Hello everyone!

This thread will take you on a journey to India.

Let me introduce myself as Chom, because my name is Chompoo, not Chompoo Araya. Just plain Chompoo.

Let me preface this with a somewhat lengthy introduction...

We do not understand why some people enjoy criticizing and discriminating against Indians. We have not personally encountered any of the negative experiences they describe.

Regarding the smell, it wasn't overwhelmingly bad, like vomit-inducing or unbearable, as some Thais might exaggerate.

The following is a translation of the Thai sentence "อย่าลืมผ้าปิดจมูก" into English:

"Don't forget your mask."

"The smell of spices is very strong."

The author is exaggerating. We were there with another person, and we were wondering why some people are writing such exaggerated posts. It wasn't that bad at all.

Yes, there is no such smell at all.

The smell of spices is subjective. Personally, I don't find it particularly offensive. While some dishes, like chicken biryani, have a strong aroma, it's not unpleasant. It's similar to the smell of our local chicken rice, but not as pungent. It's not difficult to eat and not as bad as some might suggest.

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After reading other people's posts, I was worried that I wouldn't be able to eat anything, so I brought instant noodles. It turned out that we had to force our friends to eat some of the instant noodles we brought because we couldn't just eat Indian food. We had already bought the instant noodles. In the end, we ended up... eating the instant noodles for nothing, just snacking on them on the train because the two of us were craving Indian food. It was delicious.

Regarding the smell, yes, there is a smell. It's the smell of poop. Okay, I'm not saying that when you go there, you'll be met with the beautiful, sweet fragrance of a lavender field in Europe. But it's not as bad as some Thais make it out to be. Okay, let's get back to the topic, shall we?

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December 30, 2017

We boarded the plane at around 6:00 AM and took off at 7:00 AM. For this trip, I used an AIS SIM 2Fly for 399 baht. The trip lasted 8 days, and I still had data left over. You can purchase this SIM card at the AIS shop at Suvarnabhumi Airport, which is open 24 hours a day.

The weather on that day was very clear. However, as soon as we entered India, fog appeared, and the plane could not land. The captain announced that we would gradually descend due to the thick fog. As soon as the plane landed, the cold hit us. When I saw the fog, I immediately thought of the two thick turtleneck sweaters I had just taken off. I thought it wouldn't be that cold, but I was wrong. I wanted to cry.

We are unsure if anyone else shares our concerns regarding immigration, but we can assure you that we were not asked any questions. The officer simply took our passports and e-Visas and asked only:

Officer: Your name is Supamas (pronounced as such, with permission to transliterate for the sake of pronunciation, but my actual name is Supamas).

We: Yes

After completing the airport procedures, we will finally take you into the heart of India. We are now entering central New Delhi via the Metro, their extensive subway system. This is the India that people often overlook, with a vast network of train lines surpassing our own. Even the bathrooms are equipped with numerous electrical outlets, ensuring your phone never runs out of battery.

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After leaving the train station, we walked to our accommodation, which was quite a trek. We were constantly pestered by guests offering rides, but we declined as we were desperate to use the restroom. Our friend also wanted to try some roti, but we insisted on checking in first. After checking in, our first destination was the Red Fort. We took a rickshaw, which the accommodation arranged for 100 rupees per trip. When taking a rickshaw, be sure to negotiate clearly beforehand. Specify whether the price is per person or per trip, and the currency (dollars or rupees). Honestly, everything in India was better than expected, but two things lived up to expectations or the stereotypes about India:

1. Defecates frequently

2. Commercial district: Merchants, tuk-tuk drivers overcharge.

This is true, you need to be careful. There are all kinds of tricks. I'll tell you about them in order.

The Red Fort, also known as Lal Qila or Lal Qil'ah, served as the seat of power for the Mughal emperors and the center of the newly established capital city of Shahjahanabad during the reign of Emperor Shah Jahan. Shahjahanabad, the seventh city founded within the Delhi region, was relocated from Agra to enhance the grandeur and magnificence of Shah Jahan's reign. This relocation provided an opportunity for the emperor to indulge his passion for constructing new buildings and structures. The new capital remained in Delhi until 1857, when Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar sought refuge from the British East India Company.

We believe that the reader is not interested in our history, so we will keep it brief. Upon arriving at Redford, we were stunned by its magnificence. We snapped photos without paying attention to anyone or anything. And then, suddenly, a loud noise startled us!

We: Big Pi! Wait!

It's too late.

Brother Pi: What a shame!

