My Trip to India

     I have taken a variety of vacations. Out of all of them, one particularly stands out; my 2013-2014 India trip. In this trip, I had fun in a unique way. I didn't just relax and play games, I got a chance to understand my heritage by meeting people, viewing historical monuments, and learning new customs. India was definitely more than meets the eye. There were strange laws(no seat belts necessary for backseat drivers), many people faced hardships(being homeless), and nature was respected a lot.  This trip was certainly an amazing one.

  Finally, after two long tiring flights, my family  and I  reached my grandparents' apartment in Mumbai, India. Although the air was polluted, I loved to observe the hustling and bustling in the Mumbai streets and feel the tension in the air as the trees beckoned people to go faster and the caws of the crows urged people to get out of their apartments and get moving! The  next day, my family(including grandparents) went to my cousins engagement, a big event where I met many relatives on my mom's side of the family. Throughout the rest of the week, we made multiple visits to my mom's school. We walked through canopies of trees, which shielded us from the intense heat and led us to the small, dusty building that looked slightly run down.

   After visiting Mumbai, we traveled by jeep to Pune, where my other grandparents lived. Pune was somewhat cleaner and less polluted. In Pune, I went to a family reunion, where I met many relatives on my dad's side of the family.  I also met many family friends and learned common Indian games such as carom. To celebrate New Years',  I went to a delicious seafood restaurant with my cousins, learned cricket from them, and stayed up until midnight with them.

  Then, my family went by plane to Chennai. In Chennai, we stayed in a wonderful, comfy hotel with a spectacular view. We saw many beautiful tourist attractions such as a temple made out of stones, and old fashioned homes. When we ate in restaurants,  I noticed people serving food in banana leaves. We also wet to the Bay of Bengal, where I bought a seashell. 

Finally, we traveled back to Mumbai. I saw a variety of tourist attractions that dazzled me. One of them was the "Queen's Necklace", a circular shoreline with houses that lit up at night, looking like a necklace. We also drove over the Arabian Sea and saw the Gateway of India, a castle like chocolate brown building. My favorite tourist attraction was the Taj Mahal Hotel, a milky white colored hotel that is one of the most expensive hotels in the world.

   Many of my vacations have been wonderful and unique. Out of all them, my 2013-2014 India trip is the most memorable. I got a deep understanding of Indian life, culture, and landmarks. This trip will be another memento in my "Detours and Tours" collection.

(Photos: Courtesy My Dad)