Incredible India – a dream realized
This guest post comes from Christine Alestra, our Director of Partnership Marketing.
I finally made it to India!
Seeing the Taj Mahal had been on my wish list for years and now having traveled there, I can say that India is one of those destinations you have to experience for yourself to even begin to understand how a country of 1.2 billion people actually works. And certainly one short trip only just begins to make you aware of some aspects of their culture.
In short, here’s a few observations. Most importantly, the people of India are among the kindest, friendliest people I’ve met in my 16 years of traveling.
Traveling like a Rock Star.
With the exception of the people who live in the major cities, most Indians have rarely seen a Westerner. Children and adults would wave to us as we passed along in our motorcoach. Our tour manager told us that sometimes, because Westerners are a rare sighting, an Indian, or more typically a family, may ask to take their photo with you.
Sure enough, I felt like a celebrity on one day when we went to visit Rajghatin – a popular tourist attraction – and the memorial garden of Mahatma Gandhi located in Delhi. As I walked along in the beautiful park setting, I got stopped by a family with two small children asking if they could take a photo with me. Before I knew it there was a group gathering to also have a photo with me. Couples, children, teens, large families. I stood in one place for about 15 minutes all the while laughing inside and getting a real sense of what a celebrity must feel like when they head out in public. They were very gracious in thanking me for the photo op.
Other encounters with locals were equally as pleasant. A store owner in the local market offering a fellow passenger a stool to sit on as he looked obviously exhausted from a day of touring. A family who hosted a meal for us in their home and shared with us their life in India. The rickshaw drivers who were eager to show us around for just a few dollars giving us a closer look at the outdoor produce markets where the locals shop.
So many incredible moments.
When we visited the residents at the Mother Teresa’s Charity Home, I was so touched by the care and the compassion of the staff towards especially the children. One little boy loved having me take his photo and showing him. His bright-eyed curiosity reminded me of my own 2 year old.
I think the kindness stems from the fact that India is a very spiritual place.
There are a variety of different faiths that permeate the culture and their religious structures and massive statues dot the landscape.
Before I left for India, I had heard from others that India can overwhelm your senses with the smells, sights and masses of people. So I braced myself.
But in my personal experience of being on a tour, I found India to be a dichotomy of contrasts… a colorful mixture of busy cities and wide open countrysides; beggars and women adorned in the most beautiful saris in bright pastels; spacious western-style hotels and small huts along the road made out of anything which could protect from the elements; tigers in the nature preserve in Ranthambore and cows walking down a busy street in Agra.
Tigers and the Taj Mahal.
A highlight for me also included watching a massive tiger pass within 15 feet of our open air jeep in Ranthambore. After watching this beast sit behind a tree 100 yards a way for about 10 minutes and then saunter to a watering hole 30 feet away, I was awestruck and physically shaking when this incredibly large cat walked past us as he headed to a dark cave for an afternoon nap.
I was shaking not out of fear but out of disbelief in what I was getting to witness. Second to this experience was watching the first rays of the sun strike the white marble structure known as the Taj Mahal. It was one of those moments where I had to pinch myself.
India is not for the weak of heart, spirit or physical ability. It can get warm. There’s a lot of walking to experience the sites. You can get jostled about when riding in the open air vehicles on a game drive – but that adds to the adventure. And you can never, ever drink the local water, though bottled water is always available.
For those of you who have been to India, what are your observations? Would you consider going back? Is it anyone else’s dream destination?
posted by Guest Blogger
Collette Vacations
Tags: Arts and Culture, Collette, Collette Vacations, Destination Spotlight, Dream Destination, Escorted Tours, India, Taj Mahal
