The India confusion

sadhuji · Jan 21st, 2005, 20:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by ak973

I think India is one big giant wheel where u experience the euphoria, the excitement and for those lily-livered people nausea ... This is the reason why I love India and go back every year .... I just cant stop loving India ....

yes, we in india feel the same. no matter where you may finally land up in, your roots will always draw you back. i have seen many examples.

PRIYA · Apr 15th, 2005, 16:31

Oh Beach, what an amazing description of India. I was just sussing out threads on "It happens only in India" and of course the 'The India Confusion' word said it all. It's definitely a MUST read for everyone who's been or is planning to go.

I've copied it to share with desi friends, and they'll be as 'homesick' as I was (am) when they read it. You certainly do have a gift with words.
Absolutely brilliant!!!

Apr 15th, 2005, 17:42

That's the first time I've ever heard anyone equate Disneyland with India, two of my very favourite places on the planet.

(I'm former cast, meaning I used to work for the Mouse.)

lonelyaztec · Apr 15th, 2005, 17:43

Beach Saab,

Excellent post.

Nick-H · Apr 15th, 2005, 17:52

There is no end to the treasures on IndiaMike. Threads not read before that suddenly reappear.

Beach, you began with a fantastic and beautiful post. Subsequent posts from you and other increased the depth and richness of this thread.

I've been living here for 3 months, and, subject to visa-necessary etc returns to UK, intend to stay. But IndiaMike is always demonstrating to me how little I know about India. Hats off and a heart-fealt Thank You to those of you who such depth of knowledge and feeling and experience ---and share it here

beach · Apr 15th, 2005, 23:29

unity in diversity?... no no no..it's chaos with character. India just gets under your skin even before you know it..., the good news is...it feels great.

natasha chanda acharya · Apr 16th, 2005, 13:02

It definitelt does!
one of the best posts i've read in a long time.
now i regret missing you in hampi all the more!
Excellent!

beach · Apr 18th, 2005, 00:17

Listen to a small audio documentry on someone re visiting india after 40 years http://www.npr.org/templates/story/s...toryId=4603562

(thanks Byronic to give a link to the NPR (National Public Radio) site)

machadinha · Apr 26th, 2005, 08:13

What an excellent post Beach. At the risk of sounding stupid or ignorant, I take it you're an Indian living in India right? Just curious how you could sum up the meet-India experience more eloquently than many a seasoned traveller would. Anyway you've surely managed!

Of the many things that I might comment on this one really struck me

Quote:

Originally Posted by beach

A foreign tourist definitely stickout in a social setup. The difference can be made as an advantage. People taken it for granted that a foreign tourist is well traveled and courageous. It’s up to you to make it to your advantage. Probably this is evolved from the fact that they see countless number of lone foreign travelers roam the nook and corner of the country.

Very insightful, I had never looked at it that way. Yes perhaps those goofy white youngsters treading where many an Indian fears to tread adds to a certain mystique regarding the fearless westerner. Maybe it's just the bliss of ignorance; areas in my own country that are generally considered dangerous or practically off-limits are often relatively easy-going once you keep your senses and do venture out there, with plenty of perhaps more hard-edge people but friendly enough to help you along all the same. I mean there's a perception of a place and then there's the place itself. Anyway looking back at myself being a goofy little punkie roaming around there I didn't exactly consider myself a hero, it's more like I didn't know what I was doing; I can see it more clearly from the eyes of those I met now though.

What can I say, thanks for a great post!

Judi · Apr 27th, 2005, 02:27

Oh, beach - what a truly amazing post. Wish I'd read it before I went to India for the first time ....... but you have certainly got inside my mind and articulated my own thoughts. Thanks, from the bottom of my heart, it's amazing.
I'm head over heels in love with India now, so am completely immune to any 'warning's' - this is one holiday romance that will live and live ......

Sama · Apr 27th, 2005, 03:16

I will be in Chennai this September. The only people I know who have gone to India more than once are other yoga instructors who go to study. This will be my first trip overseas, anywhere, traveling solo at the fabulous age of 51. Half of my friends think I will "go native", the other half think I am never coming back.

Everyone has told me that adjusting to India won't be hard, it's re-adjusting to the US (or even just re-adjusting to a western society like Germany when I land there on the way home) that will be difficult. Everyone has told me that upon my return I will be struck at how antiseptic western society is, how "large" people are (to put it politely), and knowing me, they tell I will want to turn around and get on the next plane back to India. I know a man (American) who lived in India 4 times during the '70s -- he is 60 now, and all he wants to do is return to India, and die there, and have his ashes thrown in the Ganges.

So even tho I have not been there yet, I already know that I will go back again and again.

beach · Apr 27th, 2005, 19:37

Thanks everyone for the comments…

I’m happy to hear some applaud when someone kick this thread up at times (though like India this thread too has once gone through the trauma of a ‘partition’ )

bora · May 27th, 2005, 00:57

Beach,

This is just an appreciation of how you became the 'longest member' and I thought I HAD to put it back in the homepage.

Now I know why a close friend, 47, an Italian, wants to die in Hampi. He gave up his job in Italy to come and stay here, motorcycling around the countryside!

Cheers to all of you!

