Thursday 11 August 2016

India Diaries: We're going to India!

With my auntie in India 
Exciting news here. We are off to India next week!!! I booked our flights just last month and didn't want to say anything before we got our visas, a very time-consuming bureaucratic process which sometimes ends in rejection, but they were granted last week so India here we come! You may know that I'm half Indian and my dad was born in India. I've been fortunate to visit India many times since I was four years old and have family living in Kolkata, West Bengal. I've written about why I want to take my son travelling and I'm so excited to be taking him to India for the first time. It's funny to think that a quarter of him is Indian since he has blue eyes and fair hair :-) It will be such an amazing experience to show him this beautiful, colourful and vibrant country, visit with family and see all of my Indian relatives again. Like any other Indian family, I have so many cousins! I haven't been to India in six years so I'm really looking forward to seeing my Indian family again and this will be my son's first time outside Europe! He's been to France, Italy and Holland so far and this is our biggest trip to date.

Celebrating the New Year 2010
The outdoor market in Kolkata
I've been busy working it all out the past couple of months and while some parts of our trip will be travelling solo (just me and my son) a lot of it will be with extended family since my mum, brother and his family are also coming. I think it will be much more fun for my son that way because his six year old cousin (my nephew) is coming too and they get on so well & play together all of the time!

The Victoria Memorial, one of the biggest cultural sites in Kolkata
I am a little apprehensive about the trip especially in today's economic climate. I don't have to mention all the news articles in the past year or two for you to know what I'm talking about, there have been far too many incidents and it sometimes feels like a very sad world we live in. I do often wonder if we should stay put in the UK but even here anything could happen. And, of course, there is so much of the world to see and we can't let fear stand in our way, can we? My travel linky #MyFavouriteTrip has also given me oozes of inspiration seeing how other bloggers travel the world with small children.

I will probably find being solely responsible for an active three year old for three whole weeks a little challenging especially going to a country as big and busy as India! Amsterdam was actually a piece of cake but this time there will be a big change in climate (it will be summer and monsoon season!), a different diet, a huge cultural difference, sights of abject poverty and the land of 'Delhi belly'. But, it's also like nothing else; a treat for the senses, a country full of life, colour and friendliness and so much beauty it will leave you breathless. A land like no other. I'm just going to take everything in my stride and see how it all goes. Of course, having family around will help and kids often adapt much more easily than you think. I'm just so excited now I think I'll be living on adrenaline until we leave!

On top of the roof of the family house with my little cousin, Dipankar
I'll be writing more about where we're planning to go and what we want to see and will be writing under the label of India Diaries.

MummyTravels

Read more of my India posts:
India Diaries: We're going to India

Have you been to India? Have you taken kids to countries afar? I'd love to hear about your experiences.

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29 comments

  1. I haven't been to India yet but it looks like an amazing country. I'm looking forward to following your adventures, and bet your little one will have a great time!

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    1. Thanks very much, I'm very excited. You should go one day, it really is an amazing place.

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  2. I love India and have been a few times solo in the last few years. I think you will be fine. Enjoy!

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    1. Thank you Anne, would love to read about your trips there :-)

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  3. India is an amazing destination. I've been there during 3 weeks and will probably go back soon. It seems India is such a country where kids will have the sense of cultural differences on a daily basis. Greetings from Sahara desert...

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    1. Thank you very much, I had the best fun there when I was little. Hope you're enjoying the Sahara!

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  4. I think that your son will have a blast and he will be happy to look at your posts full of nice memories when he will grow up. Elisa

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    1. Thank you Elisa. That's true, lots of memories to make :-)

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  5. I have not been to India, but I have an idea of some of the culture and cuisine. I have read a lot about the place and I also follow IPL as well. I hope you and your son has a good trip so he can savor the memories.

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  6. Best of luck to you both! It will be an amazing experience for your son. Such a contrast in environment.

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  7. Have such an amazing time! Isn't India one of those countries that really embraces children? I'm sure that your kiddo will be enveloped in love immediately!

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    1. Thanks Julie. It's so true, I bet he's going to get so much attention! :-)

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  8. I think it's so great that your son will get to see India for the first time! It will be such a great experience and I'm sure your family is super excited to see him as well. Enjoy and safe travels!

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    1. Thank you, it will be lovely to introduce my son to the rest of my family for the very first time. I think they'll love him.

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  9. Safe travels around India with your son! #CityTripping

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  10. Returning to 'your' country India must be exciting! I hope you have enough time to see and visit everything you want. Enjoy! #CityTripping

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    1. Many thanks, I'm very excited about returning!

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  11. I love India so much!! I traveled there once & I really would like to go back!!
    Have a wonderful trip there!!
    xx
    Umberta
    https://thesecretlifeofanactress.blogspot.com/

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    1. Thanks so much Umberta, it's such an amazing country isn't it!

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  12. I look forward to reading how you get on. Brilliant that you already know the country pretty well and have relatives there too. Having a buddy for your son will prove very useful too. I've never been to India and feel it will be a little tricky with very young kids so interested to hear about your experience. Have a great trip! #citytripping

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  13. I haven't been to India yet but that Victoria memorial looks like a good place to visit more and more places added to my India list.
    Have a safe travels!

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  14. I wish you a safe and happy trip - like you say, trouble can happen anywhere, plus you're with your family a lot. I hope you have a wonderful time and I look forward to seeing all the beautiful photographs when you blog about it #citytripping

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  15. What an incredible trip. I haven't got closer than Sri Lanka and that was before my daughter. Lovely to be doing some of it with family- I'll be looking forward to reading more. Thanks for linking up with #citytripping

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  16. What an incredible trip. I haven't got closer than Sri Lanka and that was before my daughter. Lovely to be doing some of it with family- I'll be looking forward to reading more. Thanks for linking up with #citytripping

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  17. Couldn't have imagined you were half indian ! The visa process sounds as traumatic as it is for Indians travelling to England or the states etc. Haha!

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  18. Couldn't have imagined you were half indian ! The visa process sounds as traumatic as it is for Indians travelling to England or the states etc. Haha!

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