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Our opinions of New Delhi differ greatly. Let me start by saying that upfront. It has taken me almost four months to write this post. Our trip lasted three weeks. I thought my feelings about the country would be obvious to me at the get go, but no matter how much l tried, l couldn’t really find a word to sum it all up, unlike Federico, who made up his mind almost instantly. A lot of people have a romanticized idea about India l think. You can understand why though.
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Take a look at movies like Eat, Pray, Love and The Last Exotic Marigold Hotel. They play up the mystical, spiritual vibe that one imagines India to be. You run there to “find yourself” , meet up with some Yogi like Deepak Chopra sort of Swami, and find the meaning of life and what not. In actuality, what you find is quite different. Truthfully, it is not that impressive, same as the Hollywood fantasy of stars at every corner. Our visit enabled us to see parts of the city, and nearby ones that a casual traveler might not have been exposed to. We even got to experience a festival in the city.
Why do people visit Delhi:
There are plenty of reasons why people visit Delhi. In addition to the purpose of “finding oneself” on a spiritual journey, many people also visit to see the beauty of New Delhi. The long history of India through the various ages, from Neolithic to Bronze age to the present age is fascinating to history lovers. The amazing tombs are also a big draw. The Taj mahal nearby is a draw for tourists far and near.
It is also a popular destination for medical tourism, our reason for visiting in the first place. There are world class doctors in the country and the prices compared to western countries are staggering.
Food is also frequently cited. Indian cuisine is popular all over the world. Where best o experience it than at the source?
Opinions of New Delhi:
Federico hated it from the get go. He found the city very chaotic and dirty. That’s saying a lot 🙂 . Keep in mind that he is from Rome. He was born and bred there, and he fully admits that Italy is also dirty in places (Hello Naples 😉 ). I think what pushed New Delhi up a notch or two is the fact that animals like cows, buffalos, stray dogs and wild hogs have free roam. Cows are considered sacred and are not to be harmed.
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We saw drivers almost have accidents trying to avoid errant cows. They are everywhere. Close to the hotel we stayed at, there were some street vendors selling food to the people. It was common to see them feeding the cows by hand, and then going right back to cooking without washing. I’ve never been a fan of street food, but l definitely decided against it after seeing that. We lived in Houston prior to leaving the States. There, wild hogs were to be feared, especially ones with babies. In New Delhi, they were rampant. They were almost like the street dogs and people didn’t fear them. They fed on the rubbish, which seemed to be everywhere 🙁 . Please keep in mind that this opinions of New Delhi are ours alone. Not everyone is going to feel the same way.
Most of the Indian food also did not fully agree with him. He arrived in India about 5 days before my brother and l did. Despite the fact that he ate at restaurants, save for a few meals at the hotel, he had a full on stomach virus by the time l got there. Traveler’s diarrhea does not make for a good holiday ;-). I came with the antibiotics, but it still took a few days for it to kick in. You can almost understand why he didn’t like it. A lot of it had to do with selection as well l think. The places we went to with the drivers were all very good, and didn’t bother him. Me and my iron stomach were good to go, all the time 🙂 .
It’s a bit more complicated with me. You know, it is believed that at some point in time, India was originally part of Africa, and over the years, got separated by the sea. I can believe that. You only have to look at the way the people live, the houses, the ingenious ways people solve problems and especially the “sufferin and smilin” mentality that is ingrained in us. I come from Nigeria originally, a third world country and it was obvious to me right away that these were my people 🙂 .
Ultimately, it occurred to me that the word that l had desperately been searching for to describe my feeling was “Indifference”. I didn’t find New Delhi exciting or exotic, no more so than home. I found it more of the same. Everything was the same..the dirtiness (only even more so in India), the grittiness, the desperate hustling to survive, the tuk-tuks, the beggars, the desperation, the disparity between the rich and the poor. All the same. You also see the warmth of the people, just like at home. They will welcome you. There is an old Roman saying “At poor people’s house, there is always food”. This holds true in Nigeria, and it holds true for India, they will share their food with you, even when they have very little. How many rich people can you say that about? Their greed prevents them from being generous.
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In conclusion, l think India is a great country, just like my home. There is still so much to be done unfortunately. I think major culture shock is to be expected if you come from a first world country. Everything is going to be horrible if you constantly compare it to your home. If you’re from a third world country, l think you would have no problems and will adapt very quickly. For someone like me who gets to slip in an out of both worlds, you would be indifferent, and that is not necessarily a bad thing. Would we go back? Federico says “NO”. He has had his fill (Wuss! 😉 ). Me? I wouldn’t go back voluntarily.
