A lifestyle expat travel blog about culture, history, Brexit, the Royal Family, travels around the world, Europe, and being British in Berlin!
Yep!
We’re here.
In India!
Omigosh!
For those of you just catching up, here’s why?
Funny you should ask ‘cos I’ve been to India before.
Thirteen (13) years ago!
And I have to tell you.
I’ve got mixed feelings about it!
I travelled solo and I was there for a month.
I went to North India and I really liked it and enjoyed it enormously.
But I didn’t love it!
And if I don’t like a place, I’m certainly going to tell you!!
I went to Rajasthan and saw tigers on safari at the Ranthambore National Park, adored the beautiful lakes at Udaipur, chuckled at the wedding cake cinema at Jaipur, licked and tasted camel ice-cream in Pushkar, rode elephants in Jodhpur, went camel-riding in the sandy desert of Jaisalmer, danced to the music of Bollywood, delighted in the openness of the local people, licked my fingers at authentic Indian food, and marvelled at the wonderful amazing-ness of the Taj Mahal.
It was awesome!
However, road traffic was mad and over-whelming, the noise was deafening, the dirt and grime was disgusting, the River Ganges at Varanasi was not only filthy, but I actually saw a bloated dead body being dragged across the water by a dog!
The beggar children were heart-breaking, the overnight train was horrific that I couldn’t sleep a wink, and the food-poisoning that I caught from stale / under-cooked eggs at a 5-star hotel restaurant was so awful, that my skin colour actually turned grey!
That wasn’t good news!
In fact, I was so exhausted by the shopkeepers and city of Delhi that for the only time in my life, I actually wanted to go home!
I stuck it out though, but was thrilled to be able to fly away, and leave it all behind me.
Eek!
So how is it that I’m going back to India?
Again?
And to some of the very same places too!
?!!!?!
Ha! Ha! Ha!
I’m totally mad!
But I’m doing it anyway LOL!
Well, I wanted to show my family, otherwise known as – The Music Producer and The Tall Young Gentleman, the best of India.
And I’m not the type of person that gives up, so back to India I go!
We have a 16-year-old school age boy so we have to go in the school holiday break, and that means just two (2) measly weeks.
Two (2)!
And we started with Delhi!
OMG!
It’s a little confusing but New Delhi, a district in Delhi, is actually the capital of India!
Even though both Delhi and New Delhi are frequently used to refer to the National Capital Territory of Delhi or NCT, they are in fact, two very different areas, as New Delhi is only a tiny part of the wider spectrum of Delhi as the National Capital Region!
A bit like how New York City is only a small part of the State of New York!
Delhi is bordered by Haryana and by Uttar Pradesh and covers an area of 1,484 square kilometres (573 sq mi), with a population of between 11 – 16 million people!
Delhi is a very old city and has existed and been inhabited by various kingdoms and empires, since 6th century BC!
The most notable empires have been that of the Mughal Empire (1649-1857), and of course, the British Empire, otherwise known as the British Raj (1858-1947).
Delhi isn’t kind to travellers.
Myself included.
I was nervous about my first solo visit to India.
Back in 2005.
So I did my research for a nice hotel and asked STA Travel to book it for me.
They did.
And I paid them the handsome price of €17.00 or $15.00 per night.
Complete with hotel voucher!
I double-checked with the Delhi hotel via telephone, fax, and Email.
All seemed to be well.
They even sent a car to collect me from the airport.
But when I got to the hotel, they told me that they had never heard of me!
Even though I had spoken to them on the telephone just a few hours prior.
They knew nothing about it!
However, if I went to the luxury hotel down the road…
Perhaps they might have a spare room…!
It was 2a.m.
I was scared to leave the hotel.
So I refused.
Two hours later, they “found” my room!
Haw! Haw!
So this time I was prepared.
And it was a good thing too ‘cos the airline lost my luggage!
We booked a most reliable airline in order to get some comfort – in this case Lufthansa.
All the flight from Berlin to Munich were, due to foggy weather, delayed for about an hour and we all had to literally run to our connecting flights, as they weren’t!
We got to our gate huffing and puffing, but we made it!
We had a few issues with an elderly man who seemed reluctant to sit in his own seat instead of ours, but after a lot of trying to find his family, and thus his seat, who funnily enough were in the row in front of us!
We merrily settled into ours.
And half-way through the flight one of the flight attendants discreetly told me that my luggage had been left behind.
In Munich!
In truth, I wasn’t too worried as this wasn’t the first time that I’ve had issues with an airline!
Ha!
So we arrived at Delhi International Airport, otherwise known as Indira Gandhi International Airport.
In Delhi.
And airport staff were waiting for me with forms to sign and huge smiles.
What wasn’t waiting for us though, was my husbands’ suitcase!
He has a blue-green Samsonite suitcase which is a 30-year-old model.
I didn’t think it was even worth stealing!
I was wrong apparently!
It was gone!
And nobody knew where it was.
Was it in Germany?
Was it in India?
