23/12/2022
INCREDIBLE INDIA
A personal testimony by Sharon Elliott on our August 2017 Rajasthan tour.
For many years Naydene had spoken about her love for India. One of her favourite expressions is: " If you cant look past the poverty and filth in India, then dont go, but if you can...India has sooooo much more to offer". So when she asked me if I would like to go to India with her, I certainly had mixed feelings!!!!!
As a travel destination, India was not on my "Bucket list" or any other list, for that matter!!!! But being an adventurous 67 year old and deciding to throw caution to the wind, I agreed to the experience. And what an experience it was!!!! "EXHILIRATING" is my favourite answer, when questioned about the trip.
Once I had aclimatized, first to the weather (having just come out of winter, and arrived into a hot and humid summer of Mumbai) and then to the squalor, poverty and busy-ness....it truly was a wonderful experience.
Our days were so full, not a boring moment...the sights, sounds, food, culture were all so delightfully different to back home.
Our visits to clothing or fabric stores was one of the highlights. The beauty of the clothing and fabrics were an eye balm to a seamstress's eyes...too exquisite, and where to begin. The Indian people are so hospitable and friendly.
We enjoyed different restaurants..the food is delicious....lunch was usually fruit from the fruit sellers with bananas, pomegranates and coconuts as our staples.
The roads were an experience...Hooters are the country's national anthem, I think. NO road rage, cattles on the road everywhere..one simply slows down and drives past the beast/s. I felt safer on the roads there, than back on the crazy highways in South Africa.
With the favourite Indian expression, " Anything is possible, madam ji, ringing in my ears, I would not hesitate to go again, given the opportunity.
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