11 Things That Happened to Me For The First Time in India
Part of the reason I travel is because I want to experience, see, taste, and do new things.
I’m a person that gets bored easily. I need entertainment, new surroundings, a way to never have the same routine. I want anything and everything under the sun in my life so I can suck up all the awesomeness it has.
So this is why I LOVE to travel. Everything is new! I love new.
India was very…interesting… I am happy and grateful for having the opportunity to go and do something new.
New isn’t always good though.
At the end of the day, it’s another life experience, and yes, I’m happy for all of them!
Table of Contents
- Visiting India for the first time – here is my experience :
- 11. I wiped myself with my left hand.
- 10. I ate food -twice- that was cooked by cow shit.
- 9. I petted some cows.
- 8. I wore a lengha
- 7. I was blessed by a woman who was on a motorbike as I walked passed her.
- 6. I took a taxi to a place 6 hours away.
- 5. I stayed in a hotel room for about 48 hours because I had no desire to leave.
- 4. I got blessed at a temple and given a necklace, bracelet, and bindi.
- 3. I showered in the dark as well as out of a midget spigot.
- 2. I literally got sick from the pollution.
- 1. I changed my flight home.
- More Around India
Visiting India for the first time – here is my experience :
So here are some things that happened to me or that I did, that I’ve never done before in my life… This was my first time in India. If I only knew…
Some are cool, some are weird, and some are seriously fucking gross. Enjoy…
11. I wiped myself with my left hand.
Bum gun? Nope. Toilet paper? Lol!! Yeah, right. (and I’m so dumb for forgetting it!)
What’s left to do?
So gross, but that happened. I haven’t even done this in Southeast Asia! Wtf. Ew.
10. I ate food -twice- that was cooked by cow shit.
Yes, you read that correctly. The family we stayed with cooked food using cow shit as charcoal. Dinner time aromas were not pleasant! However, I’ll admit, the food did taste good. My boyfriend “mysteriously” got ill the next day…
If it’s you are visiting india for the first time , beware when you get off the beaten track that this might be how your dinner is cooked. Bon appetite!
9. I petted some cows.
Cows everywhere. Cuteness level- unbearable. I had to give a few a nice pet.
8. I wore a lengha
Traditional India wear for a wedding is real business, man! I had so much material in my skirt I could have made several dresses out of it. I was lugging around this skirt like a damn lumber jack, trying not to trip and make a fool out of myself, and I was also bedazzled to the max!
7. I was blessed by a woman who was on a motorbike as I walked passed her.
I was walking in the street and this woman riding on a motorbike that I was walking passed just touched my head and forehead and said a little blessing. I was taken back at first because it was chaotic, I couldn’t see where the hands were coming from at first and if I could trust it, but I later realized what she did. Thanks lady!
6. I took a taxi to a place 6 hours away.
6 hours on a taxi? Never! I take the cheapest option which is often a bus. But our friend organized it for us and told us it was the safer and faster option, and since Garrett was dying from his cow-poop-cooked food illness, it was the best choice and probably the best $40 spent for the sake of comfort.
5. I stayed in a hotel room for about 48 hours because I had no desire to leave.
New Delhi? No thank you. That psychotic mess of a place was not on my list of places to venture around. I just needed to use the airport there. We accidentally miscalculated our days and thought we had one day there when we actually had two. Nearly 48 hours of safe bliss in a nice room with room service. Worth it. We got lots of work done! (there were valid reasons for not wanting to leave the room, I’ll experience Delhi another day, this just wasn’t my time.)
4. I got blessed at a temple and given a necklace, bracelet, and bindi.
It was a slight scam (unsurprisingly) but a cool experience. I’ve been blessed before at a temple but never adorned with goodies like this. I got a bindi, red string bracelet, and a wooden bead necklace as the gentleman mumbled and hummed a little prayer so I could get up to the 13th level of this cool temple, Tera Manzil, on the sacred Ganged River. Epic views and definitely a highlight to see in India.
3. I showered in the dark as well as out of a midget spigot.
Two different situations…
We stayed at a house with no light in the bathroom. I guess I peeed in the dark too but I’m sure I’ve had to do that elsewhere. Showering in the dark wasn’t so bad. I had my cell phone flashlight to assist. Thanks, Lifeproof case!
I’ve had bucket showers, but a shower out of a spigot? Nope, that hasn’t happened. Funny enough, there was a shower, it just didn’t work. Oh, yeah, and it was midget sized.
2. I literally got sick from the pollution.
This was the worst! It was my first time in India, and I definitely underestimated the pollution problem. I was sniffly, wait, no, that sounds on the verge of cute, I had a fucking waterfall of snot pouring out of my nose and sneezed and cough profusely my last few days. I’m still getting rid of the snot as I write this. It’s fucking gross
1. I changed my flight home.
I’ve never changed my flight in my life. India was a place I very curious about but I got my taste and decided I would rather chill for my last two weeks in Asia elsewhere, like on a nice chill island. It was only $27 to change my ticket. I did it and I’m happy I did. I nearly wanted to kiss the streets of Bangkok.
