India.
One of the first things that probably came to your mind was either Bollywood or curry. The truth is that India is about much more that just Bollywood or spicy food. I had been to this beautiful country before, in 2016, back then, the travelling time (by car) from Mumbai to Gujarat took us about 5 hours, not to mention the litter we could see in the rivers, people defecating in public and the roads were quite bumpy. However things have since changed…
This time, in 2019, it took us about 4 hours to travel from Mumbai to Gujarat, bridges have been built to reduce time, the roads were not as bumpy and everything seemed to have been cleaned, more trees, less litter and definitely not one person defecating in public. But India is about a lot more…
As we got closer to our accommodation, I noticed a place that once used to be a dumping site, now completely cleared out, it was now a little garden for the community.
As we passed the train station there was a board stating you could now get free Wi-Fi at the station, not just that, but it seems like this train station was recently renovated, there were now toilets for men and women, I remember when I had come to this station in 2016, there were no clear signs for toilets and the station did not have any benches for people to sit on, however, it seems India has changed for the better.
While in India, there are many places to visit, the most notorious is the Taj Mahal, a symbol of love. However, India is filled with palaces, we went to a few in the city of Jaipur, also known as The Pink City, mainly because there is a street where the buildings are all painted in pink, which also happens to be my favorite color.
In Jaipur, you can go to many palaces, one is also situated in the middle of a lake. It’s also a great place to try new cuisines and do some shopping, but be sure to have some bargaining skills in tact. Hire a local guide, and get lost in the Pink City.
Another beautiful place was Mumbai, the hustle and bustle of the city really made me feel at home, yes I’m a city girl. While in Mumbai, we had the opportunity of eating our first Masala Dosa, and until today, I cannot stop thinking about that delicious meal. It’s a roti kind of wrap which was filled with potatoes that were glazed with amazing spices and flavors.
So if you’re young, grab your passport, your closest friend and start your travel journey with India. Great cuisine, friendly people and good vibes. Just brush up on your bargaining skills and cash in on those great deals! Budget friendly hotel deals are available, as well as cheap flights. But before you go, make sure you have followed all the Covid protocols, wear a mask at all time, sanitize and keep those social distancing skills in mind.