Planes, Trains, and Running Shoes

When I was in the 8th grade, I was assigned my first research paper. I don't remember the specific assignment but I do remember that I chose to write mine on the topic of Indian weddings. Growing up in a very, very (read: very) Indian community, I was always fascinated by the beautiful women who walked around the malls and grocery stores in magnificent sarees in bright colors and sparkling with jewels. I was fascinated by everything about India and have dreamed about going to India almost my whole life.

Well, I'm finally here.

In the market!

I wish I could tell you that India is amazing, wonderful, different and exciting. In fact, it is all of those things but for some reason, everything just feels so right here. It doesn't feel different at all, it absolutely is amazing, wonderful and exciting but all of it just seems so right. I can't even try to explain it.

Yesterday, I spent close to 12 hours walking through Bangalore with Syed, one of the two brothers who owns the hostel I'm staying at. He told me that he thinks that in a past life, I was Indian and while I don't believe in reincarnation, maybe he's right.

India is incredible though. It's loud and crowded, busy and charming, quaint and chaotic, all at the same time.  It's the most colorful place I've ever seen and I love everything about it. I decided to start my trip in Bangalore, (South India), the Silicon Valley of India and as a result, the most developed part of India, because I wanted to see India's potential before really venturing out into the rest of India where it's less so. We'll see how my perception of India changes as I go through my journey though.

Bangalore's "Times Square"

I arrived late Thursday evening after nearly 24 hours of traveling and 2 hours of Bangalore traffic to the smiling faces of Sid and Shakir, the two brothers who own the hostel I'm staying at...which is the nicest, cleanest, most pleasant hostel I've ever stayed at. They knew it was late and that I would be tired and hungry so upon my arrival, they had muffins and water out for me along with a pile of menus for which to choose dinner from so that by the time I had freshened up and settled into my room, my dinner was plated and waiting to be eaten on the dining table downstairs. The service is impeccable and the food...Hello Indian food in India, you are everything I wanted and more.

I slept until about noon (which I desperately needed to do) and woke up to an Indian breakfast which, although it was very tasty, is a bit too dinner-like for my tastes, before heading out for the day with Sid, my handy tour guide who took me all over Bangalore and really helped me to get under the skin of this city and see it for everything it is. We shopped and ate, haggled and bargained, took auto rickshaws which, as the Indians say, are more thrilling than Universal Studios (very true, I was clutching my seat so hard, my knuckles were white!) and I came home with 2 beautiful salwars which I can't wait to wear...once I buy some sandals and get some mehndi, of course!

Temples are in abundance here!

 Our day ended and I went to sleep. I tried to wake up for a run this morning but jet lag was worse today than it was yesterday so I slept until 11 and now Sid is taking me and another American girl who is staying here to see the Botanical Gardens, go to a Bollywood movie and get some mehndi.

It's going to be the perfect day in India.

Bangalore, you have stolen my heart.

By the way, my layover in Rome was absolutely perfect and I truly do love Bangalore...although I can't really say I've been to India until I've traveled through some more of it, but that starts tomorrow.

I hope you all are doing fantastic and having a wonderful weekend!