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   Adrianna Tan (skinnylatte@hachyderm.io)'s status on Wednesday, 08-Jan-2025 05:31:08 JST Adrianna Tan

   Fascinating to see that the comments on this post about visiting India shows that the country still has a long way to go re PR and branding. (People were saying exactly the same things when I started going 20 years ago)

   India is the country I have spent the *most* time in, I really enjoy visiting, I have been *everywhere*. I also don't think it's necessary to 'sell it' as a concept to someone else who isn't ever going to like it. It's not an easy country to 'get', but it's even easier to make assumptions about it without ever really knowing anything about it.

   I haven't been in a while coz Covid, but next time we go, we are going to my fave stomping grounds: Kolkata for kathi rolls, Darjeeling for some Himalayan fun (and tea), Wayanad for some southern hills, then probably the train to Gorakhpur so I can head into Nepal by land to see good friends.

   https://marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevolution/2025/01/how-to-visit-india-for-normies.html

   #Travel #India

   • Embed this notice
     Adrianna Tan (skinnylatte@hachyderm.io)'s status on Wednesday, 08-Jan-2025 05:33:56 JST Adrianna Tan

     in reply to

     My Singaporean Chinese parents recently went with my friend, for their wedding: I thought they would not like it at all but I was very surprised that they really loved it.

     For people who are adventurous, it has a lot to offer.

     I'm a little sad that my new location (in N America) means I go there at most once a year now, instead of once a month, or whenever I want to go (it's US$200 to get there from Singapore / Malaysia)

   • Embed this notice
     Sean Bala (seanbala@mas.to)'s status on Wednesday, 08-Jan-2025 05:36:21 JST Sean Bala

     in reply to

     @skinnylatte Great post! I lived in India for five years (New Delhi) and I came to understand that some people just embrace it and others can't run away fast enough. We used to say at my university that you could tell which professors would only last a semester and which would never leave. After a lot of thought, I think it boils down to a comfort with chaos and being adaptable and open. Your point is apt - some people are just not going to like it, no matter how well packaged it is.

   • Embed this notice
     Adrianna Tan (skinnylatte@hachyderm.io)'s status on Wednesday, 08-Jan-2025 05:46:24 JST Adrianna Tan

     in reply to

     At the same time, I also know a ton of people who have this assumption that 'the only places worth vacationing in' are those that are 'clean' and 'luxurious'. I saw someone say they didn't think Lombok was worth visiting because it was 'full of sad poor people' unlike 'Bali'. If someone is going to say that, and outright says they don't want to see that poor people exist, there's no reason anyone should encourage them to see the world outside of the world's biggest luxury hotspots. Let them have at it. Even if they are in a 3h traffic jam in Bali to get to like, Potatohead or something like that.

     My own thoughts on recreational travel have also changed, in that I'd like to do less of it, especially by air, but at the same time India is always 'home' for me in some way: my friends, family friends, and the organization I have built over the last 13 years there (an education nonprofit).

     I'm thankful to have this deep relationship with a place that has so much to offer.

   • Embed this notice
     Adrianna Tan (skinnylatte@hachyderm.io)'s status on Wednesday, 08-Jan-2025 05:51:13 JST Adrianna Tan

     in reply to

     • Sean Bala

     @seanbala That was one of my core requirements in a life partner. I knew that I could not be with a person who did not 'get' India: it is a big part of my life!

   • Embed this notice
     Adrianna Tan (skinnylatte@hachyderm.io)'s status on Wednesday, 08-Jan-2025 05:54:33 JST Adrianna Tan

     in reply to

     • Dev

     @dev like with most things, 'probably racism and ignorance' and 'probably hackernews' lol

   • Embed this notice
     Dev (dev@discuss.systems)'s status on Wednesday, 08-Jan-2025 05:54:34 JST Dev

     in reply to

     @skinnylatte wow that’s some vitriol in comments from people who probably have no plans to travel. Did the article go viral somewhere bad.

   • Embed this notice
     Adrianna Tan (skinnylatte@hachyderm.io)'s status on Wednesday, 08-Jan-2025 06:05:01 JST Adrianna Tan

     in reply to

     • Dev

     @dev i've traveled all over india (and the world) as a single female traveler. there are things to be mindful of.

     but often when those folks say those things they are also often speaking for others, and without personal experience.

   • Embed this notice
     Dev (dev@discuss.systems)'s status on Wednesday, 08-Jan-2025 06:05:02 JST Dev

     in reply to

     @skinnylatte public safety is an interesting aspect, anecdata means very little, and a lot more factors are a part of it, but I’ve never felt as unsafe anywhere and any time in India as I did 9pm last night, walking home in Berkeley. It was a guy yelling slurs and following me.

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     Edelruth In The Wrong Timeline (edelruth@mastodon.online)'s status on Wednesday, 08-Jan-2025 06:07:48 JST Edelruth In The Wrong Timeline

     in reply to

     @skinnylatte

     Now I want to go.

   • Embed this notice
     Adrianna Tan (skinnylatte@hachyderm.io)'s status on Wednesday, 08-Jan-2025 06:07:48 JST Adrianna Tan

     in reply to

     • Edelruth In The Wrong Timeline

     @Edelruth ping me any time you might go to anywhere in south or southeast asia. i will have ideas for you.

   • Embed this notice
     Adrianna Tan (skinnylatte@hachyderm.io)'s status on Wednesday, 08-Jan-2025 20:09:44 JST Adrianna Tan

     in reply to

     • ciddhic

     @ciddhic I’ll never not go to Bombay when I am there! So much to do / see / eat, and friends to see!

   • Embed this notice
     ciddhic (ciddhic@mastodon.social)'s status on Wednesday, 08-Jan-2025 20:09:45 JST ciddhic

     in reply to

     @skinnylatte This is the post that made me come out of hiding. I'd add Bombay if you can between Calcutta and Wayanad. I could get on a flight just for this: https://jaijawanfoods.com/ and also Malvani seafood. I grew up in Calcutta and have opinions on kathi rolls, as does everyone (my favourite is Zeeshan). If you really want to roadtest the stomach of steel though, I dream of churmur most nights.