India what I learnt and Sri Lanka what I am expecting

India- what i know now

So over the last few weeks I have made my way around India and I thought I would share what I have learnt.

1. Fwiends- Indian people are so friendly, people stopping on the streets to say hello with a smile is a really nice change from the stoic face you get in the UK. It seems that Indian people really embrace the saying, ‘a stranger is just a friend you have yet to meet’. 
2. Tuk tuks are not as terrifying as walking. India’s roads are just lethal. I have never known anything like it. Everything from the speed to the fact that everyone ignores road markings and drivers overtake on the brows of hills. This makes crossing roads very treacherous. Additionally because there is a serious lack of pavements even just walking down the street is a risk. Because of these factors I actually felt safer travelling in the back of a tuk tuk which could only go so fast and was able to weave in and out of the traffic.
3. Street animals- so it’s not just street dogs, it is street anything. Cows, goats, cats, dogs and pigs all roam the streets. The cars give them way and the local people give them food. The animals are generally well looked after and seem pretty happy.
4. Social economic changes- it is now mandatory for all children to attend school until the age of 14. The schooling is free of charge and every child is entitled to a free meal at school to help ease the costs for parents. India’s government has invested in new initiatives to improve the hygiene in India and is providing toilet facilities to people who live in remote villages. The importance of sanitation and good hygiene is also taught in school. Just after India gained independence the total GDP of India was 1.7% of world economy now today it is 6%. This is an increase of over 3x in just 80 years. India has the fastest growing economy. India is also the country that comes second in pulling people out of poverty. Between 1975-2007 China brought 700 million people out of poverty and India was second with 400 million people. India additionally has the Largest employment guarantee it is an initiative called the national rural employment guarantee scheme. The scheme ensures employment to 800 million people.
5. The impact of colonialism - I learnt so much about colonisation. I feel that either I missed this lesson in 
6. school or it just wasn’t taught. It has been so interesting hearing about the impact of it from so many people. I don’t think I can quite do an explanation justice here but maybe everyone should come to India to learn!
7. No Tesco?- there are no supermarkets. I couldn’t quite believe this at first. However every street has a little stall that sells all the basics such as biscuits, crisps, cigarettes and water. There are also fruit stalls around where the fresh seasonal fruit can be purchased. 
8. Chai is life- I did not know that I needed Masala chai in my life. It is basically a sweet spiced tea that has ginger and sugar added. I am now questioning how I am going to continue in life without it.
9. People want to take pictures...I am uncomfortable by people taking photos of me because I am white. To be fair I was not the most photographed of our group however I was quite disturbed by how excited people got about seeing white people. I understand that white people are a minority in India however I do not understand the point in the photograph. What are they going to do with that photo? The intention behind it worries me.
10. Sleeper trains are not fun- an 8 hour sleeper train Mumbai is not everyone’s cup of tea however this was how we chose to travel. I had heard horror stories about bugs and lack of space however I did not find these things the biggest issues but instead it was our fellow bunk companions.

I would say that India is one of the most unique places I have ever been. It is full of amazingly helpful, beautiful and kind people. I was not aware about the strides in improving issues such as poverty and hygiene before I arrived. I also did not appreciate fully how beautiful the architecture and arts are. I was in awe by the ability that in an increasingly westernising world India has still got a strong sense of identity and still promotes some of its oldest dances. I was also enchanted by bollywood and the glamour around it. 

Overall I have loved my time here and can’t wait to one day come back.

A few India highlights:

Sri Lanka- what I know now

So... this is going to be quite short. I know absolutely nothing about Sri Lankan history, nothing about the culture. I am assuming it will be fairly comparable with India. I think they have elephants and big cats. 

I think they may be good at cricket? I never really see them in massive sporting events like the Olympics doing fantasticly. 

I think it will be hot and the beaches will be beautiful. I think they will have markets with beautiful fabric. 

I am imagining there will be lots more curry and apparently I have heard that there are some coconuts?