fellow travellers

Well we have just returned from our first trip to India and it was amazing. You try to get yourself as clued up as possible before going but nothing can prepare you!We found the whole experience:amazing,awful,shock ing,beautiful,frustrating but we loved it totally and completely.Gotta go back,just gotta go back!
One aspect that we found vaguely amusing was how fellow western travellers seemed to rather break their necks rather than look at you and return a smile!Oh well,we met loads of nice Indians to make up for it!

Yeah, it's weird how some travellers are truly in their own world, even in the crazy land of India. I've always noticed that too. I'm not sure why, except maybe that they're constantly on guard for the touts/scams/sensory overload and just want to look like they know what they're doing, or maybe some are just fiercely independent. Lots of independent travelers in India (myself included) which is great, but it's no fun if you don't make friends.

I can definitely say this: I have met *many* foreigners traveling in India, but most I'd met either in/around guesthouses or on the bus or train. That's why I like to stay in cheap guesthouses and travel SL-class on the train like everyone else, it's easier to meet people. But you can also meet people anywhere, from a popular temple to somewhere on a beach, to a party in Goa.