From the start of our travels, India's been at the top of my travel hit list - I've been so excited to experience the food, music, history, colors and everything else you read about and see in the movies! However throughout the past year, I've been warned over and over again by other travelers (and Ryan, who's been to North India before) that India can be a pretty challenging place to travel...it's noisy and hectic, and sometimes a little stinky...so I tried to mentally prepare myself before coming here.
Having been here for a few weeks now, I've realized that it's all true...yes, it's chaotic, but it's such an exciting place and is totally manageable. That could be because we've been on the road for nine months now and our perspective of "chaos" has changed, but I think it's also because we stayed with our good friends Rob and Ishan while we were in Mumbai for the first week here, and it makes all the difference having a friend show you the ropes of a new place..especially here in India. Also, never underestimate the power of expectations!
Chaats and Chai with friends in Mumbai
After Mumbai we decided to travel through South India for the rest of our time here. We've been traveling by train, which has been an interesting experience to say the least (look out for more on this in a future post, coming soon). The first place we visited on our trip through the South was Goa...a tiny state on the West coast of India better known for their beach parties and trance music than quiet, open sand. Ryan and I were a little hesitant to come here since we just went to amazing beaches in Thailand, and because other travelers said it wasn't that great, but we needed to break up the train journey from Mumbai to Kerala, so we decided to stay for a few nights. We headed for Mandrem beach in the far North, a massive, windy, quiet stretch of Goa. Yoga and good food were everywhere in this relaxing little town, and we wish we could have stayed longer!
We've been in India now for almost three weeks, and I've realized that the culture and history of this huge country is nowhere near as simple as I initially thought. Goa, as it turns out, gained it's independence from Portugal as late as 1961...I had no idea! Portuguese influence is all over the place here, from the food, to the numerous whitewashed Catholic churches, Mediterranean-style houses and tile, and many last names and signs written in Portuguese. We were pleasantly surprised by Goa, and it confirms our theory that you should always check things out for yourself before you write it off.
Having been here for a few weeks now, I've realized that it's all true...yes, it's chaotic, but it's such an exciting place and is totally manageable. That could be because we've been on the road for nine months now and our perspective of "chaos" has changed, but I think it's also because we stayed with our good friends Rob and Ishan while we were in Mumbai for the first week here, and it makes all the difference having a friend show you the ropes of a new place..especially here in India. Also, never underestimate the power of expectations!
After Mumbai we decided to travel through South India for the rest of our time here. We've been traveling by train, which has been an interesting experience to say the least (look out for more on this in a future post, coming soon). The first place we visited on our trip through the South was Goa...a tiny state on the West coast of India better known for their beach parties and trance music than quiet, open sand. Ryan and I were a little hesitant to come here since we just went to amazing beaches in Thailand, and because other travelers said it wasn't that great, but we needed to break up the train journey from Mumbai to Kerala, so we decided to stay for a few nights. We headed for Mandrem beach in the far North, a massive, windy, quiet stretch of Goa. Yoga and good food were everywhere in this relaxing little town, and we wish we could have stayed longer!
We've been in India now for almost three weeks, and I've realized that the culture and history of this huge country is nowhere near as simple as I initially thought. Goa, as it turns out, gained it's independence from Portugal as late as 1961...I had no idea! Portuguese influence is all over the place here, from the food, to the numerous whitewashed Catholic churches, Mediterranean-style houses and tile, and many last names and signs written in Portuguese. We were pleasantly surprised by Goa, and it confirms our theory that you should always check things out for yourself before you write it off.
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