My Incredible Adventure to Incredible India

Backpacking in India? Going solo? Isn’t it dangerous?

Those were the common questions and reactions I received when people around me knew I was going to India alone.

Fraught with dangers as it may be, India has always had a certain allurement in my eyes. Gaining insights into its history, architecture, culture, and way of life was too good an opportunity to pass on.

Therefore, in 2011, with a small budget on hand, I bought a ticket and embarked on this uncertainty-filled adventure. And one thing for sure, I never regretted that decision.

My Thrilling Moments:

🤣 Walking side-by-side with street animals

🤣 Chasing men for 💲💲💲 when they took my photos

🤣 Exploring the magnificent palaces and forts

🤣 Witnessing countless beautiful sunrise and sunset

🤣 Meeting and making many new friends

My Dreadful Moments:

🤨 Handling many dubious characters who kept approaching me

🤨 Experiencing tons of blackouts and no water supply which equated to NO shower for days

🤨 Negotiating prices on everything with the men and joining in their bullshit

🤨 Wearing the same filthy jacket throughout the journey

🤨 Sleeping on dirty and sometimes smoky bed sheets and blankets

When I first arrived at the New Delhi Airport, I thought to myself…this place looks nice…so clean and modern. How bad can things be?

Well, it was not until I alighted at the street where my guesthouse was. I thought I was supposed to live in a famous street but was rudely corrected when I ended up in a dimly lit alley full of trash. To make matters worse, a huge cow greeted me the moment I got off the taxi. Great 🙄.

I took the train to Agra the next morning at 06:05. The good thing was the train ran like clockwork. But to my horror, no announcement was made for each stop. Hence, I had to stay alert and figure out when to get off!

I was surprised to be served breakfast and was informed by the train conductor that it was included because I was on a “good train”. In all honesty, and with no ill-intentions intended, the brown bread was one of the worst I ever had in my entire life. The texture was like chewing rubber, and the cutlet wasn’t any better, as it was rather soggy.

I arrived in Agra and explored the historical Agra Fort, as well as other grand monuments in this city.

Well-known across the world for its historical value, love tale, and stunning beauty, I was so thrilled to see the Taj Mahal in front of me! Seeing it in real life, I was in awe at its splendor. It indisputably qualifies to be one of the seven wonders of the world.

Did you realize my photos look “foggy”? That’s because they were taken during wintertime and also before the sunrise. I thought the fog added some mystical feel to it.

Next, I explored Rajasthan by heading to Jaipur – the gateway to the Land of Kings.

This was probably not only the nicest room I had in my entire trip, but also the most expensive one, at 1000 Indian Rupees per night.

I spent a day wandering around Amber Fort and was fascinated with its blend of Hindu and Muslim architecture. I enjoyed the refreshing change of fresh air, far away from the polluted streets.

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Did you remember that I mentioned walking alongside with the street animals? Fun fact, you can tell the presence of street animals from the distinctive smell of their feces, which littered the streets. It was a minefield; one misstep could cost me my footwear.

Apart from those “landmines”, I had to be especially vigilant of motorcycles riding past, and any men of ill-intent who sometimes approach too close for comfort.

One of the main highlights of this journey was the overnight camel safari at Jaisalmer. Ironically, I wasn’t looking forward to it. As I was not much of an animal person, I dreaded the thought of riding a camel.

The actual riding was rather torturous, having to endure being on the camel for hours. It’s hard to describe, but it felt like I was doing jumping jacks whenever the camel moved too fast.

Besides my new two-humped friend, I was also blessed with good company. Three other friends traveled with me, and we enjoyed each other’s company under the relentless midday sun, as well as beneath the stars during the cool night.

After a week in Jaisalmer, I set off to Jodhpur – The Blue City.

It was impressive to see that most of the buildings were in blue. And when the sun shone on the city, I was dazzled by the view.

Next, I traveled to Udaipur – The Romantic City

This is my most favorite city in Rajasthan! It was such a quiet and peaceful place to chill and relax. The sunset was amazing as well. I wished I had spent more time here, although I’m sure I will be back someday.

Oh yeah, before continuing, I need to introduce my “other half”. This was my new backpack, and he weighed almost 12kg throughout my trip!

Being a clean freak, I lugged along rolls of toilet paper, and they came in very handy.

One boring trip I had was to Chittorgarh. I thought I should visit as some travel guides had described it as a must-see place. The surroundings were pretty quiet, with some local men sitting around and almost no tourists in sight.

However, there were many monkeys seen wandering around.

The final part of my adventure was to Varanasi. It was a 13-hour train ride from New Delhi, and I met two cute Danish guys who decided to travel along with me.

I love to watch documentary shows about the Ganges, India’s holiest and most polluted river. But nothing beats being there to witness everything that was going on. For example, it was quite an eye-opening experience to observe people showering and immersing themselves in the heavily polluted water.

In the evening, both locals and tourists gathered to watch the daily Ganga Aarti Ceremony, a ritual of offering prayer to the Ganges river.

Since it was the last leg of my journey, I decided to pamper myself by taking the First AC Sleeper Class train. Honestly, I hated myself for that. I thought I would have some privacy, but it turned out to be a small enclosed cabin for four passengers.

Can you imagine how it was like to be surrounded by three men who wouldn’t stop staring at me? I had to hold back myself from lashing out at them.

After spending a few more days in Delhi, I was certainly ready to return home. I had my last “hearty meal”, and it was time to set off!

To save on my last night’s accommodation, I slept overnight at the airport as I had an early flight home the next day. I took the Metro to the airport and was pleasantly surprised at how clean and comfortable the train was.

Goodbye Incredible India! This vast empire had some of the strangest and unfamiliar sights I have ever seen and provided me with one of the most unbelievable travel experiences in my life. It was here where I learned how to survive better than ever.