India is a country like no other, surprisingly, preconceived ideas about travel in India should be forgotten, instead expect a vibrant, friendly, inspiring and memorable experience. Travel with an open mind, embrace the culture, laugh with the locals and marvel at the wildlife, it is the destination everyone should visit at least once. However, be prepared to become addicted as one holiday doesn’t do this destination justice.
Here are some lessons that I have learned whilst travelling in India, it has been a humbling experience.
Upfront Contract
There is no ‘should we or should we not tip’ decision, it is simply expected if somebody helps you out. And it doesn’t have to be much, it is simply a sign to say thank you for your help, to show your appreciation. If someone has provided you with a service, you thank them for it. Hotels, on arrival, remind you about their tipping policy, normally this is put into one tip box which is then divided up amongst all the staff. The format is universal. I found this quite liberating because everyone knew we would tip at the end so there was no worry about when to do it or not. Nothing is surreptitious over there, you simply handed money over and if you had forgotten you were reminded!
A Riot of Colour
When not on safari, colour is expected. In fact, the brighter the colours you are wearing, the better. Colour is embraced in everyday life, not only are the women wearing beautifully coloured saris, but shops were also adorned with a riot of colour, market stalls seemed to be brighter and more vibrant then usual and even the cows were painted with colour. Admittedly, we were travelling during Diwali, but I loved the sight of driving through local villages and seeing the cattle adorned with colourful handprints and bonker designs! Embrace colour, uplift your spirits.
Curiosity is the Norm
Everyone, and I mean everyone, asked us where we were from. People were direct and to the point, no social constraints about being politically correct, they were simply curious. “Where are you from?” I got asked as we all filed into the Taj Mahal, I got asked by shopkeepers, by waiters, by people passing us whilst on safari in search of tigers, I even got asked by a lady when I was standing in the queue to the restroom. I got asked too many times to count and it didn’t bother me. It was extremely refreshing. Be curious too.
Passion for Wildlife
I love the passion that the local people have for their wildlife. It was wonderful to see so many people in safari vehicles, in the National Parks and wildlife reserves of India, who were local. Tourists were in the minority. Safari jeeps were crammed with families, ranging from small children, I even saw a baby, up to elderly grandparents. There were jeeps that had been taken over by a group of young men who were obviously out on a jolly, all very passionate about what they were going to see. There were lots of keen photographers, many with huge camera lenses, all excited to see a tiger. India is a nation of budding photographers. Tigers and leopards were the most sought-after sighting, although I did spot a few bird watchers as well. It was a pleasure to see so many people who were keen and proud of their local wildlife.
Being Genuine
Wherever we went, we were genuinely welcomed with open arms. People were pleased to see us and to wave at us, say hello or even come over for a chat. Whether we were stuck in (one of the many) traffic jams in Delhi or driving back from an early morning game drive, there was always a smile and a wave to be had. Maybe it was from a family crammed into a rikshaw, or from the ladies sorting through the dried maize on the roadside, or from the hard-working locals ploughing the fields, the greeting was genuine, warm and honest.
One of the many charming examples was when we were using a small café’s restrooms, in the middle of nowhere, and we were standing outside waiting for our driver. A small bus, a couple of cars, a man selling maize from a wheelbarrow, and a number of motorbikes passed by, everyone tooting their horns and waving at us exuberantly. It’s impossible not to smile in this situation. On our second night we were invited to a wedding!
Openess and Honesty
Being genuine then went one step further with people inviting you to be part of their family photo, or taking photos of you, there was an openness in photography and videoing. It seemed acceptable to take photos or video other people. Or even ask you to be part of the family photo.
There is an unwritten trust that nothing bad will happen with those images of you. This creates a positive outlook on photography and videos, rather than it being fear based with negative assumptions. I was more than happy for people to take my photo, I’m sure there are a few random videos of me energetically waving whilst on safari in Satpura National Park.
Kindness and Caring
I was totally taken in by the kindness from all the people we met on our travels in India; from rickshaw drivers to wildlife naturalists, stall holders to artisans and shopkeepers to train ticket inspectors, everyone seemed to care for each other, whether you were a tourist or not. As we were travelling by train from Agra to Bhopal the whole carriage seemed to be invested in making sure that we all sat together. Our tickets said otherwise. This was not just for us; it was also for a local Indian family that boarded the train an hour after we had. People seemed to be happy to help out. I saw this kindness as we crammed into the Taj Mahal where people kept an eye out for the younger children in the mele and in our guides who gathered our meal leftovers at restaurants which was given to homeless people on the streets or a gate guard.
There were acts of kindness and caring every day.
I will do my best to remember these lessons from India.