Pi Pi: These are my new shoes.

"We: Okay!!!!! …. We'll wash it later. For now, just rub it on the floor."

Lost and confused, I wandered around, searching for the ticket booth. "It must be upstairs," I thought, remembering that I needed to climb to reach the Red Fort. The path wasn't particularly steep, and I was eager to walk. However, my confusion about where to buy the ticket lingered. Was the long queue of people I saw the place to purchase it? The signs were only in Hindi, and my attempts to ask for directions in English were met with a barrage of Hindi and a dismissive gesture towards the queue. Finally, I bought a ticket, only to discover, to my dismay, that it was for a shuttle service. "I could have walked!" I exclaimed, realizing I had just spent 40 rupees for two tickets for a service I didn't need.

Upon arrival, we were confused and struggled to find the ticket line due to the large crowd. As we waited in line, a young girl approached us and informed us that we were in the wrong queue and should join another line designated for Indian nationals. We were initially skeptical, wondering if it was a prank or an attempt to solicit a tour.

However, I was mistaken! The Indian people are incredibly kind and welcoming. Everyone, except for the merchants and tuk-tuk drivers, was friendly and cheerful. The entrance fee to the Red Fort is 530 rupees, but if you show your Thai passport, it is reduced to 35 rupees. It's fantastic! They are truly wonderful.

Thailand and India signed a cultural agreement to strengthen relations through the promotion of cooperation in economics, science, education, and culture. This is the reason why we received a discount, and if you look at the various admission tickets, the header of your ticket will state that it is a ticket for Indians, not foreigners. This is quite impressive.

We entered the store, and I must admit, I was tempted to buy something. However, since it was the first day and we would have to carry our purchases around, we decided to hold off for now.

If you ask me why I want to go to India, I'll be honest: my boyfriend is in India. 5555555555555+ Many people might think to themselves, "Oh, so she has a boyfriend there, that's why she's so positive."

"Wow! But it's not as bad as Thais like to say. I swear on my honor that I'm not biased because my boyfriend is Indian. The second reason is that we like their architecture. We like to take pictures of buildings and scenery. So when we saw the locations here, we wanted to go."

On the first day, we only managed to reach Red Fort. Afterwards, we decided to book train tickets. We took a ride to New Delhi Railway Station, which cost 150 rupees per trip. To easily convert it to Thai baht, just divide by 2. Upon reaching our destination, we started walking around. One of my companions wanted a hat, so we stopped by a shop. There, we met a very talkative Indian man who tried to persuade us to buy tickets at D.T.T.D.C. station instead, claiming it was less crowded. I was suspicious from the start, remembering a TV show that warned about being lured to tour companies. My companion agreed to go, so I asked him, "...

We: What did he say it was?

Brother Pi: The station, they said it was a station.

We: Sure, it's not a tour company, it's not good to tour.

Pi Pi: They said that New Delhi Railway Station is crowded today. You can go to this place as well.

We: If it's a station, that's fine.

They came with tricks, we have to fight back with tricks. We may not be as cunning as them, but we must try not to be at a disadvantage. We told them that we were both students and didn't have that much money. Since we were 25 years old, he asked to see our passports. We gave him ours, and he asked to see our brother's. Our brother said he had forgotten to bring it from the accommodation. He tried to see our brother's passport many times, but our brother didn't give in. Our brother is a more skilled traveler than us. This was the first time we were looking for a travel companion. We usually travel alone, but this time we wanted to find a good companion for peace of mind. And it wasn't scary. We saw many women traveling alone in India, including Thai women. And the next time we'll go alone. Now, let's get back to the story. In the end, the tour we got was 5500 rupees per person. It included bus fare to Agra, a day trip tour in Delhi, and round-trip train fare to Varanasi. Honestly, it wasn't worth the 5500 we paid. If you want to know why it wasn't worth it, keep reading.

After a long and tedious tour, we finally went to find dinner. The tour guide was quite talkative and repetitive, which made the tour much longer than it needed to be. We had to tell them that we were hungry and wanted to leave several times before they finally let us go. By the time we got out, it was already dark. Who said India was scary?

Contrary to popular belief, the experience was not frightening at all. I strolled through the alleys and streets, and to my surprise, I was met with amusement, laughter, and kindness. It was truly an unforgettable experience.

Note: I don't remember what it was called, but I pointed to the picture and it was 250 rupees. It was delicious!

Is there any cheating?...

There are... but you have to distinguish that not all Indians are dishonest or bad... The ones who cheat are... well, the merchants... You have to accept that in commercial areas...

