Bus and Backpack India

The joy of the journey

I am experiencing the last two hours of a 16-hour bus ride from Jaipur to Amritsar. Departure time: 11:30 pm. The bus is a sleeper bus with double and single berths. This is my first experience in a berth, and given the extreme distance, the age of the bus, the conditions of the roads, the driver, and the traffic, it has been a jarring experience. Still, it feels good to put the backpack down for a while.

Perhaps I should explain something that some of you may not understand about this trip. This is not the Park Hyatt, Mandarin, or Six Senses kind of trip. Think more like, if the Econo Lodge and the Red Roof had a really bad-looking baby. Yeah, hostel life is definitely not for everyone, and the older you get, the less appealing it can become.

However, I am loving it. With the advent of Google, you can at least check reviews and find one, as was the case in Jaipur, that was clean in a hipster, funk, Indian vibe from the Caribbean kind of way. Nice, if you overlook the leaking skylight on the third floor, the lack of toilet paper, and no regard for time. I mean, if you tell me dinner is at 8 and you serve it religiously at 10, why not just say it is at 10 – I digress.

The travelling team

My colleagues on this trip are literally half my age. They are from Espailúdic – Escola Gestalt de Catalunya, my Gestalt program in Barcelona. Pep, my flat mate, is an experienced traveler throughout India and Asia and understands hostel life well. With his help, we are managing nightly stays at 9-10 star-rated hostels (truly an oxymoron) for about 8 USD with meals for about 3 USD more. A few times we have splurged and gone all out. For instance, Starbucks the other day in Delhi and a couple of nicer restaurants to give ourselves a break from the meals at the hostel. Which, by the way, are mostly vegetarian and very good. All the hostels so far have single room accommodations for a few dollars more. The third companion, Reimonda, takes this option whenever possible.

Keeping it simple

Taking advantage of this backpacking hostel residing approach can be hard on the body, yet the reward is full and rich. Keeping just off the beaten path and brushing up against the local life in a way the luxury vacations just can’t. The opportunity to talk to other explorers or to share a smile and conversation with a local shopkeeper or Tuk-Tuk driver are moments that cannot be forgotten. There is a MasterCard commercial that goes something like this: Hostel 8 dollars, dinner 3 dollars, the experience, priceless. It is truly how I feel. Each person represents a story that can move me in some way. The young woman traveling with friends she met at a concert because she did not want to return home to her arranged marriage. The young man carrying out his father’s dream to journey to the Golden Temple. On their own, these stories are powerful, but aggregated they are priceless.

Last Thought of the Day:

I would be remiss if I did not mention some of the remarkable places we visited in Jaipur – The Pink City Jaipur – Wikipedia, where we found ourselves delightfully challenged by eager shopkeepers and vendors, each passionately trying to persuade us to buy their unique wares. The Amber Fort Jaipur Amber Fort – Wikipedia was another highlight, where we wandered through the intricate maze of hallways and rooms, occasionally finding ourselves lost but always enchanted by the grandeur of the fort. However, one of the most fulfilling experiences was simply wandering through the vibrant streets, taking in all the rich sights, sounds, and smells of Jaipur.

It has been a long day following an even longer journey, yet our spirits remain high. The vibrant energy of the city, combined with the warmth of its people, has kept us invigorated. Each day is starting to blend into the next, speeding past us as we continue to explore and immerse ourselves in the cultural tapestry of Jaipur. The days are filled with new adventures, and every corner turned reveals another aspect of the city’s beauty and charm.