What is your first impression when you hear about India? As we are growing up in the conservative and traditional culture, Cambodia. Girls cannot do this, cannot do that, girls don’t allow to travel solo, girls don’t allow to drink at club, it is all about our parents have spoken to us since we were younger. India is so far traditional and conservative from other countries in the world, I mean if they are living in the countryside, for people who settle life in city, like Bangalore, women are enjoying life, she can hang out till late night, drink and dress whatever she wanted.
Back to last ten years what was my first impression about India, frightening, scaring and worrying, because what I have heard, seen from the TV news, a lot rape cases was raising every single day, that made me concern about the safety, till 2015 I had met my best friend (AB) after I started to understand about the real situation and their cultures, the worrying started getting small, anyways it depended on where would you go in India, but never solo to Mumbai and Dahli.
September 2019, I booked a flight to Bangalore, India, where my best friend is living there.
Before I started booking flight I have made so many time decision, should I go or ?, I had to take care of my own safety, at the same time I want to prove, is that India unsafe place for women to visit? Finally, I got the ticket. I told my friends in Cambodia, that I was going to Bangalore, India. They said what? No way did not go there alone, I was trying to pursued them to go with me, but no one will. I am a kind of person who like to seek for people’s idea, but I never listen to them, always stick on my own opinion and decision, that what my friends said [I am asshole].
I told a lie to my parent at that time, she must worry and sleepless so I had no choice, told her I was going to visit Indonesia, but you know what Indonesia have caught the forest fire, she voiced me in FB, you were okay girl? The whole city was blowing with air pollutions. So, I had to reveal the true to her that, I was changing flight from Indonesia to India now, no worry about me. I was safe and sound. Actually, I never been in Indonesia haha. I wish my mom won’t read this.
I texted him (AB) in Bangalore, I was going to pay him a visit there, he was really happy and I told him that my arrival time might be overnight 2am in the morning, because there is only one flights a day from Bangkok to Bangalore, he helped me to book a taxi from the airport to the apartment, and tracked the taxi routes to make sure I was on tracking, the true I was worrying about my safety at 2am. I got on the taxi, was booked by him, the driver spoke English well, and we had some talk, suddenly the GPS tracking was disconnected, he could not find me on tracking, immediately I called him via FB, please reconnecting it right now haha, a little worry then I tried to control the situation, if it is the day time, I won’t be that nervous but man,,,,it was 2am. Thank god, I was safely arrived to my friend’s apartment, his wife was in sleep, he and another friend of him, keep waiting for my arriving, really thank guys.
Next, morning I had my tour around the neighbor of his apartment, seeing people selling stuff, doing their business, here is my first time to see the real Indian people with my eyes, how they look, how they living, and a lot cattle walking in the street, then I had some capture with them.
As long as you speak English there won’t be the troubles for you to travel to India. People keep eyes on me because they knew I was not the local, from my worrying before I entered to India was being better, they are really welcome and smiling, they respect the traveler and giving help when you need.
Because the sun was so heat at that time, and my friend called me back to have breakfast with him and his friends, we were on his friend’s cutie vehicle, driving to find breakfast, they had like coffee and snack, kind of easy one like pancake, oh no I don’t know what to say, and people loving using their hands-on food, no complaining here we just respect the different country has the different culture and living style, but I had my spoon on haha.
At night time, after his wife back from work, we went to the fancy restaurant in Bangalore, sound nice I could find my favorite dishes here, just in my thinking haha. We started order foods, they had almost everything like in Cambodia, but the tastes and sauces never go far from curry ingredients I could not stand for the strong flavors. I was trying to survive from the foods. And I knew that Indian people do like curry stuff, they cook everything with curry elements, I knew I knew but I never think it was that strong.
Early morning, I still was on my bed and hearing people was cooking, smell was so good, fried eggs, I love it, finally I got fried eggs yeah…..but… hold on ……… after eggs was done they put the curry stuff inside the pan, oh no I were dying again haha, there is only thing has no curry is beers, that’s why I drink a lot, Luckily I brought some instant noodles from Phnom Penh.
The next day, we were on road trip to the resort, a bit far from the city, had three cars at that time, his friends treated me so nice, I feel warm in heart like a home there. In the resort they had magic shows, swimming pool, playground for kids, foods and drinks serving, all including, just pay for the entrance ticket.
In Bangalore, the driving was a bit crazy, they like playing car horn the beep sound could break your ears, it never happens in Cambodia (I mean super super super horn), you will get punch on face if you keep playing car horn, I told you. So, the routines and daily actions will cultivate to become cultures, that what happens in India right now, people making car horn is the culture there.
The trip couldn’t be perfect, if without you guys (AB) thanks for the accommodation and companion, women are welcome to Bangalore with freely and safely, except the foods if you are not the curry lovers.