Why exactly did I change my flight? I’m sorry to report, but it’s because it just wasn’t for me. I didn’t like India, here’s why.
BONUS! This one is more of a thought than an occurrence but I literally “missed” the crazy streets of Thailand. Thailand is notorious for crazy drivers and road conditions, but seriously….India…I’ve never seen anything like it. The streets were even more of a mess compared to Southeast Asia and I wasn’t sure that was even possible. Also, the amount of honking was beyond obnoxious. Far beyond! I’m convinced they do it because they are bored or something!? If you see a lane of stopped cars-it’s called a traffic jam. Everyone wants to go. Honking will not make the traffic clear up any quicker. Shut. Up.
Holy shit, India is intense as fuck. However it was another experience in my life, and I’m always thankful for new experiences… Thanks…? India. Visiting India for the first time is challenging but you get to learn a lot in the process.
What weird stuff happened to you in India? What happen to you while visiting India for the first time ?
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First of all.. I am really sorry for your experience in India. I am from India.
Definitely all the points you mentioned are true. It has been like that since the very beginning(who knows when). It’s a 1000s of years old historical place.
I am sure you might’ve known it’s a DEVELOPING country before you planned to visit there. I think in my opinion your planning is not good. Not sure who guided you the plan to visit the places but you are definitely did wrong. I mean who uses cow dung charcoal these days to cook? Unless it’s a very remote place where people don’t have minimum facilities. But if you planned to visit such place then that’s what you will get to experience. You should appreciate it for what they are and how they are living instead of making comments on them. It’s all about perception.. a single incident can be described in a very good way or in a very bad way. So, I think your focus is always on looking at it in a negative way. Wiping complaint is completely your ignorance and you can’t point that out as a reason India is gross. Mind all these things before blogging because online world is very small where people read all these wrong interpretations and destroy the value of a country which is far away from your understanding. Sorry to say that, but India is a great country no matter how it is. Again, it’s a developing country.. not all countries are as fortunate as USA and other rich countries. Hope this makes you think in a positive way the next time you try to blog such sensitive topics. Good luck.
Hi Radha. I’m so happy you commented. Thank you! I know that this was a small part of the country and I do agree that maybe going to such a rural part was not a good idea. I loved Rishikesh. I certainly know it’s developing, I wasn’t expecting not to be. That’s why I said it was an opinion about this one time that I went. I never dissuaded anyone, instead I’ve only encouraged others to go and make their own opinion. I can blog about anything I want I want on my blog, including opinions that I have. But thank you again for your comment bc I accept all opinions.
Nice blog Nina, but to be honest, your approach to ‘new experiences’ seems a little closed minded. Labelling a city as a ‘psychotic mess’ whilst holed up in a hotel room doesn’t really scream adventurous. Not saying that Delhi is NOT a ‘psychotic mess’, just that if you’d come to that conclusion after exploring the city, I’d have more respect for it. Cheers!
Im sure its great in some ways and possibly worth the chaos. I don’t mind some chaos, but at that time I was over it and ready to leave so that’s why. It’s not that I didn’t have respect I jut simply didn’t want to deal with it especially when I had some work to get done. That’s all ?
The shower head would have worked if you had only seen the small pull switch under the support…..I was once fooled as well ….!
It was broken, as in the head popped off when we turned the water lol. No way of it working. ?
If I’m honest I think you did India wrong. You need to go with an open mind, yes the streets are chaotic but the culture is incredible, Maybe try going during Diwali and witnessing the beautiful festivities which will be like nothing you will get elsewhere in the world. Missing out New Delhi was also a mistake, the city has everything from traditional culture to Michelin level restaurants.
Who said I went without an open mind? Where did I say the culture was bad?
Why the hell did you lock yourself in a hotel room for 48hrs? New Delhi can be a fascinating and culturally diverse city.You my friend are too shallow to appreciate cultural diversity and would be more suited to package holidays in future.
I’m sure it is! Just was a bit of over everything and decided to use my time on working instead ? I don’t do package holidays to travel but thank you for the suggestion.
Hahahahaha! I can’t get over the left hand wipe. When I was first told about it, I freaked out! No way that happens right? Well good to know I’m not the only one who’s had to do it.
Scarred for life! Lol
This made me lol Nina! Especially the first one!! India sounds crazy, not sure if it would suit me either. I also miss the hectic streets of Bangkok. Take care wherever you may be now. Love x
Haha yeah. I won’t complain about new experiences but not sure I’d want to repeat some of these ?