That being said, my brother has to go back to New Delhi in about a month or so for one last operation. He says l do not have to go with him, as he is feeling much stronger, but if he decides he wants me there, then off l go :-)! A lot of people have told us that we would have enjoyed Mumbai better. I’m not so sure about that. I feel it would have been more of the same. Perhaps because l have already “found myself” maybe…. Haha 🙂 🙂 :-). I just need to visit home if l want the same things. I always feel bad when l see suffering and l overcompensate because l feel guilty for being so fortunate. On my holidays l want luxury, comfort and major pampering. Call me horrible. So there you have it, our differing opinions of New Delhi.
Ooh.. I can’t forget the monkeys that roam around too 🙂
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Have you been to India? If yes, what was your impression? Do you share our opinions of New Delhi? If not, does India sound like a place you would like to visit?
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Even though I never had an amazing opinion about India, it’s still a country I want to visit and a culture I’d love to know more about. What I loved about your article, though, was the fact that you weren’t afraid to show the place as it really is. Sometimes, as travellers and bloggers, we tend to ignore the ugly and only show the beautiful sides of the places we visit. India has a lot of charm and definitely a ton of beautiful places to visit but I believe that the real India is what you managed to show us. I knew it was dirty, I knew there were poor areas (as there are in most countries), but I never had the visual impact delivered by your photos and words. And I never – EVER – heard, until today, about the roaming hogs. That’s actually scary!
Congrats for this great, eye opening article!
Wow C! Thanks so much for the awesome comment. I have to admit that it made me emotional (l must be getting old 🙂 ). I’m glad it managed to convey what l was trying to. India is a very fascinating place like most places are and there is a lot to see. I would never suggest to anyone that they shouldn’t visit a place. All l can do is present what l saw and felt. I’m not sure why there are so many hogs, for sure at home..they would be supper :-). The only thing l can think is that since it is a huge population of Muslims, they therefore don’t eat pork..so they just let them be.
Thanks for your honest feelings Kemkem. I’ve been curious about one day going to India but I know I would often feel like Federico. I don’t like big, crowded, dirty cities…and Lissette is afraid of stray anything (dogs, monkeys, cows…wild pigs). If it was up to me I would barely stop by in New Delhi, I’d go to Jaipur and Jodhpur which are the cities that I’ve always wanted to visit. They may be much like New Delhi for all I know.
I love Indian food. But I hate getting sick and every traveller I’ve ever know has gotten sick in India.
So my feelings are really up in the air. If you ask me right now I would cite all the reasons you have and not go. It’s not that high on my list. But maybe one day we look for a different kind of adventure and maybe India will suddenly appeal. You never know, there are places in the world that in the past never really attracted me but where, years later, I suddenly got curious about visiting.
Enjoyed the post.
Frank (bbqboy)
You know l am like Spanky. I am terrified of stray anything..including dogs despite having 2 of them :-). I loved Indian food too, and could eat it all day. It’s funny how it seems quite a few people that go to India get sick, but l think a lot of it is from street food, or accidentally drinking the water (maybe from ice?). I must admit, a return visit is not high on my list either. There are so many other places l would rather go, so l think l would leave it on the back burner. Yeah..like you, maybe age or time will make me reconsider..or maybe not! :-). Thanks Frank.
I’ve never had a desire to visit India. It just never seemed like a place to really go. The pictures above are beautiful, I always appreciate the every day photos. I can’t imagine running up on a hog while just walking down the street. I would have never guessed that.
Thanks for the compliment. I never really had a desire to go either. I doubt l would have ever gone had it not been necessary. The hogs look tame an are right there with the stray dogs and people sit quite close to them, but l never would :-). They are pretty scary looking , and so dirty.
I have always wanted to visit India. I suppose I have romantic views of it and tend to forget that it is in fact a third world country. Big dirty cities don’t bother me, and i’m one of those strange people who love the chaos. I’m always concerned about food though! I can see myself getting sick! But I will visit India one day. Maybe Mumbai. And I want to do the touristy things like see the Taj Mahal. But that’s just me and the kind of traveler I am. Thank you for sharing. I still love the photos!
a lot of people have the romantic views. Nothing wrong with that. I think everyone needs to make up their own minds. I remember a lot of people telling us not to go to Marseille, but it turned out to be one of our favorite trips. I bet you have a strong stomach. I like doing touristy things too as well as living like a local. Things become touristy usually because they are good :-).
