Embracing India: Reflecting on My First Days

Safely ensconced in a car, with a driver and guide, a glass screen dividing me and the world, I traverse the city of Delhi, my jumping-off point for my tour of India. I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed, less by the volume of traffic, than by the seemingly lack of any rules. Three-lane roads seem to hold seven or eight vehicles. Motorcycles and tuktuks compete to squeeze through the smallest of gaps. Every movement is accompanied by the blaring of horns. Thankfully, my driver is unperturbed by this apparent chaos.

And so I arrive in India. I’m excited to be here, exhausted by my journey and nervous about navigating a culture so different to my own. I’ve taken the easier route by having a custom tour, but have built in days off, so I can write and work up to feeling confident to explore this country on my own.

Today is day 5, (though day 1 was mostly taken up with travel and jet lag). During days 2-4 I have been accompanied by my guide and driver and have learned so much about the history, religions, caste systems and political situation in India as we visited some of the main tourist sites in the city. I’ve loved Humayan’s Tomb, Qutub Minar and the Lotus Temple. I’ve tasted incredible food. I’ve enjoyed fabulous stories of a long history of invasion and changing cultures tied up with the stunning architechture. The choice between red sandstone and white marble is so much more than an aesthetic choice – who knew?!

Today is my 1st day to spread my wings alone.

Planning & Expectations

As we sit at home and dream and plan our trips abroad, we feel excitement to see the sights and experience the cultures we’ve read about in blogs and watched in vlogs. The writers are all having the ‘best time ever,’ and we yearn to join them. We see ourselves in their shoes. We see ourselves as successful travelers, making friends and posting Instagram posts to inspire others.

Adjusting to India

A bit of a culture shock

What we don’t see or hear people often talking about that uncomfortable adjustment period. I’m not ashamed to say that I am in an adjustment period. I’m fascinated by India, but I’m not comfortable here yet. I’m enjoying my trip so far, but I’m not loving India yet.

I find the cacophony of noise harsh against my country girl ears. It’s not just the sound of the blaring of horns, but the fact that they NEVER STOP! I’ve discovered that I need to combine the loud, busy tourist sites with walks in the gardens, where birdsong and trees soothe my country soul and to rebalance my equilibrium.

India: A Male Dominated Society

I’m struggling with how ‘male’ Delhi is. Men are everywhere. Which would be fine if their presence was balanced out by an equal number of women. But it’s not and it’s a very strange feeling. Men are in charge of all the roadside stalls, all the market stalls, all the shops, driving all the cars and tuktuks, motorbikes and scooters. So far I’ve seen one lady managing a spice stall and one young woman working in my local coffee shop. It’s a bit disconcerting; I don’t think I could have envisaged that. It’s one thing to know something logically and another to experience it emotionally.

Why is it so dusty?

I’m confused by how dusty it is; I can feel it in the back of my throat as I breathe. Or maybe that’s the smog? Whatever… There is so much greenery – trees and plants, many more than I expected in such a massive city (28 million my guide tells me!) but they are all covered in a thick coating of dust. Why should this bother me? I think it’s just that it’s another example that tells me I’m not at home. And while that’s a good thing, and absolutely what I wanted, it’s also a reminder that I’m not at home and that’s challenging.

Be Brave

And so today was my first chance to venture out alone. I’ve contemplated visiting The Red Fort, or The National Museum, or a famous Hindu Temple. I’ve researched how to get there, entrance prices and how to get there. My guide advised me to use Uber which seemed managable and familiar. And do you know what I’ve done? Where I’ve been? I’m feeling proud of myself.

Today I found and used an ATM machine and went into a shop and bought some envelopes!! I’m now comfortably sat in a branch of Third Wave Coffee – a chain that is reminiscent of coffee shops back home. I can buy my favourite iced vanilla latte with oat milk, sit and use my laptop and wifi and feel totally comfortable.

And maybe that is enough. For today.

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Read more of my adventures: https://travelingerelax.com/india-tour-day-1-finding-a-moment-of-peace-and-connection-in-delhi/

Explore my travel guides: https://travelingerelax.com/why-visit-india/