Five tips for going on a trip to India be prepared. What to expect from India, its population and its customs and traditions, read here.
So many worries and questions in preparation for a trip to India.
But India is a country for which you are never prepared enough. As far as you can document yourself, read books, watch films, try spicy foods, before leaving, the impact with the country is overwhelming and leaves anything but indifferent. L'India it is above all a journey highly emotional and personal since everyone has different timings and ways to metabolize the surrounding reality.
India is a country of strong contrasts and far from Western canons and rigors. Some are able to assimilate it, accept it and fully integrate into his lifestyle, but many others cannot get out of their comfort zone or simply reject it due to its deep-rooted social and economic problems.
I have been living in India for a year and a half, however, I do not feel able to draw up the classic "to do" list of the departure. India is not a tourist and commercial country in the proper sense of the term. India is not for anyone, it is a country that hardens the weak and strengthens the more adventurous. It is a country that invites to its discovery those who love to immerse themselves in a new culture, a mentality and lifestyle very different from the Western one, those who know how to adapt to bizarre habits and are flexible and open to new cultures and religions.
Having said that, here are the five recommendations that I would like to give you in view of a trip to the Indian continent.
Get ready to change your hygiene concept
You can enter the temples barefoot, as well as the houses. There toilet paper it is not part of Indian culture; do not be surprised if you will not find it in any bathroom so always take it with you. Second, the Indians they eat with their hands: it would be a good idea to try not to use cutlery as a sign of adaptation, and rest assured, your effort is kindly appreciated, however they are understanding if you ask for the cutlery. For a low cost trip, trains and buses will allow you to travel long distances at bargain prices, and experience India in the most authentic way. The trains are obviously overcrowded, and no one will bother giving them any space.
Hospitality is undoubtedly a distinctive trait
Anyone will invite you for a chai (Indian tea), a lunch or dinner. To decline is not very polite. You will find yourself changing your perception of hospitality as each invitation is not meant to receive something in return but simply because the guest is considered sacred and as such it should be honored: do not be surprised when you will be served before everyone else, while the hosts will eat only after you. For Indians, an extra dish on the table or proposing to accompany you to the other end of the city is absolutely not disturbing. If you are invited into the home of an Indian family, the typical gift as thanks of the invitation are sweets.
Patience
Il time it is perceived in a totally opposite way to ours. We Italians are certainly not famous for being Swiss watches, but Indian times are saying something. Half an hour late for an appointment corresponds to our 10 minutes. The maximum tolerable can be up to two hours. You will be told to wait only 5 minutes but this is just a sign of goodwill. As a friend of mine used to say, Indians will tell you what you want to hear. Arming yourself with good patience is an exercise that only develops and harmonises over time.
machismo
Indian society is predominantly male chauvinist and traditional compared to the western canons with which we grew up. First of all, pay attention to clothing. It is preferable to cover arms and shoulders to be more discreet and respect the customs of the place. In any case, at first you will often be irritated by the numerous looks aroused by the light skin color and the “western” features, but after a while you will be indifferent. Respect for culture is a priority of the self-respecting traveler.
Smiles and kindness
With the last recommendation, I would almost like to warn you. But not from rape, mugging, street food as you will usually hear. This is not a piece of advice or a warning that you need to prepare for in advance.
You will stay disarmed in front of the smiles of the people, to the eyes of ordinary people at the market, to the children on the side of the road.
Leave for India with due precautions and precautions, however my most heartfelt advice is not to bandage your head with fears instilled from the outside. Be spontaneous every day with those you meet, let yourself go to the bizarre ways of doing and only in this way will you be able to discover India not as tourists, but as travelers.
Natesh Ramasamy, Marco Bellucci
