I stepped off the plane as a weary traveler and immediately fell in love. I fell in love with India. The sights, sounds, smells, feel, and tastes are all woven together into something beautiful and vibrant. They say that first impressions are everything, and I know that I will always cherish my first impression (or what I like to call "my first date") of India.
The sights. India is a place filled with the brightest colors imagineable. Everywhere you look colors are popping, whether it's the purples, blues, and greens of the saris that flood the streets or the reds, yellows, oranges of spices being sold in a back alley shop. It is easy to get distracted. I got to see so much of India out of the window of the train I was on for 41 hours. One glance out the window I would see untamed land with plenty of roaming cattle. Another glance would show me a bustling city.
The sounds. At first, India sounds like pure chaos. Horns honking as cars go speeding past in all directions. Street vendors clanging, banging, tooting on whatever instrument they are trying to sell. Indian music blasting from shops. You quickly realize that there is a rhythm to the madness. A rhythm that almost makes it own song.
The smells. The air is filled with smells of curry, spices, sweat and stale garbage. At times the smell can be overpowering. Not so much the curry, but the stale garbage. India would not be complete without each of these smells though.
The tastes. I can not get enough of the food here. Each bite brings an abundance of flavors and spices. It's like having a firework go off in your mouth. Even the simplest of meals like chicken curry, dal, and garlic naan never gets boring.
The feel. India feels like sweat-drenched clothes against your skin. The humidity is so intense. One bus driving past on the dirt road gives you the feel of gritty dirt against the sweat.
My love for India grew even moreso on the train ride from New Delhi to Bangalore. I thought the 41 hour train ride would be my undoing. I couldn't imagine how I'd survive such an endeavor. It ended up being such a sweet time though, taking in what a blessing it is to be here…in INDIA! I realized too that if I were to not survive the train ride, it'd be from a squatty potty mishap rather than losing my sanity. Try peeing on a rickety train over a hole that exposes the ground moving quickly below you and you'll understand what I'm talking about.
As with any new place, there is much to learn and get accustomed to. Like DON'T use your left hand to eat! I've already failed miserably at this – especially when I spent a good 20 seconds licking peanut butter off my left hand. I've since learned how to tear pieces of naan/chapatti and scoop up delicious chicken curry with just my right hand.
I am enjoying falling more and more in love with India each day. The people here help with that too. I am constantly greeted with smiles and hellos from people on the street. India is so relational-based that it just makes sense for strangers to walk with you down the street and have a conversation. I get a good laugh during such conversations as Indians do a funny bobble-head thing when they talk. I'm praying I don't pick it up while I'm here!
I feel like one month is not enough time to spend here. That is all I have though, so I plan on making the most of it.
