An interesting question! I am not Indian but grew up hearing about India in my earliest memories as my parents met there (although technically this was pre partition & they were, I believe, in what is now Bangladesh). This was WW2 time and she was a nurse and he was army. I now like to think that I was spiritually, if not physically as I did not turn up until much later, conceived there!However whilst my father had little to say about his time there my mother was vociferous on the subject but was extremely negative and all you heard about the country were the poverty, smells and dirt!
On becoming an orphan, and with a little legacy to spend, it seemed appropriate to go there myself and form my own opinions. I love the country.
My first trip was with TS to India & Nepal taking in the Pushkar camel fair.
India is an assault on the senses with the colours, noise, smells etc and whilst on the one hand it seems to be total chaos then, on the other hand, everything, somehow, seems to work!
I have since been back, most recently to Kerala, where there is a totally different pace of life.
I am more of a people person & enjoy interaction with the locals but enduring memories include, what could be thought of as clichés, but which need to be experienced dusk at Pushkar, dawn at the Taj etc.
But for people interaction, and Indian humour, the following always comes to mind. With TS, then on checking into our hotel in Jaipur, we learned that there was an international cricket (the national obsession) match taking place in the city next day and both teams were staying at our hotel. I had checked into my room when the room boy turned up and the following exchange took place.
Me: You must be very excited with the cricket teams staying here.
Him: Oh yes sir it is very exciting but the hotel has a big problem!
Me: (Innocently) Why?
Him: The Indian team are all checked in sir but we cannot check in the Pakistan team yet as the builders have not turned up to build the partition!
I am sure someone put him up to it but it earned him a good tip!
I am thoroughly enjoying the Joanna Lumley series and was particularly taken by the Ellora Caves that she visited this week. Shimla is still on the to go to list as well as Amritsar but trips here usually include the golden triangle and as magnificent as the Taj is I’m not sure I want to visit it every trip! Perhaps an off the beaten track tour for those who have been before but want to see something new!
Ian