Mehmeh's reflections after 8 weeks in India - 10 May

A day or two after we arrived in Amsterdam, I asked Zanne, “Hey, do you think we need to bring a torchlight out?” She laughed at us! Afterall, we have not got used to living a day without torchlight as blackout was part of our daily life in India.

A fellow traveller who spent a year in India shared that one has to open his/her heart to India and she will embrace you. She was complaining about another traveller who lamented about the heat, filth and people. 

After hearing all the different stories of India, I have to say Jeff and I prepared very well mentally. Most of the things we had encountered, seen or do were well within or above our expectations. I guess that made us enjoyed India and happy with the little bonuses and surprises we receive daily… 

When….
-    our trains got delayed… we laughed and sat with the locals talking about Indian time..
-    our transportation tyre punctured, “how fun and interesting to see how resources are utilised”
-    we were turned away at the guest house though we have a booking at midnight, “gives us a chance to find a better accommodation!”,
-    we were caught in traffic jams “wow..time to take more pictures”
-    lost our things, “hey, we should start making a list of the things we have lost to see who has the longest list…”

Things we love about India
1)    The people – warm, helpful, friendly, humble and genuine, hardly complaining, super flexible...

2)    Always ‘try’ spirit. Red light, “it’s ok, I can still try to inch forward if there are no cars..”

With pictorial evidence…

3)    Missed a turn/entrance, reverse or turn and drive against the traffic!

(we even have a video of how a car just reversed his way backwards on a busy road cos he missed a turn on the slip road!) 

4)    When nothing is ever too full and the just Try attitude!

5)    Preferential rate for locals: Local pays only one-tenth the price tourists pay!

6)    Most places have guidelines on rates to prevent tout

7)    Always happy to share

1 man was buying something, within minutes, other locals started crowding to check out what’s happening.

On another occasion, we saw a big grp of pple outside a restaurant N asked the policeman what was going on. He readily shared the information!

8)    There is always a pail and stool in every bathroom (which reminded me of kampong days and bathing with pail!) Useful for me to wash clothes too!

9)    Friendly locals who are always ready to help. You asked 1 for directions, then everyone around chips in to help!

10)    Snacks are always displayed like decoration along the roads! How can one resist not buying?!

11)    Maximum retail price on almost everything! So it’s the same price in supermarket and even touristy places!

There are just too many things to love about India! We had planned to stay in India for 6 weeks…then it became 7…and finally 8 weeks. 

There were days when things were rough but we survived. There were days we looked into children’s eyes and felt helpless towards them. There were days we are glad that we had come to India and how she has opened our eyes to a different world. There were days that we were amazed by the survival skills of the local.  There were days we are thankful how much we have back home and counted our blessings.

I hoped to be back someday… to see the places we did not get to go….to show our children how fortunate they are…to be able to contribute a little to the country…hope it won’t be too long the wait!