Upon arriving in India, I encountered my first challenge. Despite having prepared by exchanging a significant amount of small bills, I was met with the refusal to provide change. This occurred even when I attempted to purchase a ticket for the Delhi Metro using a larger bill, assuming that a government-run entity would have sufficient change available. However, to my surprise, they also refused to provide change.

Fortunately, the dark-skinned Indian man behind us helped us by yelling at them to give us our change. We just stood there and let him handle it. 555+ See? Indians are kind and lovely. In the end, they gave us our change. Two tickets for 120 rupees. We gave them a 500 rupee note, so they had to give us 380 rupees in change. The officer did give us our change, but he only gave us 360 rupees. Oh well! It's still better than not getting any change at all.

We continued our search for food, walking until we came across two restaurants side by side, both equally inviting. We stood there, whispering and debating, unable to decide. It turned out that both restaurants had staff actively soliciting customers, both yelling "เย้วๆๆๆ" with the enthusiasm of boxing fans. We were torn. How could we choose? They were both cheering us on with incredible energy, even playfully teasing each other. It was adorable. In the end, my friend and I decided to settle it with a game of rock-paper-scissors. If I won, we would go to the wooden table restaurant; if my friend won, we would go to the one in front. I won. Before we played, I had pointed to the wooden table restaurant, and they seemed half-delighted that we had chosen them. But the excitement was palpable as we awaited the outcome. When I won with rock, we erupted in cheers, while the other restaurant laughed and playfully teased the one that had won our custom. It was a testament to the incredibly friendly atmosphere of the city.

After a satisfying meal, we felt a slight drowsiness and decided to head back to our accommodation. On our way, we both realized that the area wasn't as intimidating as some online reviews had suggested. Despite the darkness, people, both men and women, were walking around normally, just like in our home country. We didn't experience any of the fear that some posts had described. We believe that perception depends on individual perspectives. If you approach a place with a closed mind and a lack of willingness to learn objectively, your experience will likely be negative. However, for those who are open to learning, everything can be a positive experience. We didn't rely on outdated or biased information; instead, we chose to learn and experience things firsthand. This allowed us to appreciate the positive aspects of the place. Ultimately, there's nothing better than experiencing things yourself and forming your own opinions.

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December 2nd - 31st, 2017

Day 2 of the trip: A feast for the senses

The second day of our Indian adventure began with a visual feast of delicious food. This trip could almost be renamed "Eat Your Way Through India" because everything we've tried so far has been absolutely mouthwatering.

From the vibrant spices to the aromatic curries, each dish has been a culinary delight. It's hard to believe that we've only just begun to explore the rich tapestry of Indian cuisine.

Today's tour with Troyes Aube Champagne was not very impressive.

The tour guide rushed us through the entire experience, only giving us 20-30 minutes at each stop. This made it difficult to fully appreciate the sights and learn about the history of the region.

You're going to make me late if you park the car and make me walk there!

The first place we visited was Sri Laxmi Narayan Mandir.

The fog is quite thick, and the coldness is beyond words.

We were required to remove our shoes, but neither of us wanted to, so we didn't go inside. While we were standing there taking pictures, we felt a pair of eyes looking at us. We were talking to each other, and then we turned to look at him. He was smiling at us, and we didn't know what to do. Then, an Indian family came up to us and asked to take a picture with us. When they saw that we said yes, they asked to take a picture with us too. He was from Sudan, Africa. I have to say that a lot of people asked to take pictures with us on this trip. Someone told us that we look like a movie producer and a celebrity in their country named Exta Kapoor.

Oh, that's how it is. In Thailand, you're just an ordinary person, but when you go abroad, you suddenly become hot. Haha.

After that, we went back to the car and encountered an Indian child speaking Hindi rapidly. We were confused and responded, "Sorry, I don't understand." The child then blushed, shrugged, and walked away. The confusion continued, and we decided to ask a friend for clarification.

You: Why are you speaking Hindi to me?

Brother Pi: Do you think they think I'm Indian?

On this trip, many people told me that I look more Indian than Thai. Afterwards, the tour guide took us to the President's house, where the fog still hadn't cleared.

After arriving at India Gate, we parked the car and started walking. As we walked, we came across a woman selling bracelets. We were interested in buying a bracelet, so we negotiated a price with her.

Seller: One hundred.

The user has requested a translation from Thai to English.

Here is the translation:

He: No, no, no.