I definitely want to visit India someday, but it’s not top priority. It’s funny because although Jave is from a third world country, he’s so bougie now that he’s been in the U.S. for several years. Your experience kind of reminds me of Bogota which I have yet to write about on the blog. Jave hated it from the moment we got in our taxi and started driving to our hotel from the airport. Because I’d done a lot of research, I knew not to expect anything fancy so I was just kind of indifferent. But like your experience in India, we both agreed that we’d never want to voluntarily go back.
I always tell Federico the same thing..LOL! I always feel like he expects too much from the under developed countries :-), even though he doesn’t think so. Haha.. I can totally picture Jave in Bogota. It is very easy to get used to the good life in America so l guess it is understandable ;-). I think l would feel the same about Bogota though for sure. I like luxury when l holiday, maybe not 4 star, but passable :-).
I have never had a strong desire to visit India. These photos are amazing but still doesn’t make me wamt to visit there! Sorry to hear about him being sick, I can’t imagine being sick in a foreign country.
Yeah! He was not feeling India at all, even before the illness. Thanks for the compliment. I think India is one of those places where you either want to visit or not. Prior to going, it was not on my list at all. There are so many places in the world, that’s the good thing. Thanks for the comment.
Lots of insight here. I agree some of it looks very much like home:) & just like home there is still a lot to be done. It’s funny how some travellers filter their experiences/ pictures/stories about the nitty- gritty, the suffering & poverty they encounter. You see very few images like this, only the exotic beaches of Goa;-). Do you have any thoughts of why some do this? I would love to hear them.
Hi Lili, Yep! just like home :-). I personally think that a lot of people, bloggers anyway don’t want to write about the gritty side of places because they not only bring out the haters and trolls (How dare you! my country is the best place on earth..blah..blah..blah), but a lot also want to work with sponsors and tourist boards etc. and they feel that if they write unpleasant things, it would piss them off and so no collaborations etc. I am not going to lie, if l were to work with any company or Board (which l wouldn’t mind doing at some point), l am not going to sacrifice my integrity to do so. I will present what l see as honestly as l can. Even reading from some of these comments, there are people who can’t wait to go to India. Telling the truth does not dissuade people, it just informs them so they know what to expect. If that means l may never get one..then so be it :-). A couple of friends have told me they have met at least 2 of the biggest bloggers out there who in real life hate the life they live, hate the places they go, but go because they are cheap to live in (there’s a reason) but their posts are completely all about the exotic life, the wonderful food, none of the real stuff. Insane! I couldn’t do it…big mouth.. 🙂
I kind of get why some will do stuff that isn’t really right for money- if it’s a question of your next meal or rent- it’s acceptable ( though not criminal stuff!) But just to be greedy- nope!
Big mouth! Lol! How about – straight talking? Much better and the truth!
Haha! I like how you draw the line :-). Greediness sucks, there is plenty to go around. I like straight talking better too 🙂 ;-).
I have never been to India but I would go anyway. Coming from Kenya I think I’d be able to hack New Delhi especially because I have never romanticized the city, I tend to be more open minded about a place if I do not have any per-conceived notions about it . I’m a huge fan of street food but feeding cows then preparing my food is a big no, I just had a moment imagining that and now I feel ill.
Perfect answer Rachael :-). This post was not intended to dissuade people from visiting. You would have no problem adjusting to it like l did, but it might be shocking to some, especially those used to first world settings. The ones with the movie dreams. Yeah..we saw that over and over again with the cow feeding and praying. I just kept thinking “these things wouldn’t roam around for long in Naija 🙂 “.
I really want to go to India just to experience it and see all the sights, but I’m a little nervous about a lot of the things you mentioned. I honestly don’t think I’ll like it, but I definitely think I’ll still go one day.
LiveLifeWell,
Allison
I really love what you said. It is more than likely that you won’t like it. That shouldn’t prevent you from wanting to go and experience it. It’s always good to judge for oneself. I do hope you go, l would be curious to hear about your experience. It is different for sure :-).
This is on my bucket list for sure! Enjoyed the recap and all the wonderful photos!
