Where did you absolutely hate?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would not go back to India. Hard in many ways.

+ 1 Billion.

I am Indian and am generally surprised when non-Indian people choose to vacation in India. I don’t know how they don’t know what they’re getting themselves into. I have family and cultural ties, and worked there for a few years during formative years for me. So I love it most of the time. But I wouldn’t go there if not for these reasons.

I am Indian and I escape from the big cities as soon as I reach there. I travel a lot but I do the luxury version of everything. India is not for beginners. My favorite in previous years has been Rajasthan - the palace on wheels, Kerala, Palampur and Dharamshala. But, then I do not go to big cities and assume things will be smooth, I avoid the worst of the worst and I depend on family and friends to have a really good time there, I pay my way to making things convenient there. I laugh when I see westerners trying to stay in average hotels, use Uber there, travel on cheap tickets made for the poorest of the poor. I stay in India and don't balk to pay European prices. And for the same prices one can pay in any Western country for average services - I get more service, luxury and convenience - than anywhere in the world.

So much natural beauty to see, so much spirituality, family, weddings, shopping, Ayurvedic retreats, reunions, people, vibrant people, love and warmth...

My relatives in India come along with me, we go to lovely vacations and family retreats together and I foot the bill for everyone. We go to our village home, we go for weddings, we go touring and travelling together - and I pour in the money I earn here to better the economic situation of people there.

I have no illusion about how poor and dirty India is, but it gladdens my heart to see how there are more bubbles of prosperity there now than previous decades. I love the new confidence and pride people have in India. And I am shocked to see how supremely intelligent, resilient and innovative people are there. I am glad that their hearts are filled with hope for the future.

I love India.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would not go back to India. Hard in many ways.

+ 1 Billion.

I am Indian and am generally surprised when non-Indian people choose to vacation in India. I don’t know how they don’t know what they’re getting themselves into. I have family and cultural ties, and worked there for a few years during formative years for me. So I love it most of the time. But I wouldn’t go there if not for these reasons.

I am Indian and I escape from the big cities as soon as I reach there. I travel a lot but I do the luxury version of everything. India is not for beginners. My favorite in previous years has been Rajasthan - the palace on wheels, Kerala, Palampur and Dharamshala. But, then I do not go to big cities and assume things will be smooth, I avoid the worst of the worst and I depend on family and friends to have a really good time there, I pay my way to making things convenient there. I laugh when I see westerners trying to stay in average hotels, use Uber there, travel on cheap tickets made for the poorest of the poor. I stay in India and don't balk to pay European prices. And for the same prices one can pay in any Western country for average services - I get more service, luxury and convenience - than anywhere in the world.

So much natural beauty to see, so much spirituality, family, weddings, shopping, Ayurvedic retreats, reunions, people, vibrant people, love and warmth...

My relatives in India come along with me, we go to lovely vacations and family retreats together and I foot the bill for everyone. We go to our village home, we go for weddings, we go touring and travelling together - and I pour in the money I earn here to better the economic situation of people there.

I have no illusion about how poor and dirty India is, but it gladdens my heart to see how there are more bubbles of prosperity there now than previous decades. I love the new confidence and pride people have in India. And I am shocked to see how supremely intelligent, resilient and innovative people are there. I am glad that their hearts are filled with hope for the future.

I love India.

I am the person you're replying to and I agree that luxury travel in India is so, so much more amazing than any other place I've been. It's great that you've found the way to travel that you love. My approach is very different in that I prefer to melt into the local life and disappear into the crowds, which I wouldn't be able to do if I hadn't lived there for a couple of years. I pack a small bag, dress in Indian clothes, use regular travel options (local and interstate trains, buses, etc.), and just go... traveling to the random places around the country where I still have friends and family. It's been 5+ years since I last did this though and I do wonder how the country has changed, particularly since the social media boom.