India - what we think!

So India...well, what can we say.....we've given you the details of all the individual places as we've went along but India really deserves a little summing up and that's quite easy - IT'S CRAZY! It takes no prisoners as all day every day is a constant attack on all your senses - sight, sound, taste, smell (that is tested a lot!), and space (they have none!) - we've never been anywhere quite like it.

We've definitely found what people have said to be true in that if you can travel in India you can travel anywhere (Thailand is a breeze in comparison). India can be hard work and infuriating at times but if you put in the effort it rewards you ten times over.

India doesn't have much in terms of the westernised comforts and lifestyle we enjoy at home but it does have some wonderous sights and its biggest asset is its people (all however many billion!).

We found Indians to always be up for a laugh (they actually have a very british sense of humour), but they aren't shy of having an argument either - infact we think they quite like them! But they all follow my Granny's advice and never want to part on one - so they always make up with you.

India is also a country that has resisted being infultrated by the west to the point that its culture is swallowed up - their traditions are very strong and the family rules! If only they would stop having so many children though as that is why they have so much poverty - the country cannot support them all.

We miss India already and we hope we will get a chance to go back - there is still so much we haven't seen (Kerala in the South and Leh & Ladakh in the North), so many people we've yet to meet, and arguments waiting to happen - I think Graham actually enjoyed this aspect! You could easily spend 6 months in India and our 6 weeks only gave us a taster.

The other aspect to the Indian personality which deserves a mention (and our respect) is their apparently limitless tolerance - how so many of them manage to live together, many in poverty or with very little, without resorting to killing each other amazed us. We think as many Scottish people in the same land mass would be Armageddon!

Finally, just wanted to tell you what happened when we left India as it kinds of sums it up. Graham was a wee bit emotional (and pished) when we were heading to the airport so he started hugging folk and when the taxi driver was the lucky recipient his reply was "I love my India" - what a nice sentiment to end on.