No-one had any idea.
Sigh!
‘Back to a thorough search through the airport.
And trying to describe my husbands’ Samsonite suitcase to staff who didn’t have a clue what I was talking about!
My husbands’ Samsonite suitcase was similar to the model below!
While talking to one person, and then the next.
And signing even more papers and forms.
The result?
They gave us 10,000 rupees (€120 /£110 /$140) and two toilet bags!
There are a million and one stories as to what happens to tourists who arrive at their destination tired and exhausted.
You really don’t want to do that!
It was a good thing I had pre-booked a very nice family-friendly bed & breakfast / apartment-hotel.
And booked their hotel car.
It was called Aashianaa Living.
I booked it myself via booking.com
I also booked their hotel car!
Our luggage – both suitcases – came two days later.
I couldn’t have been happier!
Phew!
And for those of you who are over 30 (ahem!).
This blog and the next couple of months weeks, is for you.
India isn’t easy, but if you want to go there.
You can!
And of course, if you’re really nervous, I offer a consultancy, and can help you organise or advice you on many parts of your trip to India!
For more info, click here!
Who doesn’t like an exciting adventure?
Well, follow me over the next few months, and find out!
So what are you waiting for?
‘Rah! ‘Rah!
This article isn’t sponsored, and all opinions and lost adventures in India, are my very own!
Stay tuned.
Yay!
That’s it for now.
See you next week!
Watch this space!
Note! I never travel without insurance as you never know what might happen.
I learnt my lesson in Spain. And obviously, in countries like Qatar, where technically the risk is higher, I can’t imagine going that far beyond, WITHOUT INSURANCE. No siree! You can get yours here, at World Nomads!
Please note that there are now affiliate links (for the very first time) connected to this post. Please consider using the links, because every time some sort of accommodation or travel insurance is booked via my links I get a little percentage, but at no extra cost to yourself!
A win-win for all!
Thanks a million!
Ha! Enjoyed the story and sorry about the luggage. Funny enough Lufthansa did that do me once as well.
A bloated body being pulled in the river by a dog? Yikes. We want to visit India one day but Lissette always says “when we’re older and have nothing to lose”. Ha!
Just arrived in Morocco which is another not so easy destination. 5 weeks here. Lots hope we both make it through the next month or so…
Thanks so much Frank! You’re very kind.
Lufthansa did that to you too. What happened?
Yeah, India can be terrifying at times. ‘Just when you think you’ve never seen the like, something else shocks you in either fascination or fear! Even so, if you want to visit India, don’t leave it too late or you’d never be able to stand it without all your comforts, and a very hefty price tag! 😉
Ah Morocco! Haw! Haw! I’ve been to Tunisia and Egypt many times, but not to Morocco, the last North African Frontier! 😀 I can’t wait to read all about it…
p.s We got everything back 2 days later. Phew!
It took me some time, but I’m back to you and I couldn’t be happier to read about your recent travel stories. India is fantastic so I can’t wait to hear more! When I travelled to Kenya this January my luggage got lost as well so I had to wait 2 more days to get it delivered. These things happen but never let them spoil your experience in a new country. Kiss x
Aww! Thanks so much Agness! I’ve been so busy, it’s craaaazy! 😀
India has been great. I’ve got great stories, you’ll see!
Ach! I can’t believe that your luggage was missing too but I was dead cool although my husband was in a bit of a panic ‘cos he’s not used to long-term travel! 😉
p.s. Like you, we got everything back 2 days later! Thank you Lufthansa!
Pingback: Lost and Trapped in Delhi – Incredible India! | The British Berliner
Hi,
an Indian here !!
Let me tell you it happens to us also! 😉
Thank you Reyanshu!
I’m sure it does & it must be utterly awful!
Sadly, it’s not even the first time this has happened to me. The last time it happened, I was supposed to represent the Grooms’ side of a wedding as he was English, getting married in Germany, and my wedding clothes along with my luggage, was lost! 🙁
It wouldn’t have been so bad if I was in a city like Berlin, but I was in a village in the middle-of-no-where.
At the weekend!
In those days, shops weren’t opened on Saturday. And if they were, they closed at 12 noon!
I was most upset!
Anyhoo, British Airways managed to find it and drove a couple of hours to get it to me! 😀
But tell me your story Reyanshu! What happened to you?
Pingback: How to spend 2 days in Agra visiting the Taj Mahal. And what to do when you get there! – Incredible India! | The British Berliner
Pingback: An introduction to the Taj Mahal in Agra. And what to do when you get there! – Incredible India! | The British Berliner
Pingback: An introduction to Jaipur – The Pink City in Rajasthan! – Incredible India! | The British Berliner
This post is really wonderful and very informative for readers.We want more from a writer such this type of content like as Airlines Cheap Ticket!Holiday and Travelers news related article.You can compare all airlines fair just from single hub. Thanks for your nice post
Thanks very much.
You’re very kind! 😀
Pingback: Will we ever travel again? - The British Berliner