Now, I'm missing my roots! Assam!!!!

readmymind · Jun 7th, 2005, 11:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by beach

This write-up is intended to throw some light on various India facets for the ones who are still searching to locate India on the map.
It is difficult to explain the whole of things in this short (!) posting. This obviously suffers the fatigue of oversimplification of a complex topic. But still I feel that for a novice India tourist this can give a glimpse of what is India. A few apparent topics of interests are attempted.

wow... this is quite a post. it has further kindled my desire to get back to india. i'm so glad i stumbled across this thread. magnificent descriptions, beach !!

phantom · Jun 7th, 2005, 12:25

I wonder, why mods dont make this thread 'sticky'. This thread is one of the reason, a lot of members who stumbled on this site, thought of becoming a permanent member.

Apr 15th, 2005, 16:31	#47
PRIYA Discombobulated Elsewherean! Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Zimbabwe Posts: 1,180	Oh Beach, what an amazing description of India. I was just sussing out threads on "It happens only in India" and of course the 'The India Confusion' word said it all. It's definitely a MUST read for everyone who's been or is planning to go. I've copied it to share with desi friends, and they'll be as 'homesick' as I was (am) when they read it. You certainly do have a gift with words. Absolutely brilliant!!! __________________ Happiness is for those who cry, those who hurt, those who have searched and those who have tried. For only they can appreciate the importance of people who have touched their lives. (Anon.)

Apr 15th, 2005, 17:43	#49
lonelyaztec Maha Guru Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,498	Beach Saab, Excellent post. __________________ Aztec My photoblog

Apr 27th, 2005, 03:16	#56
Sama a pain in the asana Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: the India inside my heart Posts: 6,432	I will be in Chennai this September. The only people I know who have gone to India more than once are other yoga instructors who go to study. This will be my first trip overseas, anywhere, traveling solo at the fabulous age of 51. Half of my friends think I will "go native", the other half think I am never coming back. Everyone has told me that adjusting to India won't be hard, it's re-adjusting to the US (or even just re-adjusting to a western society like Germany when I land there on the way home) that will be difficult. Everyone has told me that upon my return I will be struck at how antiseptic western society is, how "large" people are (to put it politely), and knowing me, they tell I will want to turn around and get on the next plane back to India. I know a man (American) who lived in India 4 times during the '70s -- he is 60 now, and all he wants to do is return to India, and die there, and have his ashes thrown in the Ganges. So even tho I have not been there yet, I already know that I will go back again and again. __________________ *MY INDIA, 2005-2008* "Once you have felt the Indian dust, you will never be free of it." (Rumer Godden, 1975)

May 27th, 2005, 00:57	#58
bora Member..... Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: In front of a PC, pretending to be very busy Posts: 91	Beach Rules Beach, This is just an appreciation of how you became the 'longest member' and I thought I HAD to put it back in the homepage. Now I know why a close friend, 47, an Italian, wants to die in Hampi. He gave up his job in Italy to come and stay here, motorcycling around the countryside! Cheers to all of you! Now, I'm missing my roots! Assam!!!! __________________ I'm a Cowboy A steel horse I ride I'm Wanted Dead or Alive

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Apr 15th, 2005, 17:42	#48
belkin_wonder_boy Posts: n/a	That's the first time I've ever heard anyone equate Disneyland with India, two of my very favourite places on the planet. (I'm former cast, meaning I used to work for the Mouse.)

Apr 15th, 2005, 17:52	#50
Nick-H This is just a cameo appearance Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 36,225	There is no end to the treasures on IndiaMike. Threads not read before that suddenly reappear. Beach, you began with a fantastic and beautiful post. Subsequent posts from you and other increased the depth and richness of this thread. I've been living here for 3 months, and, subject to visa-necessary etc returns to UK, intend to stay. But IndiaMike is always demonstrating to me how little I know about India. Hats off and a heart-fealt Thank You to those of you who such depth of knowledge and feeling and experience ---and share it here

Apr 15th, 2005, 23:29	#51
beach Lost in translation Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: India ! Posts: 2,233	unity in diversity?... no no no..it's chaos with character. India just gets under your skin even before you know it..., the good news is...it feels great.

Apr 16th, 2005, 13:02	#52
natasha chanda acharya barefeet indian Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: India Posts: 565	It definitelt does! one of the best posts i've read in a long time. now i regret missing you in hampi all the more! Excellent!

Apr 18th, 2005, 00:17	#53
beach Lost in translation Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: India ! Posts: 2,233	Listen to a small audio documentry on someone re visiting india after 40 years http://www.npr.org/templates/story/s...toryId=4603562 (thanks Byronic to give a link to the NPR (National Public Radio) site)

Apr 27th, 2005, 02:27	#55
Judi Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: England Posts: 459	Oh, beach - what a truly amazing post. Wish I'd read it before I went to India for the first time ....... but you have certainly got inside my mind and articulated my own thoughts. Thanks, from the bottom of my heart, it's amazing. I'm head over heels in love with India now, so am completely immune to any 'warning's' - this is one holiday romance that will live and live ......

Apr 27th, 2005, 19:37	#57
beach Lost in translation Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: India ! Posts: 2,233	Thanks everyone for the comments… I’m happy to hear some applaud when someone kick this thread up at times (though like India this thread too has once gone through the trauma of a ‘partition’ )

Jun 7th, 2005, 12:25	#60
phantom Maha Guru Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Delhi Posts: 1,215	I wonder, why mods dont make this thread 'sticky'. This thread is one of the reason, a lot of members who stumbled on this site, thought of becoming a permanent member.

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