I’m glad it’s on your list :-). Glad you enjoyed the recap, and thanks so much for the compliment :-).
Thanks for sharing your honest opinion about the trip. The photos are beautiful.
Awwh..thanks for the compliment. I just think people should know what to expect. It’s just to prepare, not to dissuade ;-).
I’m with your hubby on this one. India is one of the few, romanticized countries that I have no desire to visit. Everyone that I know that has gone has described it the same way. The pictures are quite interesting.
Haha!! I’m sure he’ll be happy to know someone is on his side. I’m curious to know if any of the people would go back. Pictures kind of tell a 1000 words, don’t they? ;-). There are so many different places in the world to visit, it’s like a buffet, so it’s a good thing that we don’t all like the same places.
I’ve never been that far away from the US. I definitely think India is romanticized in movies and such because I wouldn’t have imagined it to be like you described. I hope your brothers surgery goes well!
Thanks so much for the good wishes for his surgery. Yep! l can’t tell you how many times people tell me about eat,pray,love ;-). Insane..There are a lot of wonderful countries and you have your pick if you desire. The U.S is certainly huge enough to explore if you don’t want to go outside of it..only scratched the surface in all those years :-).
I haven’t been to India but I do know that it’s not always the way many people report it to be. I still want to visit but I will definitely be more prepared. I’m sorry your brother got sick. I hope his surgery goes well.
Thanks for the good wishes. Seems l spoke too soon and will be headed there for a repeat visit. As the days draw near, he is more anxious and so l will go to be with him. Glossing over places is a disservice to others. It would be me talking about Nigeria and not telling about the awful parts. Impossible :-). It’s different and eye opening in India, but it may not be a bad thing.
So many people who travel hesitate to give a negative opinion about an experience or a country and sugar-coat it instead – your honesty was much appreciated. Overcrowded cities, poverty and filth are impossible to hide and come as quite a culture shock, especially for those of us who have won the birth lottery by being born in affluent countries. I understand your “indifference” to India too – it sounds as though there were some beautiful sights but not enough to cancel out the ugly things: feral hogs, garbage and slums. There are many things that we can learn from travel and one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is to be grateful for all I have. It sounds like you’ve learned it too, K! Anita
Thanks Anita :-). Glad you mentioned culture shock. It would definitely be a big one from someone from the U.S for example. A lot of people do not realize how lucky they are as far as the birth lottery. At a cost of €125 (recently tripled as of 1/16) for the visa, it is now impossible for a lot of people from Nigeria to visit, even for medical purposes. My brother’s visa was turned down 3 times (no refund of course) and he actually went to the visa office with his doctor the 4th time. He could barely walk, weighed 80 pounds and a shitload of medical papers! Insane how things are. I always try and remind people to be grateful. They have no idea how bad it is for others, seriously :-(. Thanks for the comment.
Oh wow, I never would’ve pictured New Delhi to be that way, so I learned a lot from your post! I can not deal with wild animals roaming around and eating right in front of me, lol! I appreciate the fact that the people are very welcoming and eager to share even when they have so little though. I loved all of your pictures! 🙂
I’m so glad you found it informative :-). The people are definitely tops. I had strangers hugging me and smiling, wanting to take pictures. They see the skin so similar to theirs and you can tell they try to work it out in their minds (talking about some locals who don’t see foreigners often). Thanks for the compliment and comment. 🙂
I’ve never been and it’s never been high up on my list quite frankly. Not sure why, but I used to watch a lot of The Amazing Race, and they were often in India and I just didn’t get a warm fuzzy feeling about it. Thanks for showing both sides. It was interesting commentary!
I can understand it not being on your list. It certainly wasn’t on mine ;-). If it was on Amazing Race, l’m sure they must have shown the nitty gritty so you have a really good idea. Hope all is well :-).
I haven’t been to India. I guess this also why I love to read these type of posts and learn more about what I hope to be a future destination.
I love what you said about it being what you hope to be a future destination 🙂 . Love the fact that people reading are savvy enough to want to make up their own minds. I actually thought l was going to piss off a lot of people, but l am glad that it is being taken in the spirit it was meant. Just the facts 🙂 . Thanks for the awesome comment.
‘Love your personal opinions about India Kemkem!
Yes, I’ve been to India.
It was interesting! I was going through a sort of life-change at the time and hoped that the experience would bring some answers. It didn’t!
