2 MONTHS TRAVELING TO INDIA
Almost 2 months traveling in India. Can't believe it, I've done it !
Here is how traveling in my road trip has been like :
Varanasi
Goa : Agonda, Palolem, Kolam, Patnem, and Benaulim beaches
Mangalore
Calicut
Fort Kochi
Munnar
Vagamon
Allepey
Varkala
Chennai
Mahabalipuram
I 'saw those cities in 2 months, these are not that much when you think about it but the country is so huge and so are the distances that I couldn't do more. And to be honest, I didn't try to rush, I just went where I felt like going to. Thing is, when you're traveling the world, it is of no use to try to see everything, what matters is to fully enjoy where you are and get the most of it.
However, there are still so many things to see, so many places to go in India, I just can't believe it. I just scratched the surface.
The shock hasn't been as hard as I thought it would be. And I really played the game, sleeping in cheap accomodations, living and spending most of my time with locals, eating only where they were eating, taking buses and trains in both AC and sleeper classes. I didn't try to be where tourists are, I live as close as I could with indians, and I enjoyed every second of this journey.
I missed the spiritual side of this country and for sure I will have to go back to try to understand it better. Now, to be honest, I didn't really try to get in touch with it. Next time I guess.
The food was great, but after almost 2 months I have to admit that I got a little bored and the very last days I used to eat mainly omelettes and fried chicken. I couldn't stand no more all the flavours, spices, sauces and gravies. Oh, btw I love all their bread ! We mainly only know nan (at least in France) but there are so many others kinds ! Roti, Parotha were so good !
It's been very hot there, especially in the south and at the end of my trip. 37° (more than 95F I guess) and with 65 to 70% of humidity. I've been able to handle the heat with just fans, but AC is really a must. Problem is that rooms with AC were triple price and I couldn't afford them.
Too bad I couldn't travel in the north. Besides Varanasi, I went nowhere. Because I've been so sick there I chose to hit Goa's beaches and keep on going south. I'm very happy I chosed to do so, but next time I will explore the north of India.
Now, I'm almost pretty sure that indians living in the north are not as friendly as the ones I've been in touch with in the south. This has been a huge surprise and a big lessons of kindness ! Indians in the south part of the country are the sweetest and friendliest people I've ever met. No kidding, it was just amazing !
I could have stayed 4 more months since my visa ends in June, but reaching almost the southest point of Kerala, I founded myself being stuck there. Going more in the south was pointless, going back to the north wasn't an option, so I decided to cross the country. Very happy about it since it allowed me to be in probably the city that I enjoyed the most : Mahabalipuram ! Net time I will go there - and I will - I will take some time to go to Pondicherry.
To be honest I found Kerala beautiful but not as much as I expected it to be. On that regard, it's been a bit of a disappointment.
The 4 best spots to me were : Varanasi, Goa, Munnar, Mahabalipuram. Calicut and Mangalore were lame, Kochi so so finally, Vagamon ok for just 1 day, and Varkala sucked. Oh, I loved Allepey, almost forgot to mention it !
India is very cheap, probably one of the cheapest country in the world (with Bangladesh I guess). I've spent less than 1500€ for those 2 months, and EVERYTHING included. Now, wherevever I will go will seems costy to me for sure.
Did I feel scared or bored or lonely or sad or whatever ? Never. This is also a big surprise. Never did I find myself alone, there was always someone to talk to and so many things to do or see !
When I look back, I just can't believe it. I read the very 1st articles of this blog, when I was still in France, about to sell my appartement, recording some vids from the garden of my father's house, and now, 2 months later, I'm here in Asia and I've just spent 2 months in India, happier than never.
2 months. Only 2 months, but such a long way has been made since the very first posts...
Now I have to move on, to keep on traveling. I have still millions of places and people to see and meet. The world is too big for me to see it all during this human life and my scope is not to see everything, but to fully enjoy every place I'll go.
Life is an incredible adventure and after all the dark hours I've been through since the death of my father, I'm grateful to be able to live this. This is only justice in my book.
Always keep faith. Even when you're hitting the ground and feel unable to stand up, as long as you can breath there is a way out.