It was definitely overwhelming and life changing. I always love hearing about people’s experience in India. Thanks for sharing. If you want to read about my experience, there’s a link below. Cheers and safe travels!
  Wayne Seto recently posted..How India Challenged Me And Rebuilt Me.

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- Love your recount Megan because I felt similar! I advise all to travel to India, to see beauty, friendly folks, and yes, to bring up all that stuff we hold on to, in relation to poverty, tough to embrace defomities and the like.

  I grew like a weed in India because I exposed myself to a world I saw NOT before, first hand, and it softened my heart and increased my compassion. Crazy, intense place, that’ll help one judge less, and observe more.

  Ryan
  Ryan Biddulph recently posted..2 Reasons Why I Retired to Paradise (1080 HD Video in Bali)

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- Great post. You described India well. (And it’s so true about the chai–just the right spice to sweet.) Even with all its chaos, poverty, etc., I loved India when I went. It truly is a feast for the senses, and you do open your eyes and your world when you are there. Sometimes we don’t realize what life is like beyond our own borders.

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### Who is Meganotravels?

Hey, I’m Megan! I’m a full-time consultant and run
a non-profit on the side. And when I’m not doing those
things—I’m traveling! I’m on a mission to travel,
photograph, and write about the world.

Hope you’ll follow along!

### What is “Megano?”

An “Italian” name (rhymes with “Figaro”) given to me
by a friend before I studied abroad in Rome. I had to be
more Italian, you see. It’s stuck ever since.

### Follow on Instagram

### meganotravels

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