It was my second full day in India. Eyes-wide, everything was new and strange to me. I was so overcome with emotion that I returned home and wrote the below letter to a friend of mine.
This letter is an honest, candid representation of my true feelings during those first few days. I decided to publish this on the blog because I think it can help other travelers prepare for the culture shock that you might experience. The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly – here we go!
Thanks Sarah! I think you would love this program. And all Indian vegetarian food is so delicious! :)
So you’re thinking about spending some time in India, but you have so many questions. For women, safety may be a concern. Where will you stay? How will you get around? What can you expect a typical day to look like?
I had all of these questions and more, so I decided to join a volunteer program with a company called Leave UR Mark. Leave UR Mark (LUM) connects volunteers with local community organizations and non-profits. In addition, LUM provides their volunteers with beautiful accommodations, delicious home-cooked meals, and in-country support.
Bull Temple is a small, peaceful spot located on a hill in Bugle Rock Park in South Bangalore. This Hindu temple is only a 10-minute walk from Gandhi Bazaar, so you can easily explore both places in just a few hours.
There is no denying the safety issues that women face when traveling in India. The recent media coverage of the brutality, rape, and violence against women has left many female travelers changing their plans and scratching India off the list.
After just returning from a solo trip to India, I will say this: if you can arrange your plans to travel with someone else, by all means do it. But if you do find yourself on your own, it is still 100% possible to enjoy the beauty of India while staying safe as a solo female traveler.
The great think about volunteering in India is that you will learn new things in each step of volunteering, you…
In just a few weeks, I will be embarking on what is possibly the greatest personal adventure yet…a solo trip to India. This trip is unlike any I’ve ever done before. It isn’t for the beautiful scenery. It isn’t for a leisurely, relaxing vacation. It isn’t for myself at all – but I expect it will change me completely, in ways that I can’t predict.
Well loved the way you noted each and every details on your travel to south India. The reality is hurting,but…