Incredible !ndia

I just returned to the US from a 15 day tour of 5 cities in India-- New Delhi, Varanasi, Agra, Jaipur and Udaipur-- and what an experience it was!  In two words it was a sensory overload!  There is so much to see, hear, smell, taste and feel. As I scroll through the photographs in my camera I keep wanting to edit each picture to somehow add some sound and smell; the images alone cannot adequately capture the richness of the culture, people, places and experiences.

This trip to India is my first major international trip (talk about jumping in headfirst), and it will not be my last.  If you haven't traveled overseas you MUST.  It is an exhilarating experience. As Bill Bryson rightly said "I can't think of anything that excites a greater sense of childlike wonder than to be in a country where you are ignorant of almost everything."

International travel makes you acutely aware of just how big and small the world is.  There are so many beautiful differences from continent to continent and country to country, and at the same time there are so many similarities.  Regardless of the differences in religion, social customs, cuisine and language, the need to love and be loved, pursue happiness, and achieve some measure of success (among other needs) is universal.  I made several new friends Deepak, Raj, Pankaj, King Singh (a real modern day King in Udaipur), Enrique & Mayra from Spain and Wayneny & Milton from Grenada, and I even have an invitation to return to India for a wedding in November!

In the next series of blog posts, I will share my experience of travelling to India.  One post will simply not do.  I'll talk about everything from applying for a visa, and packing, to transportation and hotels as well as a chronicle of my time spent in each city.  I'll also provide some helpful tips and things to watch out for if you decide to take a visit to Incredible !ndia. :)

Until then, enjoy the slideshow it's only 130 photos long!

Incredible !ndia Slideshow: Avaleen’s trip from Atlanta, Georgia, United States to 5 cities New Delhi, Jaipur, Agra, Udaipur and Varanasi was created by TripAdvisor. See another India slideshow. Create your own stunning slideshow with our free photo slideshow maker.