Michele's first trip to India - part work, part exploring on my own. One quick day in Bangalore, three days in Gurgaon, an overnight to Agra and a few days in Delhi.
Posted in: India
I felt guilty, I felt bad, and I found it all very stressful. I am led into a store and the lights slowly start to be turned on, and the air conditioner goes on, and tons of people jump up and start watching my every move. Everything I touch or even pause at for a second they try to sell to me. Or sell me a better version. I can’t leave without seeing every room, every floor.
From the first day I started mentioning to people that I may be going to India, I received words of warning, caution, and looks like I must be crazy to consider going (and even more so to consider it a good thing). I was warned of the danger of traveling alone, traveling as a woman (I still feel like I’m too young to be called a woman), the water, the food, the cows in the street, etc, etc.
My first day in Delhi, I decide to set off for Khan Market, based on a recommendation from someone I met at the work meetings. I needed a plan for the afternoon on my own, with most of the historical sites saved for a planned guided tour on Monday.
Look for the one going to the Hard Rock Café when in a far away land with tons of things to see. I have a collection of Hard Rock guitar pins. It started when I was in 5th grade and I had my first guitar.
I have now witnessed a viewing of the Taj Mahal at both sunrise and sunset, and I am left wondering if I am missing something. I’m not saying that the Taj isn’t amazing and majestic, it is. But what about the sky. I was told when I first arrived in Agra and was greeted by the tour organizer that I could go see the Taj at sunset, around 7:20pm.
I set off wandering the little streets, stopping in a few shops, stopping for a beer at a place I incorrectly thought had a good view, but conveniently again had a two-for-one happy hour, and then sat down for dinner. I realized that on my vacation, on my own, with absolutely no agenda for the night, I felt rushed and worried over the taxi that I had waiting.
You know it is time to go home when…you forget your map, forget your wallet, leave your ATM card in the machine, and then leave a restaurant without your credit card. I don’t know what to blame it on, the heat, tiredness, busy schedule, or just plain carelessness.
Visiting the Gurudwara Bangla Sahib mosque in Delhi was an adventure.
Everyone has heard horror stories about all of the bad things you can catch while traveling. About all those people whose vacations are ruined by a stomach bug, yet I have always been lucky and had no issues.