It was a super short trip of just 10 days or so but I traveled to Delhi, then down south to Bangalore and then a coastal town called Gokarna by the west coast of India. I also met two of my friends who I haven't met in seven long years (may I say it once more, seven long years). And it was fun how we just picked up right where we left off - felt like it was just last week we saw one another. We have definitely grown into different people. We were once roommates in a middle school, and now we are college people who have summer jobs and internships in different countries. It's such an amazing world when I think of it.
Besides having an amazing company, I cannot resist myself from mentioning the fact of how well-fed I was; perhaps overfed too. It was so easy to get food of the cuisine I like; especially when it was easy to get meatless dishes everywhere. I definitely ate wayyyyy too much. And at every stop I made whether during a bus ride or a break from a long walk through the towns, I would grab myself a mini cup of Indian tea or Masala Chai that had come in the size of shot glasses! Those drinks just kept me warm in those breezy days. And the fresh fruit juices were amazinggggg - watermelon, mango or even some sour fruit I don't know how to pronounce the name; they kept me happy.
Regardless, my trip wouldn't have been as carefree if I didn't have my hand sanitizer with me. I was freaking out due to the lack of hygiene. During my travels, I had to sleep in beds with bugs, big fat ants walking around the bedroom and massive animal poo appearing every now and then for which I couldn't find the animal! The first few days of that experience was fair and fine; I was telling myself to embrace it since it's a rare occasion to experience something as such. But when it became a daily thing, I was definitely physically and mentally burned out in trying to not over think about those bugs and trying to make sure they stayed off me. I knew I was asking for adventure, but I didn't think it would be that adventurous! With all that happening, I guess I learnt something more about myself, I am quite a princess after all - I still need a clean bed to sleep in at least without an animal sharing my bed with me. But I guess if I was made to live in such a situation, I could too; I do know I would have had to eventually adapt to it or find a way to eliminate those bugs.
And yet again, each of these trips I take teach me a bigger lesson each time. I remember the first half of the trip, I was extremely happy of the life I was having - hopping places, exploring and discovering but towards the end, I grasped that it wasn't quite a life. Yes, I did have all that fun while seeing the world; and yes, my perspectives towards the world have definitely broadened but it became partially pointless. I guess it's true - we all need such trips to remove us from the crazy schedules of our busy lives, but it's a period to help us regain our strength, belief and focus; not a life to live.
While traveling, I met and conversed with people that convinced me completely of my decision to move up north to the hill-tribes for the next one year as worthwhile and right. Because with or without a Ph.D., I realize many things start at the very basic level that ultimately we all really and truly are the same deep inside. I met the most beautiful and heartwarming people by the streets and yet at the same time, people who were utterly smart in their field of study were not very considerate and thoughtful for the simple things. I find that completely sad. But I guess I can't change the world - who knows I could be the one having a twisted perspective of the world and not them. But the underlining message here is that I'm moving, and hopefully it would only make me appreciate the simple things of life more and I guess feel a little bit more worthy.
Here are some pictures from my trip; not that many or that beautifully taken. I guess everything in India happens too quickly that by the time I take my camera out, I'm like 10 seconds late.
