Rest of world after India?

I have found the perfect travel companion and I have had thoughts of seeing other parts of the world, can I do this without constantly missing India?

A few things to consider: -

My travel companion has travelled extensively and wants to see lots of different places (including India again).

I have never had any great desire to see the rest of the world.

If I were travelling alone, I would go back to India.

As a team, I think the two of us can make anywhere in the world an interesting place.

Apart from Europe and India, I have only been to Thailand, it was in Thailand that I realised how much I love India.

I do want to see other parts of the world and I think I will enjoy each place.

My travel companion thinks that my 'passion' for India could "blind me to the beauties of the rest of the world".

My gut feeling is to go and see other places.

Other places that we are considering include: China, Indonesia, Chile, Argentina......




Am I fooling myself?

Can I stop myself from comparing each place to India?

only one way to find out!

But, Steven, noone except yourself can give an answer

I read some interesting discussions about six months ago on the LP South American branch. Someone hooked on Asia landed in Brazil and was thinking of getting a flight back to someplace in Asia after the first two days. He found S America was not Asia

And someone said: "South America is not Asia is not Africa".

(the original poster eventually gave Brazil another chance, spent a few more days in some remote village and loved it in the end. Continued to Bolivia etc etc. but he may well go back to Asia next time)

If you land in China, it is easier to fly to India should you find China totally unbearable. If you land in S America, it would be more difficult...

If you do decide to go S America, may i suggest Peru and Bolivia, especially Peru which - many say- is very much like India ( is that possible) minus Hindu temples of course

But i won't go into that trap of comparing S America and Asia... see above!! you may post on LP S American branch, pity i couldn't find that thread from Nov-Dec, it was an interesting discussion, i'd love to see more of it

v-v

oh, i forgot to say, sometimes it is more important WHO you are with than WHERE you are

Congrats!!! Steve for finding a perfect travel companion . It is very necessary to have a good travel companion bcoz it will not only enhance your joy for travelling many folds but will make it more interesting too.

Thanks for the replies so far.

I was also hoping that someone else had faced the same dilemma, and wondering how it turned out.

There is also the small problem of persuading the travel partner that I can do it, she says that my eyes light up whenever I talk of India, and that there is a big difference when discussing other places.

Where can I get a good pair of sunglasses?

" Where can I get a good pair of sunglasses? "

Please dont cover/hide your love for India from the rest of the world , (not even for the sake of perfect travel companion ) . Dont be ashamed just show your love for India to whole world

I love other places, but the ones Ilike are a lot like India. . . Turkey, other Middle East places, notably. When I went to South America I spent most of my time comparing to india. Middle East it wasn't so bad, because it's just as amazing, in so many similar ways. Alas . . . not the best time for an Amriki to go there
Still, Y'all know where I love the mostest!

Great news Steve!

I could recommend all of North Africa with the sad exception of Algeria. Then, Turkey, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Iran and Pakistan.

You would certainly get a warm reception from Shimla in Burma and then there is Indo-China another safe and inexpensive place with great places to visit, nice people and great food.

I can't speak for South America from personal experience though my son really likes Chile, Bolivia and Peru. I thought Mexico was a really nice place and the train trip through the Copper Canyon was superlative. The USA and Canada are really great and the people are incredibly friendly, especially to Poms and Aussies!

Malaysia is a really good tourist destination with oodles of Indian restaurants and a good rail network. Indonesia is also a really interesting place.

Then there is our neck of the woods - not so exotic culturally - but with mind blowing scenery if you are prepared to hire a car and camp. The beer is no great shakes but the wine and food is good.

All this gallivanting around the world will only whet your appetite for the next trip to India, of course!

Ummmm this is a dilemma probably a lot of us face at some point, one way to gat around it is to alternate to start with, a new destination, then India, then a knew destination again, in time hopefully your partner will get around to your way of thinking.
There are though steven some beautiful places to see around the world, Yosemite national park california, New Zealands south Island, Australia, these places show nature at it's best,,,,,,
Don't compare anywhere else with India, just enjoy the other places for what they are, India will always be there when you need her,,,,,,,,,,,

Steven, you should go ahead with a trip to other places. There is a possibility that you may find a place which may appeal to you more than India does now ! I certainly do not think that your passion for India will prevent you from appreciating other places.

As for the welcome in Myanmar, tstan is absolutely right!

