TOP 5 INDIA TRAVEL TIPS for FIRST-TIME Travelers 🇮🇳

[@grrrltraveler]

NEW VIDEO OUT: May clear up some of the upset misinterpretation over this video. kzbin.info/www/bejne/b3_KZJeoaa1kfqM (Trip Planning Tips for India ) NOTE FROM THE GRRRL: Namaste! These 5 tips are the top questions I get asked as a blogger and a traveler to India. I get asked them a lot! But my first trip to India, I did encounter culture shock of a similar nature and that's the point of view I'm sharing. This video is film after my third 'backpacking trip to India' of which this time I only stayed a month. I've stayed longer in the past. I am one story, a solo American-Asian mixed female, backpacking through India. The number #1 question I often get is about sexual harassment and rape. Almost all the time. The moment I say "India", someone tells me "Be careful-- don't get raped". India has had bad press in the past and it's sadly, colored a nation. Upon being interviewed by a popular travel channel (which we all know and love), one question posed to me was about how safe I felt as a woman traveling to India. I was taken aback that the producer asked me that, considering the global span of their shows. But it shows you the media is strong. But I (and female travel blogging friends) have experienced sexual harassment. I will explain more in my video. More details on my blog: grrrltraveler.com/countries/asia/india-asia/top-5-travel-tips-for-india-surviving-indian-culture/ If anyone has problems with this video, I recommend you film your own video of the India you wish to see. Be the change you wish to see vs just a passive viewer with idle complaints. Every country has it's problems and speaking to my fellow western travelers as an American, I have to be HONEST with them. My videos are to prepare travelers to EVERY country I visit as a solo female. But I attempt this in the most culturally sensitive way I can,. Unfortunately, hateful comments and trolling/stalking my India videos , colors my impression of an India I once loved and wished to promote heavily in tourism. A few bad apples CAN soil an entire barrel.

[@abhishektanwar8576]

Please don't get affected by trolls. Some people here are also influenced by western media which only shows Indian in a bad light even if India achieves something good like that of mars mission of India. This leaves an impression in some people mind westerners always say crap about their country. We can take the example of Istanbul which is one of the most beautiful city in the world yet it had not been shown in a good light just because it is the capital of muslim country Turkey. Hope you understand their side and too and yes everyone of these trolls knows that each of your point is absolutely true in every aspect. And moreover, this is internet you bound to get trolls here right ?. Just leave and continue your beautiful journey around the world. :D

[@grrrltraveler]

+Abhishek Tanwar Thank you

[@abhishektanwar8576]

GRRRLTRAVELER | Christine Kaaloa You are welcome. :D

[@abhishektanwar8576]

Vageesh Gaur Dude I have multiple friends here who has faced it. Lets not put a blind face to the truth by seeing negative im others. Its the harsh truth, accept it.

[@grrrltraveler]

+Vageesh Gaur (and anyone else who came here to hate) :Accepting the truth seems very much a problem. Even though it's impossible to speak for all men in India. Commentors like you want so much to hear that all westerners think the worst of you. You can't hear any of the good being said-- only the bad. The intelligent Indians who watch this video, know that I'm doing. They know I'm trying to change that negative stereotype by using the truth to deactivate the fear bomb. That was the goal of this video. It was to show an india I love and be honest about my experience, rather than lie. But it's showing me a lot of illiterate hate in your countrymen. That hate attacks me, when I'm trying to defend India. Personally, ""I" got my boob grazed, ass grabbed, leg pressed against, when there was ample space and I've had two friends get their boobs grabbed by Indian men." Instead of calling huge attention to it, I spoke that on my video partly unemotionally, so as not to freak out the westerners.. Yes, the U.S. is worse than India, but this video is not about the U.S. and the fear travelers have about traveling America. It's about India and how travelers can deal with unexpected situations, so they can enjoy India IF anything like that happens. Can you *promise* any foreign woman sexual harassment won't happen to them in India? I can't and I won't promise that in a video. Indian gf's, Indian yoga instructors, Indian travel bloggers and Indian families I've stayed with in India tell me I need to be safe. Some even say that many Indian women still live partly in fear. The acid throwing on a foreign woman last year.. my Indian family was afraid for me leaving their home. Acid throwing is a different game and note, I didn't mention that in my video. Your countrymen's misinterpretation of my video's message is not my fault. But this ongoing denial and hate is erasing any feel-good experiences I've had about India. OR the need I've felt to defend your country (to my friends, on my travel blog and with my solo female followers) .