I didn’t love it or hate it but neither was I indifferent. I loved all the culture, the music and the collection of gods. I loved the history and the art. I travelled to India solo and bumped into a Swiss girl so we travelled for a little while together!
I loved the food, but I had the worst food poisoning I’ve ever had in my life. My skin actually went grey!
I went to the most holy city of Varanasi, but I also saw a bloated dead body in the Ganges so that I absolutely refused to put a toe in that filthy water, and the boat driver had to carry me over. I know!!
I took the over-night Indian train and I hated it. I’m a light sleeper and I couldn’t sleep due to the snoring, the shouting of “Chai! Chai” all night, and the bright lights and constant chatter.
The staring. The spitting. And the touching. Oh, and I got butted by a cow. It was most painful!
Having said that, I enjoyed training the local guides on prounciation and I did some voluntary basic English teaching with illiterate working women. I enjoyed learning about the weaving, and the metal crafts and industry, and I bought myself a sari and lots of Indian music!
I spent a month in india and I thoroughly enjoyed my time there but I couldn’t wait to leave. I went there in 2005 but I hope to take my family to India in 2017!
You certainly had a unique experience. I think you are quite brave to attempt it again, especially after the food poisoning..haha! Butted by a cow?? Oh my goodness, that must have been really painful. As far as the bloated body, l saw one at a market in Nigeria once, and l was traumatized 🙁 . There would be no chance of me being carried like you were, we would go down together 🙂 ;-). The music , next to Nigerian is my great love, and my playlist is chock full of Indian artists and DJ’s. The food of course can’t be beat. That being said, l wouldn’t choose to go back. I hope your family enjoys it when you visit with them. I know your son would find it nice, maybe not so much methinks of your hubby. 😉 .
LOL! You’re so right. The eyes of “The Tall Young Gentleman” would be huge and I think he would learn a lot about life and what’s important, etc as for “The Music Producer”…he said that he wouldn’t mind, but I think he thinks that “clean” Thailand would be similar! Ha! Ha! I’m thinking that if we go, I won’t be organising or doing the guiding myself. India is too tough for that. Either we would go with an independent travel company like Intrepid, or we would go with an Indian travel company, go with a car and driver and slow the whole trip down spending 3 or 4 days in 1 location rather than 2. But I’m not sure about that either!
How long did you stay in Delhi overall? Did you stay somewhere seperate to your brother? Were you in a hotel or a homestay? Did you book your driver via the hotel or face-to-face? Questions! Questions!
Or perhaps I should leave it for few more years and go to the USA instead lol!
It is a rough trip overall. Truthfully, l would probably leave it for a while. We were there for 3 weeks, and my brother for 9 weeks. We stayed separate from him till Fede came back, and then l stayed at the same place he was. We used drivers suggested by the hotel and the guest house he was in. It would be a history lesson for sure, but one l wouldn’t truthfully care to learn at such an age. Pretty sure he would prefer the U.S, as would the hubby for sure 🙂 . You have plenty of time to decide though, so it’s a good thing.
Kemkem, the photos were amazing and the writing as well! It definitely spoke to me! I’d love to see India. Your post totally prepared me, and I will choose my timing in my life well. I am like you. When I want a vacation-vacation (in other words, a break), I go for a place of ease. When I’m ready to learn, feel others, “live,” then I choose somewhere like this. But I don’t like to feel guilty on a vacation-vacation. Kind of selfish. When I go, I will not have the indifference you describe. I will have guilt. So I need to be at a time/mind-set when I can accept this. Make sense? Anyhow, as always, great post.—Terri
Thanks Doc 🙂 . I’m glad you still want to see India, and will be prepared. The guilt is real. I feel it sharply when l go home. I always make sure l take plenty of small bills as it kills me to see so much suffering. Federico actually makes meals for the maids sometimes just to give them a break. Every little bit helps. I do like to pamper myself though when l go on vacation, and l refuse to feel guilty for that. What you say makes perfect sense to me. Guess l’m headed back there pretty soon as soon as they have a surgery date.
Well, safe journeys, then. Hope your brother’s hopefully final surgery goes well. Stay away from bad food, Iron Stomach! And Terri, it’s Terri. 🙂 (Guilt? 🙂 Dunno. But it’s Terri.)
Hahah!!! I do that to one of my sisters too.. I call her Doc which totally reminds her of work..hahah!!!! Thanks for the good wishes. I will definitely try and stay away from bad food…Terri!!! 🙂 😉 🙂 .