HI Steven. I definately understand what you are saying/ feeling and where u are comming from on that question. i did at one time experince/feel something remotely like that,-and tRUTH be told, it actually dawnwd on me also in Thailand, so i can share your dimemma. wHAT IS it with that Country?..HOWEVER, that was years ago, and i can now say, a few things on the topic, from life experince and from my perspective. i too am someone who fell in LOVE WITH india at a very young age, and 15 years later, am still completely passionate/mad/enthusiastic about the region. I even have revolved my life around INDIA, AND SPEND ABOUT 8/9 months a year in the region. Anyways, the first things i want to say is this situation, is not really a dilemma at all. IT IS a GREAT learnINg opportunity, and also A GOOD FORTUNE..you are with someone and you have great liberty, are free and have so many choices of places to visit..YES, india is the best, the most exciting, the land where it all begins and ends, and I TOO after so many years still light up with all convos INDIAN!..I UNDERSTAND THAT!..aND i accept it..INDIA IS centerSTAGE in my heart, my true love, my favortie Country, the rythym in my soul beats to all things INDIAN. that said, it is aLso a large, beautiufl and diverse world, the heart is big, and there is more room to let other things in..And the beauty is, by opening your heart to other Countires and cultures, it does not belittle your fondness or passion to INDIA, AS a matter of fact, it can serve to magnify it. And in the end, it is also wonderful to see the world, open your eyes and ears to to other cultures, languages, religons, philosohies, foods, idiosyncrcies, have more compassiona and knowledge and understanding..etc..As some others have said, best not to compare any other Country with INDIA..aS we all know, INDIA IS incomparable! if you love INDIA, REALLY DO, no place like it!..And that is one of the most beautiufl things about INDIA, ITZ OUT-RightT mad uniqueness!!..but other countires do have charms, rythyms, sounds , smells, and it can be sweet to have a wiff, if not a holiday..aNYWAYS, I would say go out and explore some other regions, but know in your heart that INDIA IS ALWAYS THERE, Waiting with open arms, for your return!.. Also, traveling with another, well, i will not talk on that topic, as that is another world altogehr, and worthy of anothere thread!..I also have one other tip. IT IS a strange thing i find myself doing, and it may help you pass time in other Countires if you find your self wanting MOTHER INDIA!.....Well, INDIANS ARE EVERYHWERE..sO it seems that wherever i am, singapore, Thailand, MALAYSIA, Sri LANKA, NEPAL,China, anywhere in Europe, or even my hometonw NYC, I gravitate towards all thiNgs INDIA, OR THEY FIND ME... either the INDIAN communites, or the INDIAN owned shops or restuants..MY guilty pleasure.. okay, good luck and feel free to drop me a line, at dreamingofindia@aol.com

I can't speak from the standpoint of having been to India, since I won't go until January. However, I have traveled pretty extensively (no sub-Saharan Africa or Australia/New Zealand yet) so can recommend a few truly wonderful places. Viet Nam is near the top of the list. An incredibly diverse place with a ton of different ethnic groups, in a much smaller geographic area than India. Fantastic food--the best I've had anywhere! Old Hanoi is wonderful, and not terribly dirty either. Beggars and touts don't bother you either, as they do in Egypt and Turkey.

You probably know all the gorgeous scenery places, but sound as though it's colorful cultures you enjoy more than mountain views. Have you been to Tibet? How about the Amazon rain forest? Sleeping in a mosquito-net covered bed, lying in a hammock room while the rain pours outside for a couple of hours every afternoon and pet parrots keep you company--an experience not to be missed (Explorama and ExplorNapo camps,) with visits to Indian villages. No ancient ruins, of course, as the climate isn't conducive to structural longevity.

Everyone is different. There's a woman doctor from Wisconsin in the rainforest who fell in love with the area 10 years ago and stayed to build and run a clinic. She felt about the rainforest the
same way you do about India. Different strokes. (Hey--good name for a TV show!)

I can so relate to your 'dilemma' ...

When you have that space in the calendar and are considering what / where to do.... invariably the 'India' lure comes back... It's a tough addiction to break..

It's 'familiar'

It's never short of surprises

It just FEELS great to be back

The food is just.... ( although so too is Thai / Vietnamese etc ! )

The chai

The beers after a long outing

The occasional panic situation ( yet you never REALLY worry )

The music blarring out ( I for one would always compare Hindi pop with trashy Chinese pop and just not 'get' the Chinese stuff - sorry )

The smells

The rituals

The Goan haircuts

The nonchallont ( yet very stressed ) cows in the streets

The 'only in India' bizarre

The winter sunshine

The humility

The bravity

The powercuts

The runs ( & more ! )

The frustration

The waiting

The haggling

Those special days

Those not so special days

The Haywoods 5000

The rickshaw drivers

The other rickshaw drivers

More Goan haircuts

And the 'what lies tomorrow'

Now, I realise I've potentially steered you in a certain direction here, but I'm only really throwing in my own feelings about going to India 'again' ( & again... ).

I've been about half a dozen times and NEVER cease to enjoy myself.. It really is 'that' feeling which has nothing to do with 'sights' or anything like that.... It's a 'vibe' for me..

I have a similar decision to make in that I may take a 6 month 'break' and the natural place for me to end up will inevitably be India.. although the 'plan' might be to get some 'long term' accoms somewhere 'relaxed' and with good access to transport, ( South probably ) and make 'satelite' trips from there to say, Vietnam / Laos etc via hopefully reasonably priced Indian Airlines flights etc..

This is a compromise to the 'instead of' option - keeping my fix not far away ! How practical it turns out to be I don't know....

I am in no doubt that I'm probably missing out on other places ( although the South Americas & Southern Africa has never 'drawn' me in a big way ) But then again, 'if it ain't broke....'

Probably not what you want to hear...

I say go to india.
Its not like other places as it has such diversity.
If you want beaches u have diu and goa (and many others i dont know off).
If you want mountains and awe inspiring sights you have the north with views of the himalayas.
If you want the lush tropics you have kerala.
If you want rain like no other go in the monsoon.
If you want deserts and camels you have rajistan.
I met you recently (we should all meet again soon different restaurant though), and your eyes do light up when you speak about india. When you told us the stories of "dig boy" and when u ended up on that road in dehli where the police said you had to pay a "toll "your enthusiasm and passion were catching.
I think deep down its like been in love, you know when its the real thing. I could go to china/vietnam/cambodoa/south america etc on my next travels but i wont while i still thirst for india.
And i still thirst, like i think you do to.