[@Trendytribe77]

I am Indian ...I don't think what she is said is false....we have to accept Reality ....but I love my country a lot

[@grrrltraveler]

+rashmi kunder Every country has a reality and a dream. I used to love India's "dream" until I learned to understand some of its realities and that's what I've been starting to fall in love with. Love is perfect and feels more whole when you can do it with eyes wide open. =)

[@TrainTransportShortsOfficial]

rashmi kunder true

[@trinayanakaushik811]

But she is describing an average Indian lifestyle not Indian culture. The title is inappropriate. I agree with the content but the video should be called 'Surviving an average Indian lifestyle not Indian culture..' Indian culture is altogether in another level and outsiders won't get it with a visit or two to India. A lot needs to done before knowing the essence of Indian culture.

[@bobbyho4586]

YAH INDIAN ARE NOT LIKE AMERICAN. INDIAN OUT IN A CROWD THEY HOLD HAND ONLY.

[@aammjaisriram]

Indian here. Well, she described India exactly how it is. To add some points, the conservative people that she mentioned are more concentrated in the smaller towns and villages. In the metro cities, tank tops and short shirts will grab attention but not to a point which will make one uncomfortable. Same deal with camera no one cares if someone is vlogging in a city . My advice for all the female foreign travelers, Reserve train seats either in air conditioned coaches or sleeper but avoid the general ones. Blondes with light eyes appears to be from another planet lol. Again this happens in smaller towns and villages, They will stare for sure but they won't harm ya. I can however assure 1 thing that during your travel here the diversity that you will observe you will not find it anywhere in the world. When I say diversity I mean diversity in every freaking thing imaginable.

[@grrrltraveler]

+Agradeep Mandal Thanks for sharing your advice. It will help female travelers make better decisions👍

[@aammjaisriram]

GRRRLTRAVELER | Christine Kaaloa I bet of all the foreign travelers who comes to India, you will blend in seamlessly because you look 100% Indian (from our north eastern states)👍 so you have an advantage. The tourist sites at least won't rip you off when you have to pay an entrance fee 😂

[@gaurav3260]

Great video! Although - avoid doing things which Indians themselves don't do and you'll be fine. - Crossed a lonely street at 12 in the night and thought India was unsafe! - I ate at a roadside stall with no hygiene standards, I got a Delhi-belly! - I went to a remote village/town in India where people have not even been to another Indian city (forget another country), and thought people were staring at me! - Sexual harassment by 'Indian men', generalising way too much. There are cases where 'Indian men' stood against 'Indian men' to protect a female. P.s. This post is not to grab any attention so avoid being nasty if you disagree.

[@grrrltraveler]

Great advice +Guarav Goswami

[@chickenwang95]

"Accept it, move on" is going to be my new mantra! Not just for travel, but life! Thanks gurl :)

[@grrrltraveler]

It's definitely works great for life too! =D

[@aman-no5te]

Yes It is right... completely..

[@deepanshudhillon3097]

the conservative mindset depends in the place you are in... its totally cool to wear shorts and tank tops in cities like Mumbai Delhi , Chandigarh,etc

[@jlust6660]

From my own experience I found that wearing shorts is generally frowned upon, wherever you are in India.

[@supersagarsagar]

Delhi and North India is rape capital of India

[@deepanshudhillon3097]

+Sagar Sagar dude plz... kisne banai ye capital?? apni baalak budhi ka prayog Na kare.. Jo bhi news me dikhaate hai use Na maane.. ab news waale Delhi se bore ho gaye to U.P pe aagaye.. rape har jagah hote hai

[@deepanshudhillon3097]

+Sagar Sagar ooookay! you enlightened me

[@jlust6660]

***** could be, I never went that far south

[@arjun666ism]

Love from India🙂 I’m not sure if many people are aware but there is a separate ministry for Foreign Tourists. In my State there are specific MP Tourism hotels in every city which are meant only for foreign travellers. You’re most welcome to India it ain’t that scary. We Indians will go an extra mile just to make sure our Guests are safe. There’s a saying in India “Atithi Devo Bhava” meaning thereby Guests are equivalent to Gods.

[@grrrltraveler]

+Arjun Bajpal Love back!!! I've heard of government hotels but not foreign tourist hotels? Where does one find them?

[@MrJmolyneux]

Hi Grrrltraveler, kudos. Your description of things to accept and move on are absolutely spot on. I arrived only 2 weeks ago and from initially feeling like I had been dropped on another planet ( think Star Wars Mos Isley cantina- I know you get it ) , I am surprised how quickly I have accepted all of those other world conditions. India is an amazing place. The people are some of the nicest and kindest I have met. Thank you for your videos, love them and keep them coming.

[@grrrltraveler]

You're welcome!

