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.
Ella x
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