Introduction to India

Incredible India

Although I have not yet blogged about Thailand my introduction to India will have to cut the line.

The culture shock of India is completely indescribable. One cannot describe in words what India is like. It is another planet within the world. 

Upon leaving my hotel in Koh Phangan I was thinking to myself that I needed to attract into my life someone travel India with. Jessica, a new friend from my travels in Indonesia, will be connecting with me for one week in India prior to flying home to America. Then I was potentially facing India alone for another 4.5 weeks, so as I sat on the back of my scooter heading to the ferry in Koh Phangan I kept thinking to myself "someone will come into my life to travel India with, it will happen". As I arrived at the ferry terminal and was waiting in line for my ticket a guy behind me said "Hey! You're from Canada, eh? I lived there!". After a short introduction and the standard questions asked, we realized both of us were headed to India within a few weeks of each other. My inner consciousness literally jumped for joy and I gave the Universe a high five......... but it gets even better!

After getting off the ferry on main land Thailand James and I met an American girl (Kate) who was headed to Bangkok on the same bus. Kate and I instantly clicked and spent almost the entire bus ride sharing outrageous travel stories with James, as well as, those ease dropping fellow passengers ;) Kate is such a rocking girl that I said to her on many occasions how I wished we would have had the opportunity to travel together. My father always said "be careful what you wish for" which provided to be completely true in this situation. After the delightful 12 hour bus ride we arrived in Bangkok and found a room to crash in for a few hours. Kate's plan was to spend a few days in Bangkok and then make her way back to America, however after a few hours together she decided to come to India!!!!!! So instead of spending our day going to see the new Batman movie we looked into getting her an Indian visa, extending her Thai visa and working out the details of changing travel routes. I left Kate in Bangkok, as I had to catch my flight to India, but I have complete faith that everything is going to work out and soon we will connect in Mumbai or Goa.

As my plane took off for Chennai I was once again blessed to have met a fellow traveller who is a seasoned vet of India. He has been travelling and living in India for years but randomly came to Chennai (for the first time) due to a late flight booking. He spent the plane ride explaining to me the interesting, confusing and incredible country of India, as well as, the ins and outs of how things work. After landing we grabbed our bags and met the only other white person upon our plane. The three of us then ventured into the city and found a train into Chennai. The train was the dirtiest, oldest, most disturbing train, I have ever seen. It looked like a meat cart that they would butcher cattle on but that was our way into town. We were so absorbed in the sights and sounds of India that we almost missed our stop. At the last second we realized we were in the heart of Chennai and grabbed our bags to jump off. Unfortunately right when our European lady friend was about to jump the train really picked up speed and she ended up face down in the cement. The situation ended up as positively as it could, with no broken bones and no missing teeth however, it was an  interesting introduction to India. 

Even though we had our train mishap I am so utterly grateful to have these two by my side to help ease my way into India. Both of them have been to India before so the culture shock is a little less numbing to them. My seasoned vet introduced me to Indian food today and helped me find the train station, to book a ticket, to get to Jessica in Bangalore. I know I could have done it alone but it would have been way more intense and perhaps too overwhelming. Maybe in a week or two, once I get my bearings, I'll be able to face India alone but until then I will thank my blessings for this trio. From my scooter ride to the ferry in Koh Phangan, to arriving in Chennai, the Universe, or God, or whatever you wanna call it, is definitely taking good care of me. If all these phenomenal people can come into my life within 24 hours of each other I have complete faith that India will be incredible!