Stayin’ Alive In India

We were swept up into a haze of hurry, streets bustling as a flurry of horns pierced the air. India is unlike anything we have ever experienced and was a culture shock at first. Our first stop was New Delhi, where we navigated our way to Agra by train, eventually making our way to Jaipur. I could tell you we rode first class with a surgeon in our cabin, but that description doesn’t really do it justice. The train station doubles as a makeshift homeless shelter, and first class is nothing more than a small metal room with wooden bunkbed shelves to sit on.

Navigating the taxi terminal and learning to embrace the chaos of the roads was our next hurdle. The driving is next level and makes LA look like a walk in the park. There seem to be no rules, yet everyone moves to one aggressive pulse, and somehow it works. Closing my eyes as we bounced through the streets in our little tuk tuk felt like the best option for my nerves.

The streets are raw and unfiltered. Dirty, crowded, and shared with stray dogs, monkeys, cows, and people living life fully out in the open. Tucked in between the circus of the city are palaces, monuments, and landmarks. We got to see the Taj Mahal and learned about the marble and stone etchings that make it one of the wonders of the world. In our wonder, it was quickly evident that people were wondering about us. The curious blonde haired, fair skinned, blue eyed couple. We were blessed by the kindness of everyone we met and happily honored their many requests for a selfie. And when the day finally slowed, our homestays were a quiet, elegant oasis of comfort.

India does take some adjusting to. The spicy food, often vegetarian due to Hindu practices, left us craving more protein. But the warmth of the people and their delight in simple joys, like flying a kite or crafting a hand woven scarf, was deeply endearing. It all gave new meaning to stayin’ alive.Read more