Never Regret a Moment Spent on a walk in India

 

India, Nepal, Sri Lanka 097The first thing to hit me is the smell, sewers and sweat all mixed together creating an incredible and overwhelming stench! I turn the corner and smell something else… wow what is that? Freshly made samosas bubbling away and milky chai simmering in a huge saucepan, that stench from before seems to have vanished.

After breakfast I step out onto the street and enter complete chaos. It is hard to focus on a single thing among all this madness! There are men and women walking around with whole shops draped over their shoulders, all of them looking in my direction.
“You like lighter miss?”
“No thank you.”
“Scarf miss, very beautiful scarf.”
“No thank you.”
“Maybe wallets miss, you need wallets, you buy for present for your brother cousin?”
Please no, just get me out of here. I begin to walk away in the wrong direction, although I am not quite sure anymore which way the right direction even is and then “BEEEEPPP!!!” A cow in the middle of the road, stood right in the middle of the road! Vehicles swerve in all directions, at each other, pedestrians, any direction but the cow, the holy cow. This is crazy what is going on?
“Rickshaw miss, you want rickshaw?”
“Yes maybe.” “
“I do very good price, full day, all sights only 1000 rupees.”
“1000 is too much and it’s ok really, I can walk, I am happy walking.”
Within seconds I am surrounded.
“No miss, you must not walk, I do good price only 500.”
Just as I am about to make my excuses and carry on walking a tiny man with the biggest smile I have ever seen appears.
“Miss, my name is Raja, for full day, all best sights, 300 rupees only”

Raja sets off at break neck speed, weaving in and out of traffic like a man possessed but still wearing that great big smile. I try to focus on something else; my eyes are not quite sure where to look! There is a man sat in what appears to be a barber’s chair right there on the side of the road, he is wearing a bright pink bobble hat with clashing yellow cardigan and his chin is covered in foam. I turn to look the other way and five people pass by on one motorcycle, a whole family, Dad, Mum and three children all in school uniform, suddenly they swerve, swerve to avoid a truck that is driving up the road on the wrong side! That was close!

After a few more minutes we come to a stop. “We are here miss,” Raja says. “I wait here for you maybe one hour you come back outside.”
Walking into the temple complex the madness of outside slowly melts away, escapes me, I suddenly feel peaceful and there is silence, complete silence. I reflect on the morning’s events and a strange feeling washes over me, I look up at the temple as if it is summoning me and slowly walk towards it.

After some time I start to make my way outside; I can really feel the midday heat now. I need a drink and I should find Raja, I have been gone much longer than an hour, I didn’t realize, time feels different here almost more important while not feeling quite as important at all. I look around, probably looking quite lost and am surrounded again but this time by a small group of girls, school girls all in matching mint green and crisp white uniform. One girl nudges another towards me.

“Hello, photo please,” she says shyly.

Seems like a strange request but why not, “Ok,” I reply.

The girl points to my camera which we hand over to a lady who must be their teacher, we stand together in a row “click, click, click!” The girls rush over to the camera; I show them the photos on the cameras display. They point, giggle, nudge each other and then skip away holding hands. I walk in search of Raja wondering what the rest of this day will hold……

After many days like this one I discovered that this hectic yet amazing country holds many things. India is a country that is full of highs and lows, ups and downs, it will make you feel happy and make you feel sad, you will love it and you will hate it, you will lose faith and gain faith all in a split second. It is a country that will inspire you and open your mind. India will stay deep within your soul forever and you can be sure that every day no matter how crazy will always be eventful; never boring and you will never regret a moment spent.

About the Author: Kelly Marie Cox  has traveled 28 countries in Europe, Africa, Asia and South America. My passions are travel, food and photography. I am from Bristol, England and am currently working and living in Italy.

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3 responses to “Never Regret a Moment Spent on a walk in India

  1. You sum up India so accurately! I was laughing at the beginning as it brought so many memories back for me – and then the serenity. All side by side. Great article Kelly! It makes me want to head back!

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