Hi, I just came across your article over Delhi. Even if I agree that of course there is poverty and yes it is dirty (I am swiss so you can imagine) I feel that you article as well as the pictures are showing more the negative side of the city and the country. I go often to Delhi and could take totally different pictures then yours. India is a fascinating country with positive and negative aspects, the biggest democratic country in the world even also here it is not perfect.
In new Delhi there are no cows anymore (still a view in Old Delhi and outskirts), yes there are wild hogs, but also only in certain parts of Delhi and outskirts.
It’s not because they are muslims (majority of population is hindu) that you have so many animals, it is because a great number of the population is vegetarian. Hindus do not eat meat or rarely. This is the reason for all the animals roaming around and not being afraid of humans.
And not everybody gets sick when going to India, I have eaten Street food and also in strange places but did not get ill. But I get ill when I eat in restaurants of 4 and 5* hotels!!!!!!!!
Hi Doris, Thanks for adding your voice to the discussion. My article is not meant to show just the bad side of India, just my view of things that l saw and experienced. I am not one of those that only shine the light on the positive while ignoring the negative. If you read the blog, you’ll see that l have at least 3 or 4 articles on our visit such as the festival https://nextbiteoflife.com/hindu-festival-in-new-delhi-india/ and seeing some sights , the top-notch medical care in Delhi https://nextbiteoflife.com/medical-tourism-in-india/ and our day in delhi https://nextbiteoflife.com/day-in-new-delhi-sights-and-food/ . My point is, as a Nigerian, everything is familiar to me, the poverty and the dirt. It’s not new or exotic as people seem to find it. I showed the beauty of the new city such as the parliament and India Gate which are awesome, but like l said..good and bad. My travel stories are what l see, like and don’t like. This is the kind of thing l like to read about. Real stuff, not just good, or just all bad. Haha!!! I totally laughed as l have gotten sick with food from 5 star hotels twice and other “nice” places. It’s just a matter of luck l think, it can happen everywhere. I just don’t like street food..anywhere. Not even in Nigeria do l eat street food. Nowhere. I am just like that. i will however drink anywhere :-). Thanks for setting me straight on the Hinduism. Thanks also for reading and the comment.
Well written article.. I am indian and I definiteld want to add something here.
First of all, New Delhi is not equal to India. Generalizing whole India just on the basis of what you observed in Delhi would not be a good idea.
1.4 billion people in only 7th largest country has its own challenges. Yes, some cities are dirty but others are quite clean like Mysore, Navi Mumbai, lot others in south. There are many initiatives by Government and most of the people are serious about cleanliness.
Yes, I have seen these hogs but they mostly roam mear garbage dumps which I am not sure why someone would visit unless he/she wants to experience every aspect of the city.
I respect your views but if I would go to Iceland to see the Northern lights I wouldn’t mind extreme cold, expensive stay, inadequate vegetarian food etc.
I wish you a pleasant stay next time you visit India, especially go to Kerala and Jaipur
Thank you so much Ankit for that well thought out comment. I understand where you’re coming from. I understand that India just like every place else has different parts that makes it a vibrant country. My article was on what l observed and my opinions of New Delhi. I would never assume the whole country was like that and hearing from friends about different parts, I am positive my experience would have been different in Mumbai especially which is where everyone is telling me l should have visited.
My experience was limited to Delhi, Agra and Gurgaon (where my brother was being treated). I saw hogs everywhere in Gurgaon, not just close to the dumps and definitely without me trying to seek them out.
My article and pretty much eery other one l write is mainly about my experiences, both the good and not so good. I let people make up their own minds. I have a small audience and know l will never reach the heights of the popular bloggers because l refuse to write only about the good parts. I have become okay with that. When researching places to go, I hated reading the fluff, and only the fluff.
Thanks for stating your view without being a d**k :-), unlike people l had to remove because of my Amsterdam post especially. We all can’t agree about everything, but we should definitely show respect when stating our opinion. I think l would like to go to Mumbai, and maybe Jaipur if l get over there again. 🙂
Hey there,
Thanks for visiting India. I am sorry for the experience you had. Yes, there are dirty places but there is also so much more to see and experience India outside of Delhi.
Go to North East or Let or visit Kerela, The Himalayas in the North.
Please visit again!!
