Charlie and I arrived in India to a bit of culture shock, but pretty quickly got into the swing of things in this colorful, assault-to-the-senses country. We arrived early to get settled into India a bit before starting the Rickshaw Run on April 3rd.
In true polar opposite India form we experienced wealth and poverty all in the same week as we stayed at some lovely 5 star hotels as well as simple budget accommodations. Each has it’s advantages. The budget gets me much closer to the culture, but the luxury certainly provided a soft landing and a way to get through jet lag in style.
Thanks to our guide Janu, an old friend of Charlie’s in Jaipur, we were taken care of incredibly well. We went to textile manufacturers, temples, forts, elephant farms, and had amazing food. In addition Janu was our key to experiencing the colorful Hindu festival of Holi in Jaipur.
This week was full of adjustments. My body adjusted to the time change, heat, and bacteria and my mind had to adjust to driving rules (or lack thereof), the availability of clean water, food spiciness, and the role of women. It’s just another thing to love about travel – testing out your flexibility and ability to adjust to any situation. I had my share of it this last week and a half in India!
Fishermen loading net near the Amber Fort in Jaipur
Sherry Ott is a refugee from corporate IT who is now a long term traveler, blogger, and photographer. She’s a co-founder of Briefcasetobackpack.com, a website offering career break travel inspiration and advice.
Additionally, she runs an around the world travel blog writing about her travel and expat adventures at Ottsworld.com.com.
