Ella Georgina

India is one big sensory overload, a completely overwhelming experience that I was sure I would fall in love with.

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Before this trip I had heard of the ‘magic of India’ how the country totally captures you into this immense experience that opens your mind and heart. India has a stunning paradox of hope and chaos, magic and madness where the every changing environment is hard not to fall for.

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Throughout my travels I have learnt there is beauty in everything, sometimes you just have to look a little deeper, but it is always there. This is one of the main reasons I love photographing people here, who knew old people sat on their doorstep could look so beautiful?!

When you travel, of course you are graced with the extremely humble and kind people here, people go out of your way to help you, to ensure you are comfortable and looked after. But also, people go out of their way to hurt you, scam you and to make your life a lot more difficult than it needs to be. As backpackers we have not had the fancy, luxurious stay in five star hotels, we have slept in guest houses and hostels for £1 a night, we have taken third class train journeys where we have slept on the floor by the toilet. So it it hardly surprising that we have not felt this ‘magic’? Is this something tourists feel when they pay for services, comfortable journeys and where staff are paid to wait on their every need?

India is overwhelming because it is different, so immensely crowded and culturally diverse. A place so different to anywhere I have ever travelled before. Yes this country is beautiful, the colour, architecture and history is indescribable; but this ‘magic’ may be something the government advertises to hide the immense over popularity and disregard for animals, the environment and unmindful neglect for human welfare.

A slightly controversial post but I thought it was important to voice a different view to other blogs I have read.

Thank you for reading.

Ella x

India is hard. India is more difficult than anywhere I have ever travelled to before, but I knew it would be. The hard faced contrast of the naked children sleeping in the shelter of a £20 tourist attraction doesn’t seem to make sense and it makes you angry at the world. But yet again I am pushing my white, western views onto a nation which is so very different to my own.

As budget backpackers we say no to things, do things as cheaply as we can but to do so is such an immense adventure and an incredible privilege to do so. We stay in 12 bed dorms and take long uncomfortable journeys but we do this clutching our iPhones and Raybans.

I sit in my Uber as pregnant women and children beg for money and tap on the windows, I am dressed in my flashy new scarf, of course I feel guilty, should I give everyone money? Should I buy every keychain, bracelet and pair of headphones that I’m offered? Is it helping or should I buy them food or just look away? However I react I know that I am not helping. I get angry with the amount of attention that I get, people pinching, poking and constantly touching me. It’s hard not to get frustrated but I understand how I look like a money flashing advertisement of a life, that so many, could only dream of living.

I don’t know what I’m trying to say here. The world of cruel and whatever I do I am not helping. Have gratitude for everyday and do not take anything for granted, I’m sure if anyone is actually reading this, they are luckier than they could ever imagine.