I’m pretty sure it was the feeling that it was so much like home that caused most of my knee jerk reaction. Truthfully, I wouldn’t pick home for me which is Nigeria to go to as far as for a vacation (dirt, noise. It seems like Mumbai should be on my list as far as going back and experiencing a different part of the country. My brother received the most top notch medical care in Gurgaon for which l will forever be grateful. The surgeon still calls him every so often to check on him which is unheard of in the States :-). Thanks very much for the comment… :-).
What you shown here is not the larger reality. Like any other country in the world, India to has it negatives but there are lot positives: our beautiful tradition our festivals, our food, our natural beauty. You have chosen a biased opinion with full of negativity which reflects your personality. If you want to travel and enjoy India there are millions reasons to be happy about it but if your intentions are to show negatives, you will find many in any part of the world.
I fully agree with you that this is not the total picture of India. The post is titled opinions of New Delhi an it is just that, my opinion. There are of course positives, which l wrote about as well. For instance, one of the most amazing days in my life was spent with a local in Delhi. We got to see the beautiful Humayun tomb that l wrote about here, not to mention the top notch medical care that my brother received in Gurgaon that l also wrote about, care that l would put up against any in the world. I also did write about a beautiful festival that we got to witness. Since my personality is reflected negatively by you for that article, I can only assume that my personality is reflected positively in the above.
As someone from Nigeria, I have read horrible things about my country, most bad, very very few good, and l know that we as a nation are more than what little people see when they visit. Not everyone is going to like the same places. My brother for instance has to go back for yearly checkups in Dehli post operation and he stays there 3 months at a time, not because of checkup, but because he loves it there. I don’t begrudge him that at all. For me, it reminds me too much of home and when l go on holiday, I want to relax and forget my troubles.
The good thing about the internet is that there are a billion and one bloggers who write nothing but the rosy life in every single place they visit. I like to share all my experiences, and l want to read about other peoples real experiences too. If you notice from the comments, no one is saying they don’t want to visit Delhi because of what l wrote, it’s just telling them what else to expect.
Thanks for your comment and for taking the time to add your voice.
Hi Kemkem,
I just came across your article, and I find it interesting but not surprising. I am an Indian from the North Eastern part of the country, Assam, and for the past 8 years I have been living in Europe, mainly UK and Belgium. Indeed, new age bloggers and “influencers” visit the same pretty insta-worthy places together and put up an image that is almost impossible to live up to at times, even for the western countries. .. India, being a third world country, has many internal issues no doubt, but none that can be surmised in one picture or by one city such as Delhi. It is quite unfortunate that we in India are not able to offer better experiences to foreigners when it comes to tourism, and I feel sincerely sorry for you and your husband’s terrible experiences. Thank you also for sharing the fact that it felt indifferent to you, definitely respect this well thought out opinion instead of dismissing it altogether. Although, I do hope people who commented negatively about India without ever visiting it or knowing much should have more educated opinion about it, since it wouldn’t be fair if I formed an opinion about USA based on what I read about just Detroit or the ghettos of Harlem.
To add a few points, I have never much liked Delhi myself. Back in the days it used to be one of the most well organised, well maintained cities in India due to its political importance, but the dirt, the smog, the grit and poverty are definitely a turn off, which bothers even other Indians like me, as not every state in India is this unruly. The freely roaming animals are in most part quite harmless, even the hogs. Not trying to justify their existence but the cultural shock is real, especially for people not used to animals on street.
In my opinion, most big cities are not worth it. I hated Mumbai even more than Delhi, the constant noise, the awful smell, the heat and the dirt was too much for me, so please don’t have higher hopes. But for me, I have very low opinions on both London and Paris too since visiting them multiple times. Two of the most romantized cities I would NEVER want to live in, or care to visit unless necessary. The whole upity culture is off putting for me. Amsterdam felt like a madhouse with soooooo many people everywhere, and Rome was full of thieves. But, in every metropolitan city, the standards really differs from region to region and they all have their plus and minus.
Coming back to the similarities (or indifference rather) between our native countries, surely you have some good things to offer in Nigeria? I would love to visit it someday. As for India, whenever I speak to my friends about it, I always tell them to steer clear from the big cities. They should only ever be used as pit stops for airport transfers. I believe, if you would have visited Kerela, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Meghalaya, Leh, Ladakh, Hyderabad, Chennai or Mysore, you would have had a much better experience (although I cannot guarantee the free animals :p).
Either way, thank you for your honest opinion 🙂 I hope you like mine.
