denidax's Guestbook

Happy to be alive and back home with Ella and Dex
I know people who have gotten sick and many who have not. We've got a friend from the U.S of Indian decent and she got deathly ill visiting family. I was sure it would be bad for me as I get food poisoning frequently. I am pleased to say it didn't happen. You were eating in upscale places and still got sick. You just never know. When we were there i would not eat from street vendors in this country. I was not will to risk it. I feel like we got to see the real India but we were only there for a short while. Glad you are home and happy. Hopefully our paths will cross soon.

India
I was in India too in 2001. I went to Delhi, Jaipur, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Madras, Bubaneshwar, Varanasi and Agra. I used Inland flights and night trains. But to be honest I was happy when I was out of the country again. Otherwise than in China for example. The dirt and the poverty in India are really remarkable.

Lucky, Unlucky....
Your adventure started like a dream come true, 5 star trip to India, and ended like a bit of a nightmare, hospital visit and over-the-top heat. It seems that is the story with so many travels to India. It reminds me that travel is like life itself, sometimes very tough and sometimes very lucky. I'm glad you're better now. You can be sure you'll have a more interesting story than most to tell about your travels to "incredible" India.

So glad that you're okay -- so scary being sick all on your own. Though it was a quick trip, I loved reading your blog on it and, as Andrea commented previously, your honesty about it. I've heard so many similar stories in terms of first impressions in India and many folks saying that it requires months in "real India" before one can really appreciate it. And then more naysayers to that as well. Certainly an intriguing place!

I've been a little fearful of India and avoiding it for the same reasons you pointed out, but I don't think they will keep me from visiting. I liked your honestly about your air conditioned bubble, and I'm sorry you got so sick. About 99% of travelers that I speak with RAVE about India like its some kind of life altering experience and for that reason I plan to take a 6 week journey and really experience it all. Wish me luck!

What We Needed to Hear
Thank you for such an honest, and realistic, description of how life changes with children! We're in the "it's probably about time" phase and have also reassured ourselves that the reality of our lives will fall somewhere between the "You'll never travel again" doomsday warnings everyone else provides and the "It'll be the same, only with a third person!" optimism that we would like to delude ourselves can come to pass. We have just *finally* reached a place where we're able to travel more freely ourselves, so have wanted a good year or so of that, but so, so good to hear first-hand what normal expectations we can set for ourselves. Even without a child we love our couch a bit too much - ha! So it happens to the best of us. Happy adventuring in 2016!

The journey has begun!
Congratulations on starting the new year with your new adventurous direction! It is so tempting to stay where it's comfortable, and it's so much work to undertake a voyage, especially with the new Ella-constraints. But she's also such a great excuse to do fun things that you might not--visiting baby animals, flying a kite, maximizing park times. How fantastic that you live in London with so many glorious spots nearby (though I imagine she's not much good for palaces and cathedrals). Best wishes on continuing your exploring, and I loved the honesty of your blog!

We are talking about buying a couch!
We've been in a very similar situation with our daughter Olivia, who is 2 1/2 years old now. It's amazing how the time flies and, at the end of the day, it's so easy to find 30 minutes (maybe an hour, if we're lucky enough to stay awake) of TV to be the most relaxing/exciting part of the day. When the kiddos are young, a trip can also be a lot of work, but it seems like when they're easily entertained and able to walk on their own two feet, it starts opening up possibilities. Psttt -- parents may get "lives" again! Love this blog -- it made me laugh out loud and really empathize. Thanks for the inspiration to do more fun things in the new year! ;)

Get off that beautiful couch!
Please for your sake, for Ella's sake, get up and get going. We have good friends that sit down the last week of December each year with a calendar and plan activities for two weekends a month for the entire year. They know all the best parks and festivals. Many of their outings are free. They want to make certain they stay active. They have a few favorite locations that they go back to each year. You are young...don't let those healthy years pass you by-- allow the inner traveler out again. They are the go to friends if you want to know what to do in their part of our country. Often we prefer to be spontaneous but it sounds like you need to take some drastic steps so please get out the calendar and make some plans. We loved this blog and your honesty. Glad you didn't blame Ella for you becoming comfortable as it sounds like she is a terrific little traveler. Buy her a camera and take off! We'll be reading your blogs.

I love this blog!!!
It brings back so many memories of traveling around Europe when my kids were young. Please blog about your travels around the UK...and elsewhere. I guess it will be more difficult for us to meet up on the Camino in September, but if that is still a possibility let me know...I can send you my itinerary.