Comments on: Is India in Your Future? Even if it’s Not…

By: marina k. villatoro

marina k. villatoro — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 14:27:06 +0000

india is soooo in my blood. I have wanted to go to India since like forever! But now that I have a little son, I know it’s best for us to wait until he fully enjoy it all!!! Cause, its a lot. Thanks for stopping by my blog. You know what i’ve realized, you can have a bunch of great and amazing people around you. but wait until something really serious happens and then you know who your real freinds are. i had that happen to me last year, and i really learned who my friends were. and it was great to see, that I did have close people around me in a strange land!
ciao for now
The Travel Expert(a) and an Expat with a Twist

By: Ivar Dahl Larsen

Ivar Dahl Larsen — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 11:03:56 +0000

Hello out there, just came back from India after 2 months of roaming the country. From Pondicherry in the south-east to Darjeeling in the north-east, as well as many huge cities and many states. From travelling with toock-toocks, ( auto rickshaws ), trains, buses and even planes. From walking about through all walks of life, mainly poverty that hardly anyone speaks of or show. ( I am a photographer ). Which is all around you unless you are shortsighted. A poverty no one can be prepared for. A poverty that brings tears to your eyes and lumps in your throat, which you can do nothing to improve upon for those engulfed in it. Lack of hygiene as some describe as charming scents and odors. Aproximately one billion people, where as 77 % of this population live in poverty. Thank God it is fairly warm in India. Holy towns and temples where the latter are money-making machines again exploiting the poor. The ones who unfortunately are steady in their religious beliefs, share their hard earned money with the temples. The ones who have a little education and knowledge do not do that. Temples that are a sight to see from outside and mostly pretty filthy inside. Holy cows and cities, both in pretty bad conditions mostly, towns and streets where men pee and shit all over, ( pardon me for my language ). Where women do most of the hard work and absolutely all the bad work although decent, that no man wants. People of India you shall find in all categories as well as anywhere else. Yes they are friendly, hospitable and kind, but they also have to fight for their existence. We, my wife and I, ( my wife’s forefathers come from India ), had an unbelievable time, incredible as the commercial say. In every meaning of the word. Plenty of sights to see, many funny incidents, plenty of laughter and smiles. Many lovely places, also places and cities that were fairly clean, especially in the north. Yes, go to India, keep an open mind, please do not be blind. You’ll learn alot, also to appreciate your own country. We learned a lot, rounding 60 this month, I hope I am still learning. I humbly hope that I have not discouraged anybody from going to a land of diversity, wonderful places and sceneries, but it has it’s downsides. Take care!

By: Robbie

Robbie — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 19:11:34 +0000

India’s fantastic I spent eight months there a few years ago, and it was the greatest education I’ve ever received. You really have to go for a long time to fully appreciate it, though. I wish I’d stayed longer, and I hope to return. As a woman, I felt safe the 99% of the time. India is so crowded and so public that your safety is rarely an issue. If you treat everyone with respect, even someone who is harassing you, you’ll have no problems. If you feel the pull (and for most who go, that’s just how it feels, like a tug drawing you to it), go.

By: theprofessionalhobo

theprofessionalhobo — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 04:16:06 +0000

Ha Ha – Okay, Amanda. You’ve convinced me. For the book if not for anything else(!), I’ll come visit you in Perth! Sometime soon…..(smiles, wink wink)

By: Amanda

Amanda — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 10:49:54 +0000

India’s weird like that, I still have never been but have also heard from so many “converts” … Have you read Holy Cow by Sarah Macdonald? Aussie journo (hmm, from Triple J perhaps?) who spent some time there exploring religions and general life, funny and interesting. Now if only you’d come to Perth I could’ve lent it to you