Visiting India is not for everybody and there are plenty of people that wouldn’t be interested. But it has always been a country I’ve wanted to see. While I may say that for most places I’ve never been to, India has always fascinated me. Through my close Indian friends, I’ve learned about their unique traditions, vibrant customs, and rich culture.

Non-existent traffic rules

The traffic was as I expected, especially in Mumbai. It’s chaotic, congested and loud with impatient honking every minute. It reminded me of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam but with more cars than motorbikes.

Diverse food options

I was pleasantly surprised by the diversity of food in India. While there are fast-food chains like Mcdonald’s and Burger King, there was also a variety of international cuisines like Chinese, Italian, Burmese, and Irani. Dishes usually have bolder Indian flavors to suit the locals but also milder options for tourists such as myself. The food was generally delicious.

Modern interiors

While some buildings and areas looked dated, dingy and old, a lot of interiors were chic and modern. I was happy to visit cute boutiques, eat at trendy cafes and admire hip street art in Mumbai.

English is widely spoken

India has hundreds of languages… (yes languages and not dialects) and there are 22 widely recognized include Hindi, Tamil, and Bengali. But due to British influence, English is also widely spoken and the common language to communicate with all Indians. To my surprise, it was easier to communicate in India compared to Japan or parts of Mexico. TV ads and the newspaper were in English, and you rarely see poorly translated signs.

Fresh air is sacred

I have a new perspective on poor air quality after I passed through the Delhi airport during a layover. Even though I was indoors, it felt harder to breathe with the air quality index at 300 (Very unhealthy!). Now I know to only return to Delhi when air pollution is lower.

While I only visited Mumbai and Coimbatore, India was as exciting, vibrant and different as I expected. Most people love it or hate it. I definitely loved it and would be back to see more.