I survived India! Here's how:
- I never had digestive problems (unlike 95% of the other volunteers).
- I was never molested.
- I never got hit by a vehicle (at least one other volunteer got hit by a motorbike).
- I never got anything stolen (lets see: Kristen got her purse slashed, Alex got her camera stolen out of her hand, Annelie got her entire purse swiped on a train, Helen got Rs 2000 stolen out of her bag at her NGO).
But I took some major risks, including:
- Skipping my Malaria pills for weeks at a time.
- Going in the Ganges river.
- Going on an Indian Ferris Wheel
- Being in Old Delhi at night.
- Eating street food once or twice.
- Sipping local water once.
- Trekking without a guide.
- Sleeping in the dead cold of the Himalayas with snow leopards nearby.
but I admit:
- I did get bit by a dog on a railway platform (it didn't break the skin).
- I almost got head-butted by a cow (in the behind) in Pushkar.
- My purse got pulled away from me once or twice (but was around my body, so actually never got taken).
- I got two colds.
- I got ripped off more than three or four times.
- I had to jump out of the way of a cycle rickshaw more than 4 or 5 times.
Erindia
hi i saw your photos on facebook and then a link to this blog you have me worried now about going to india it doesnt sound too safe and im a small young lady lol did people actually get molested or hurt? was there violence or just stealing. i would love to hear more about your story so i can be better informed!
ReplyDeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteSome people did get touched. Here's my advice- if you are traveling alone to India, find other foreigners to latch on to, especially when you are going from one city to the next. If you are alone, carry something small like a knife or mase. OWear modest clothing- cover your legs especially. Read a book called "Culture Shock! India".
Other than the few touching incidents, there were few incidents of violence, but a couple of my friends had cameras, money and purses stolen- keep a money melt under your clothes. I'm also very small and I came back unharmed! Read a couple of entries back, as I do talk about the few incidences of touching.
Basically, if you travel with atleast one other foreigner or an India you trust, you should be pretty comfortable!
E
yes I am reading other posts I can't wait for you to put pictures up. thanks so much for the advice!
ReplyDelete