Regards,
Jahnabi
OMG! I just love your comment. I truly wish we could seat face to face and talk :-). I think we would get along because you understand what l was saying, at least trying to say on this post. I agree completely about the influencers. How can a whole country be summed up by one picture of a giant floppy hat and a prop (holy, sacred, touristy etc site)?. Sometimes l feel so old because l just don’t understand how things got this way, and so quickly. The vanity has surpassed everything else…haha! I should stop.. I said it all in a blog post on pet peeves of travel. Just will surmise by saying l stopped reading so many so called blogs because everyone is an expert after 5 hours in a place. Amsterdam was not a place l liked either, Prague being another despite the fact that most sing their praises. We all just have different tastes, and that is a good thing. London is all you said and more,, but yet l love it. Go figure!
Federico was born and raised in Rome, leaving for the U.S at the age of 29 and he would be the first to tell you he feels the same as you do. It’s filthy, and definitely has a lot of problems, just like Nigeria, and just like a lot of other places, including a LOT of places in the U.S, but of course we all have pride still as they are our homes but that doesn’t mean we should not be objective. His experience was definitely tainted by stomach bug and mine was tainted by having to take care of him.
You should know l am a total chicken and run from everything bigger than a roach. I just finally started being a bit comfortable around pigeons, and show me a stray cat, I will scream and run…and l have done so much to the embarrassment of friends at outdoor cafes etc. My brother on the other hand, being used to this at home in Nigeria already wasn’t bothered. I try not to talk about personal things about my family (except marriage), but he actually had one of the health coordinators that he had made friends with come back to visit Nigeria after his Delhi checkup and it was no surprise to me that he said it reminded him a lot of home…haha!
For me, when l go home, I have a lot of guilt because the class discrepancy is so huge and l realize that l was born lucky compared to most…so l usually overcompensate…giving away lots of clothes, money etc.. I therefore choose to go to other places when l have a vacation if that makes sense. It’s an escape l know but l like it. Nigeria does have a lot of cultural things to offer, not touristy places a such so l doubt it will ever become “Instagram worthy” . We are more into parties, be it weddings, births, death..you name it and we will party. The North with its problem with terrorists have prevented people from enjoying the natural beauty.
I hope you get to visit Nigeria one day too so you can see just how similar they are. You’re the third or fourth person l think who has mentioned Kerala and Chennai to me. If the opportunity comes up again, I will definitely be game. As far as the free animals, I will keep running away from them, just l like l do when l visit Lagos..haha! That will never change.
Thank you for taking the time to read the post and for posting your honest opinion. I truly appreciate it :-).
Hi Kemkem ! Beautiful article I loved to read and beautiful pictures. By the way I am from Roma just like your husband and believe me this city is getting worse by the day.
I am torn between going or not to India.I am ggathering as much info as possible and your article is one of the best I read so far, honest and truthful.I see India as a huge country in which poverty and wealth are too far apart from each other, a bit like in Brazil, or even worse. What scares me the most, anyway, is the practically certain belly disease ( ti put it mild ) that EVERY traveler will experience there…it’s not funny to be sick while you travel,experienced firsthand in Mexico and it made miss so much out of that trip !At the end of the day I do not know what to do ,in the meantime I’ll keep doing my research 🙂
Chiara
Hi Chiara! Thanks so much for your kind words. I really appreciate it. Wonderful that you’re from Roma as well and l feel you regarding how bad things are getting. It seems to be happening everywhere and l suspect these so called leaders also have no clue how to solve the problems. I’m afraid it’s going to keep getting worse.
When we travel, I try to write honestly about what l experienced, all of it, good and bad. I understand that sometimes people get upset because we all like to think of our homes as the best place, but l don’t think any place is perfect and it’s healthy because the whole point is to let others know what to expect. The gap between the poor and the rich is indeed very wide in India, exactly like in Nigeria. Hahah! I was laughing at how delicately you put the belly disease. No, it is definitely not fun.
My advice to you as a pharmacist is to take these two things with you: Loperamide (Imodium) and Cipro pack (antibiotic). Sometimes just the imodium alone will do it, but it if gets worse then the Cipro twice a day for like 3, maximum 5 days definitely does it. Just make sure you are not allergic to that antibiotic. Don’t let that stop you though. Knowing how Federico’s stomach is, we always travel with it now.
Thanks again for the comment :-).