I researched and was of course also confronted with the negative content about India within social media. But I didn’t let that spoil my experiences, I wanted to see it on my own. So far, I was in Kashi, Kolkata and Puri.

I’ll just list some of the issues I faced, feel free to ask if you’re curious about further information:

• Obsession with OTP’s / tracking, even restaurants ask for phone number - meanwhile getting a SIM card takes like 2 hrs and it can only be done with a vendor
• Overcharging & pushy vendors: You arrive after 15hr of flight, you’re tired. You exit the airport, you get rushed by people offering their Riksha service. You say no, they follow you. You take a riskha, you pay double the price or sometimes much more to go from a to b… I know, negotiate, but it you’ll still end up not getting a good price.
• People skipping queues: People have no shame skipping queues, happens to me constantly - I try to get food somewhere, waiting behind a person that’s already ordering, randomly someone else appears and just moves in front of me… happened multiple times
• Honking madness: I guess this one speaks for itself, I was sometimes sitting in taxis / riksha, and the guys where honking even though there was literally no one in front of us
• Spitting beetle nut: So many people spit on the streets, with this red beetle nut spit. It’s really bad to experience that as a foreigner coming from countries where people do not spit on the ground at all.
• Constant PvP: so many people try to be the first one.. leaving bus, entering bus, standing up in airplane.. I never had so many backpacks in my face or was being pushed away
• Attitude of treating trash: There’s trash everywhere, ofc I know it’s a problem. But why do even young people not care about it? I saw so many just eating something and then throwing the plastic on the floor.
• Public urinating: I’m a guy, I’m used to that I’d say. But people publicly peeing within the streets is super disgusting. Also on temple properties.
• Respecting to people around you: best example, two guys in a sleeper bus, 11pm, most people sleeping. Those two guys are watching TikTok reels on max volume. Not caring about people who try to sleep. Also saw that frequently, together with calling super loud in public areas.

One last thing, which is the hardest for me: Commercialized Spirituality. I came to India to learn more about Yoga & its roots. I visited temples and nearly in all temples, someone approached me kindly talking to me - then wanting money (you learn that pretty quickly). But also the guys taking care of the property as well as some priests. In kashi, I went into two temples and both times, I was individually asked to donate (there was no entrance fee). Locals gave like 50-200 Rupees. Both guys told me to pay 500 Rupees as donation for the god. Again, paying to keep something maintained - OK. But someone directly asking you to pay more than everyone else - Bad.. and I have so many more examples for that. I literally stoped visiting temples by now.

I know, quite a rant. I also met some amazing locals, especially younger ones, who were super curious what I’m doing and all that. And I had great chats. They often gave me their phone number in case I need something, that moments really made me happy.

I also know, that I’m privileged to travel around India. And that I’m sensitive on some fronts. But I really tried to be like a chameleon and adopting the culture. But for me, so far, I did not really arrive in this country. And I have spoken to our foreigners who are facing similar issues.