India: Holy Cows, Chili’s, and Bollywood Dreams 🇮🇳
If you’re looking for a place that will wake up every single one of your senses at the exact same time, go to India. Talk about culture shock! We spent the whole trip saying “Holy Cow”—partly because we were amazed, and partly because there were literally cows just chilling in the middle of the street. 🐄🛣️
The “Taj” and the Textiles
First stop: Agra. The Taj Mahal is every bit as stunning as you’d imagine. It’s so beautiful it almost looks fake! While we were there, we got to see the incredible artistry of local tapestry and block print making. The talent is next-level, and I definitely wanted to pack the whole shop in my suitcase.
The… Situation Down Below 🚽
Let’s talk about the “bathroom culture.” In many places, the toilets are literally holes in the ground. It’s a workout and a culture shock all in one! Between the squatting and the… let’s say unique hygiene standards, we definitely had to stay on our toes.
Our Secret Food Shame 🌶️
Okay, confession time: We were a little terrified of “Delhi Belly,” so we played it very safe. We went to Chili’s every single day. Yes, we flew across the world to eat baby back ribs and chips and salsa. Is it embarrassing? A little. Was our stomach health worth it? Absolutely. 🍟
Mumbai: Living in a Movie Set
Mumbai was hands down our favorite. The energy is electric, and the whole city feels like a massive movie set! We actually got completely hooked on a TV show called Heir (or Her) while we were there. It was so cool to walk around and recognize the exact buildings where the show was filmed. We felt like total groupies! 🎬🏢
India was a wild, beautiful, dusty, and vibrant adventure. We loved the culture, the people, and—of course—the comforting familiarity of a Chili’s molten chocolate cake in the middle of South Asia.