Hannah’s Weblog

My final entry. I feel a little sad as my blog has become a dear friend to me during my time in India and Nepal. My connection to the outside world, my voice to my friends and loved ones and the vehicle in which i have been able to share and communicate my thoughts, feelings and experiences……

I feel and have felt from the early days of my trip that I would like to dedicate this last entry to my travelling companion and best friend Kim……She may not ever read this, or maybe in a few weeks she will, but I don’t necessarily feel that this is important. During our trip we found that we synchronised in so many bizarre, wonderful and truly unreal ways. Finishing each others sentences, thinking the exact same random thoughts and the exact same time, a connection that I feel lucky to have had with someone.

When I have thought about travelling before I have always struggled to think who I would travel with. Not only who I would travel with, but who I could spend 13 weeks solidly with, who I could be completely comfortable with, loose all inhibitions and sense of privacy around….. It is a partnership that pushes all boundaries and tests you to the max. I am therefore proud to say that Kim and I did it, we made it, our mothers are amazed, Kim and I possibly are too, that we did not argue once, and mumbled along comfortably and happily. Our relationship has gone beyond and above. We have always been close, since we were born, but the fact that we got along so very well is something I am very surprised of, proud of and smug about.

The idea to travel India arose when Kim visited me in Japan last September. I managed to get some time off work and we set off with our lonely planet and backpacks. I had been living in Japan for 11 months by then, and had travelled quite a lot, but always as someone who lived there. I was therefore surprised how differently I felt and how differently I was perceived by the Japanese once I was with Kim. It was amazing how I was treated as soon as the ‘back pack’ was on and the lonely planet was out! Living somewhere foreign I personally felt a level of independence that I had to withhold, communicating through their language for example. Therefore when Kim just went up to people and asked in English I was shocked how well she was treated and how far she got through doing this. Suddenly I was a back packer, every where we went people wanted to help us, and I managed to in some ways achieve a lot more with this persona. It was a strange realisation and definitely sparked my desire to go travelling.

Whilst Kim was in Japan we both knew that we would be able to travel together. She was there a month and we got along fantastically well the entire time, this in itself was an achievement as we are so close we are prone to bicker like sisters do. Whilst in Japan, we met a German guy in Sapporo. He said something to us, that will stay with me forever. We had only been with him a short while but he commented on our closeness and relationship almost immediately. He said that Kim and I are two side of the same coin…..a lovely comment, that made us in some ways feel even closer. We were only with this guy a short time, but he managed to some up our relationship so perfectly. And he was spot on I think, in some ways Kim and I couldn’t be more different but in a way that works and this is why I think we managed so well together. As a travelling pair we offered a lot to who ever we meet, our differences meant that we could and did get along with whoever we met. Offering a range of conversations, a mix of past experiences, and this enabled us I believe on some level to make the amount of friends that we did. I think David would say, “you are same same but different” a phrase commonly used in Asia…..so so true!

I can honestly say that I don’t know many people that are continually smiling, chatty and so up beat. Kim is a rare gem and I am so fortunate to have her in my life. She has put up with me for 13 weeks, and I have to thank her for this. Especially on the days when I have needed to be within my own thoughts, and probably not been the best company, she has remained with me, not given up and helped bring a smile to my face. This understanding that we have is why we avoided arguments and maintained a balanced equilibrium throughout the entire trip.

Leaving India is the end of an era. The love hate relationship that so many people have with India is difficult to come to terms with, therefore I will be back. India has ingrained itself under my skin, and I have to thank India for allowing me and my friend to come, travel, learn, photograph, taste, experience and live there for 13 weeks. A few other thanks have to be given, as I feel this is important. Thanks has to go to Sleeper trains…..These trains, with or without a/c depending on the money situation have safely and smoothly taken us all over the Indian sub continent. The chai men, who were always there when we needed them, serving deliciously hot sweet tea at a price we could always afford! Parle G, our favourite biscuits. Internet cafes for allowing me to even write this blog. Cafe Coffee Day, which actually needs a special thanks, for its ice sparkles and blasting a/c. Cafe Coffee Day, Kim and I are truly thankful for your cheery staff, comfy chairs and scrummy cakes. My back pack. Which weighed 20kg, I will miss having all my belongs with me. My hiking boots….cheap but amazingly comfortable during my trek in Nepal. Thank you to all the wonderfully kind Indian people who have smiled when we needed kindness, pointed us in the right direction when we needed help and served us some of the most delicious food I have ever eaten when we needed re-charging. I also want to thank everyone who has read my blog and commented, I have appreciated all the comments and have been encouraged by all your positive words……

India I am thankful to you for allowing me all these experiences, I will miss you but will one day visit again.