The memories are diffuse, faded, gone.
The fleeting encounters with the many people, their faces, their eyes, their voices - lost in the fog of oblivion.
A thousand faces, a thousand stories
But a lot is still there.
The memory of the smells, for example. The beguiling flavors in the markets. The scent of freshly cut flowers and exotic fruits whose names we have long forgotten. But also the stench of Exhaust fumes from millions of vehicles, of bitter-smelling clouds of dust hanging over the road like transparent veils. The stench of faeces, of rubbish rotting by the side of the road, of human exhalations.
The colors. The women's clothes. Worn elegantly like queens. The ones laid out to dry Tücher. Yellow. Red. Turquoise. Green. The sky in a blue that we do not know.
And the sounds. Honking. Endlessly. Incessantly. A cacophony of dread. The voices, in all the languages of the world. Children's laughter. Dogs barking. The roaring of elephants and camels.
The dream comes true
Many years have passed, the memories have faded. India is a distant dream that someone else must have dreamed.
And then, after many years, en route to Nepal, a short stay in Delhi.And in a fraction of a second everything returns. The smells, the sounds, the colors. The yellow and black taxis. The TukTuks. The crowd. The people. The millions of people.
And so I'm back
I feel like I've come home. In this crazy country.
It's a kind of bungee jumping. An extension of the possible. A perpetual dance with the elements. Bad roads, heavy traffic. Heat. holes and ditches. Suicidal Drivers. Stoned Drivers. Aggressive drivers. Disturbed Drivers.
And you always get the impression that you just made it.
And you always feel more alive than ever before.
A few tips about India
The north, especially the chapter about Rajasthan and Delhi, is described elsewhere, as well as Agra and the Taj Mahal, Khajuraho, Varanasi and more highlights. Here I limit myself to South India, so to Mumbai, Goa and all the wonderful places south of it ...
Mumbai
Mumbai is the sixth largest metropolis in the world. Most important trading city, economic center of an up-and-coming country. But not only. Mumbai (or known as Bombay until 1996) is fascinating, exciting, but also unsettling and disturbing in its force. A place that cuts your bones. It is pure life, in all its facets. Exorbitant wealth next to unspeakable misery. You should take your time, at least explore Colaba, the part of old Mumbai with a waterfront promenade that begins at the Gateway of India, on foot. Everything else is an encore ...
Goa
Once THE hotspot for hippies, now a popular getaway for locals who can't resist the seductive charms (access to alcohol and other offerings banned in the rest of the country) of the former Portuguese colony. A doubtful pleasure. But the beaches, the shacks along the sea, Calangute and all other sections of the long stretched state are still an experience.
Kochi
Früher Cochin called, is located in southwest India on the coast of the Arabian Sea. The city has a rich historical significance from Vasco Da Gama to the Dutch and British occupiers, who brought all kinds of clashes and destruction with them. Today the city - especially the Fort Kochi peninsula - is a wonderful place to relax and admire the sights. The Chinese fishing nets at the port are particularly well known.
Kanyakumari
The southernmost city of the subcontinent, located at Cape Komorin, where two oceans meet, namely the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal. Thanks to the temple of the virgin goddess Kumari Amman, the city has become a Hindu pilgrimage destination. At the place where Gandhi's ashes were scattered into the sea, a monument to him was built in the style of an Orissan temple (a rather hideous building, see article). The city is teeming with tourists, but it is doubtful whether the long trip to the southern tip of India is really worth it.
Madurai
One of the oldest cities in South Asia, is located in southwest Tamil Nadu on the banks of the Vaigai River and today has around 1 million inhabitants. Madurai's main attraction is Meenakshi Amman Templewhose towering gate towers dominate the cityscape, visible from afar. Madurai is definitely not to be missed. A visit to the temple, but also to its illustrious surroundings, is part of every travel plan. Although I caught an atomic diarrheal disease here, the visit remains in my very best memory.
Mysore
The legacy of the previous maharajas of Mysore attracts many domestic and foreign visitors to the city. The Amba Vilas Royal Palace is in the center of the city and was the residence of the maharajas of the former princely state of Mysore, whose descendants still inhabit part of the palace today. The palace is one of the most famous palace buildings in all of India.
Hampi
Was from about 1343 to 1565 Hampi the capital of a kingdom. At the height of its power it controlled almost all of southern India. Its capital is said to have had around 200.000, and according to other estimates even 500.000, inhabitants during the heyday. Today Hampi is only a village with 2777 inhabitants and has been part of the UNESCO-World Heritage. Wandering through the abandoned ruins of the former city, you find yourself in a deserted, dead world, and wonder what has caused the residents to leave their city. Water shortage maybe? That reminds us of a current topic.
Here to follow the trip ...