The seller of the bracelet: One hundred days (still walking stubbornly)

You: Fifty, one hundred and one, no but fifty, I'm okay.

Seller's profit: Fifty. Okay. Four.

We: No four to okay.

Seller: Okay, okay.

The woman then handed us the bracelets and grabbed the hand of our friend next to us to paint henna, without asking a word. We and our friend asked what this was and how much it cost. If it cost money, we wouldn't take it. She remained silent. After finishing painting our friend, we paid for the bracelets, but she grabbed our hand and continued painting.

You: It's free, right?

The seller remained silent.

The following is a translation of the text provided, in the target language of English:

It's free, right? Free?

The seller remained silent.

We: I think we've been hit again.

Pi Pi: How much will it cost? I don't really want it.

After we finish, we ask for free???

Seller: No, two hundred rupees.

If you are looking for advice on traveling to India, there is one thing we highly recommend: avoid visiting during holidays. Indians love to travel during holidays, leading to massive crowds.

How can I take a picture without people in it? I can't do it. Sorry.

I went to India Gate and saw the movie "Samudra Kochar" on India. I saw Job eating this and he said it was delicious. I was determined to try it when I went there, and I did.

The provided text is a personal anecdote written in a conversational style. Here's a translation that captures the essence of the original while maintaining a formal academic tone:

"To understand the nuances of this particular dish, including its local name, I would need to consult my previous conversations with my partner. Unfortunately, my memory is not exhaustive, and I would require access to those chats for accurate information. However, I can confidently state that this dish is exceptionally delicious. My partner informed me that it is a favorite among Indian women, who enjoy it throughout the day, even late at night. The intense flavor profile undoubtedly contributes to its popularity."

After the India Gate tour, we went to find something to eat. We ate again =..= Indians eat food that is served on trays. One tray is enough for 2-3 people, but we had one tray each 5555+ The people at the next table were staring at us. Why? Because we were hungry!!!!

After talking to several Indian people, including my boyfriend and others, they all told me that the henna should only cost around 100 rupees. I was furious when the artist initially quoted me 300 rupees per hand! The typical price for henna ranges from 100 to 150 rupees. Don't be fooled into paying more than that!

The market was extremely crowded, so much so that I decided not to enter. Additionally, I wasn't particularly impressed with the tour, which made me hesitant to get off the bus. After lunch, I went back to the bus to sleep. The rest of the day was spent shopping, which I also skipped. As the afternoon wore on, approaching four o'clock, we decided to part ways with the tour group. My friend handled the arrangements, and I wasn't paying much attention to the details. However, the end of the conversation caught my attention, as it directly involved me.

Tour guide: Your sitter (asking our friend and looking at us)

"No, I don't have a boyfriend."

Tour guide: So beautiful.

Pi Pi: Aaaaah, see? I told you, she's the type of girl that attracts foreigners.

You: Oh, thank you.

The following is a translation of the provided text from Thai to English:

Tour guide: Welcome. What is your name?**

We: I am Chompoo

Tour guide: Champur Night Tour

You: Thanks a lot.

The man was embarrassed and confessed that he had always felt the woman staring at him while they were riding in the car. He had become annoyed and secretly cursed her in his mind. The woman kept slamming the door, waking him up when he was about to fall asleep. He couldn't help but look at her frequently, and she would always smile back at him. He felt self-conscious and zipped up his pants. He wondered why she was smiling at him. He had lost his confidence. However, when she complimented him, his anger vanished. He wondered why she hadn't complimented him earlier. He was now unsure how to respond, especially since she was attractive. He decided to move on and continue talking about their trip.

After parting ways with the tour group, we took a train to Jaisalmer, a bustling commercial district. We returned to the tour company to collect our train tickets, enduring another round of lengthy conversations. With tickets in hand, we set off to explore the city.

Today was a tiring countdown day. There was a lot of music at night, but I couldn't go down to see it. I went down around midnight. Normally, I would count down with my family. This year was the first year I counted down with my boyfriend and friends. We sat in the lobby of the accommodation until the staff came to chase us away. They chased my boyfriend away because we were staying at a hostel. The reception is open 24 hours, but they weren't okay with outsiders sitting inside for a long time. It was a bit sad, but it was better than not seeing him at all. This is the end of the trip in Duneli. On January 1st, we moved to Agra. I'll continue later. I'm using my work time to write this. 5555+

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I'm leaving now. I'll be back to continue. Agra and Varanasi are left.

Thank you for reading until the end.

By : Solo traveler

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