The Adventures of Julie: May 2011

Monday, May 30, 2011

Oh India!

India has been described to me in many ways, one traveller compared it to an abusive relationship, "it beats the crap out of you, but then turns around and gives you something amazing." And "India takes before it gives."

As an "experienced" traveller of 53 countries, I approached India with a bit of smugness, yes, I had heard all those stories from other travellers, but I could handle anything India threw my way. No problem.

As I stepped out of the subway on my first day, into the blinding, melting, soul killing heat amidst the cacophony of horns (apparently no one in India is capable of driving more then a few km without pounding on the horn incessently), and the rank stench of piss and trash, looking around in confusion, unsure of where I was or where I needed to go, I realized that India had just knocked that smug grin off my face and I could definitely hear the faint chuckle of laughter.

What has followed has been four of the hardest, most challenging days of travel as I saw a few sites, Red Fort, Humayan's Tomb, before crawling back to my couchsurf exhausted mentally and physically. And yet in the midst of it, it is INDIA! The food - buttery nan, thick, creamy curries, cool, delicious lassies, samosas, paneer pakora, masala dosa, ahhhh!!! And the people, everyone has been so helpful and my couchsurf amazing - he had a cook that brought me chai every morning!

Yesterday I boarded a bus and spent ten hours,climbing higher and higher into the mountains, literally clinging to the side of cliffs on this crazy bus to arrive in Shimla (note the great pic Jen snapped of me on the bus to truly appreciate the trip), in the blessedly cool magical hill country. Perched high above the world, I can see the spires of the local church, green trees interspersed with houses clinging to the side of the mountain and monkeys playing on roofs. And tomorrow off on a five day jeep tour with Jen, my roommate in Taiwan, through the Himalayan mountains.

For better or worse, this is India. Crazy, loud, dirty, magical, impossible, frustrating, amazing, gorgeous, hot, delicious, maddening, exhausting, unbelievable, unique.