A walk through
India, Himalayas and Vietnam
James Samarji
"H
aving seen many smiling faces and
happiness in the face of adversity, I
learned that a smile can go a long way and
could even break down the language barrier,
only to be replaced by a mutual friendliness
and kindness. It has inspired me and granted
a special place in my heart for India,” says
James Samarji, a Manchester based British
Indian traveler, when I ask him what is his
biggest takeaway from his recent visit to India.
Samarji dropped out of his medical college of the traffic, and the narrow alleys crammed
with brightly colorful shops, selling fabric for
women's dresses and bright jewellery,” replies
Samarji in a Facebook conversation about his
first reaction when he reached India.
and worked in a supermarket and a tea
shop to collect enough money for his trip to
India, Nepal and Vietnam. He traveled India
primarily because he felt that India is a place
which is very different from the mundane and
regimented western society that he lives in. do not capture the true magnificence of this
wonder, which is simply mesmerizing.”
“No sooner had I arrived in Delhi than my
senses were hit with the smells, noise and
chaos of the city, which I was so looking
forward to. Everything was foreign, but I
absolutely loved it. I loved the ebb and flow
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Vol 5
After New Delhi, he went to Agra to see
the majestic Taj Mahal. “At first, I was very
skeptical about whether it would be as
impressive in real life as it’s in the pictures.
However, after seeing it, I believe, the pictures
After visiting Agra, Samarji went to Jaipur
and then from there took the train to
Mumbai where he met his grandmother's
family. “As soon as the front door opened of
the apartment, I felt that I was in a second
home. Their kind hospitality made me
feel very welcome and comfortable,” says
Samarji whose ancestors used to live in India.
Discovering about his family heritage was just
another reason why he visited India.
In Maharashtra, he explored the high-rise
jungle with his family members after which
he continued down the coast to Goa, where
he volunteered at Saraya Guest House, an
environment-minded guesthouse, art gallery,
workshop space, and restaurant. “There I
experienced another side of India, which is
at complete odds with the hectic city life. It’s
a very relaxed, free thinking, liberal minded
space with volunteers from across the world.
There I learned about growing vegetables and
doing things in a more environment-friendly
fashion.”
From Goa, he travelled further down to the
backpacker hotspots of Gokarna and Hampi,
and enjoyed economical accommodation,
spent days relaxing on the beautiful beaches,
and explored the surrounding scenery and
temples of Hampi.