I visited India, a great land and people

But our travel company clearly had a disconnect with the local guides

Even though there were an India only tour company

One such problem was that Indian food is very different from your local Tandoori

In Delhi, when we asked for a recommendation to eat, we were told “there is a lovely pizza restaurant around the corner”

Now there is pretty much a pizza house on every corner in London

Why would I travel to India to eat pizza?

Clearly the guides were concerned that the food would be too hot

And we would get “Delhi belly” 

But surely we were not the first people to expect an “Indian experience in India”

There were then a number of organizational errors

We had a overnight train trip were we had beds booked

Getting on the train we find we had seats at different ends of the train

I said I wasn't prepared to leave my (female) friend alone or our luggage alone

A call was made to the local travel agency managing us

There was a discussion with the train guard and two beds were found

(The local guide paid an “incentive” to the train guard) 

As we travelled through the country we were handed off to each local travel agency

Once this happened a guide happened to show me a print out of his email 

The different agencies had been passing on the message that

“Mr. Tim, is picky and fussy”

In conclusion, while our journey through India had its challenges, some miscommunications, logistical hiccups, and a few unexpected cultural differences

The experience highlighted just how incredible this country truly is

India is a land of breathtaking beauty, rich history, and vibrant culture

But more than anything, it is the warmth, resilience, and generosity of its people that leaves a lasting impression

Despite the bumps along the way, I left with deep admiration and respect for this remarkable nation and its people