Why India?
Reason #1:
One of the reasons why I chose India is because I expect it to be like nothing I have ever seen in my life. Many of us have probably seen the movie “Slumdog Millionaire,” or the nerve wrecking car scene in “Eat, Pray, Love,” when Julia Roberts is on her way to the ashram. Well, this is how I imagine India – chaotic, overcrowded, and, at the same time, full of beauty and contrast.
Reason #2:
India is the second most populated country in the world and growing exponentially. It is a nation with a strong desire to catch up with the Western world, which is the second reason why I am visiting. I want to experience India before it has achieved its goal and altered its identity forever.
Reason #3:
India is a magic place. It simply intrigues me. Maybe it is the squeezy feeling I get when I imagine myself lost within this fascinating and ineffable culture. I admire the beautiful traditional costumes, the inspiring festivals, and the colorfulness found everywhere. Yoga originated from here.
It is a place where
– a cow gets the right of way.
– the Dalai Lama found refuge for more than fifty years.
– the venerable religion of Hinduism prevails.
My itinerary
My plane touches down in Kochi on August 26th, 2011. This is where my solo adventure starts! Then it is only me and my backpack traversing through Southern India.
From Kochi, I am following the coast, heading southbound towards Trivandrum. After reaching Nagercoil, my most southern stop in India, I will be changing direction traveling inland towards Madurai. Then, continuing my Northeast direction, I will pass through Thiruchirapalli on my way to the east coast’s beautiful city of Pondicherry. After a few days of cooling off in the Bay of Bengal, it is time again to follow the coast further up north to the metropolis of Chennai. From there, I am going straight west to Bangalore (Bengaluru) located in the heart of Southern India.
On October 1st, 2011 I will kiss the south good-bye to immerge myself in the capital of India, New Delhi. I am leaving India for Nepal on October 5th, 2010. However, a return to India is planned from November 30th to December 5th for a visit in the megacity of Bombay.
My plans
Even though my itinerary seems pretty planned out, I have no idea if I will actually follow it. My plan is to be as open and spontaneous as possible. I will book my train tickets as I go in order to stay flexible. Also, I am hoping to come across a nice, quiet ashram where I can retreat from the hustle of the cities for reflection, meditation, and yoga practice.
Finding Franzi 