22 travellers. 2 countries. 14 days. This really is the ultimate guide to visiting India. And England.
Imagine a campus where political debate is permanent. Where students receive half a dozen pamphlets to read with dinner and make up their mind on a variety of political issues. Where activist groups come in all shapes and forms, from right to left, from the centrist to the extremes – and all equally organised.
Millions of three wheeled, black and yellow, jacked-up mopeds buzz around Indians cities every day. Their two- stroke engines and distinctive colour schemes can provide solace to a stricken tourist but what are these strange vehicles that have become such an icon of many Eastern countries?
Going to India for the first time can be magical, challenging, overwhelming all at once. Even though there is not greater insight than meeting new people and experiencing the country itself, reading a book or two prior to the trip can prove a valuable asset in understanding the culture.
From the moment we are born to the moment we draw our last breathe, society puts us into categories and slaps labels on us. We are given names, nationalities and norms to which we should adhere to.
Last night in Pune, I found out my Pune trip was definitely incomplete. Two weeks was not enough for us to explore this city, so as to explore India as a country. Our major expected outcomes were the overall experience to places and people with their colorful culture here
Going out in Pune is an amazing experience, from the people you meet, the stories you share, the drinks and the whole vibe. The first time I went out in Pune, I visited a bar called High Spirits, it is popular with the students from Symbiosis International University.
Over the past two weeks I have met some incredible people and seen some incredible things. But as was noted in my first blog post, it is difficult not to feel frustrated by the inequality and hierarchal structure deeply ingrained in Indian culture.