[@dhaivatshukla6749]

Friend Christine, As an Indian citizen, I loved the way you have put your views on my country. Yes, these are the problems you mentioned. And some are very serious. The dirt is a common thing but sexual harrasement things are also there. Especially in an Indian capital i.e. New Delhi. Despite these all (as you termed out) India as a very beautiful and colorful country. Thank you so much for that. Actually, India in an ancient time was so noble and highly spiritual country. That era was called as a Vedic Period. After that, centuries past, and we Indians changed a lot during Mughal period and British colonization. Anyways, I loved your last words in the video about Allergy. I live in a Western Indian city situated in Gujarat state called Rajkot. If you ever visit Rajkot, we would love to serve you. Thank you for your honest views about India and Indians. Namaste!

[@GauravYadav97]

well Delhi is not as unsafe as it is told in media!

[@tanmayupasani7581]

Delhi is safer than Mumbai😂😂😂!

[@daynightart6648]

Dhaivat Shukla not really I mean in ancient India we did the most barbaric things not to forget caste and in one way the British helped us

[@daynightart6648]

Narayan Bhamidipati New York ? Hahahahaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

[@AneesJubi]

This video is really everything that a person should know before they visit India. I will share this video to everyone who would like to visit India. I am from India, and all those snowflakes from India who find this video offensive need to understand the problems that we are facing are real problems we will never be able to solve them if we neglect them. Get over it. Period.

[@anilkarki352]

As an Indian , I found it this video both funny and informative . It is plain truth :P

[@xivyxsaurx]

Same here! I was giggling but thought "that's so trueee" through out it.

[@Indian_swan]

I am an Indian girl and not even a traveller and even I face these problems.So it doesn't apply to only travellers.Also most of this shit happens when you go to poor /slum areas which western ppl love to click in pics as that's how u guys wanna see india.I don't even go to areas that u clicked pics of😒

[@grrrltraveler]

Hun, I've been to over 40 Indian cities-- which "poor slums" are you talking about me clicking pics of and you avoiding?

[@Indian_swan]

GRRRLTRAVELER | Christine Kaaloa The ones shown in this video🙃

[@TrainTransportShortsOfficial]

Free Free they just get out a taxi or off a plane and go around the place everywhere as they would in the west, but in the west everywhere is nice, in India it’s not only some parts are. U shouldn’t have to go to a certain area and spend a lot to get a nice experience

[@sumitdogra7507]

Rose Momlife nice to read ur views just wanted to say apologies for any bad experience having said that we have big population not a excuse but a fact .However this still not justify any wrongdoing apologies again

[@Drewlicious]

Asians don't have booties....=))

[@AnkitSingh-dl3mk]

Firstly, as an Indian I am extremely sorry for everything you suffered from eve teasing to sexual assault. Secondly, It's worth appreciating how you are helping Non-Indians to be safe n enjoy being in India. Thirdly, India is a big n populous country so it may take time bt it will be a way better place than today.

[@lauriejean9306]

YES!!!!!! This is what I LOVE about India! You are so right - go with your gut and heart, and go with the flow. The rawness and realness teaches us westerners so much!

[@allisonroorda7937]

We leave for India tomorrow! We already adore the people and can't wait to see everything. New subscriber here!

[@grrrltraveler]

+Allison Roorda enjoy India! It's truly a magical place. I'm already envious- just want to keep going back!

[@allisonroorda7937]

BTW, this is one of your best videos. I absolutely fell in love with India and cannot wait to return!

[@pavankumarkarnati2493]

Allison Roorda hope you enjoyed your trip

[@vtecpreludevtec]

Allison Roorda no shorts,no tanktops singlets,dont say ur an atheist,maybe wear a wedding ring even if ur single,

[@vtecpreludevtec]

Chillout.

[@countdownstart8297]

I visited india 2 times and i enjoyed there a lot i know it's hard to survie there but i think this is the thing which makes india different and your thinking is different to saw a country every countery has a problum but it doesn't mean you film yourself and talk in negitive way ... it's not all about clean yours nail and you are smelling everywere or your hotel's towal whashing in dirty place.. it's feel yourself ...it's really hard to give an answer in one sentence so usually i don't give and answer but today i wanna say to you that i love the people i love their smile. I love the way they dance,the way they speak.. i love how they welcome you for the dinner at the home or for a simple chai.. i love that we become friend so quickely... i love they don't se please or thank you to friends.. i love how happy they seem.. i just wanna say that you can't feel india u didn't saw interior beauty of india..it's lot more talk about india your comment box gonna break so i gonna stop here.. good luck for your future...

[@stephenoconnell2133]

Very honest and useful blog. It's a pity there are negative comments from some Indians - they don't realise how much you love travelling in India! But also a lot of Indians (and travellers) who appreciate your honesty.

[@barrowpurez]

I love your objectivity and open mindness, I wish every tourist was like you, more countries would be accepting of tourists. I understand that it might be hard for some Indians to accept the harsh truth about their homeland but instead of straight up denying it you guys should accept it and try to fix your mistakes. She is only trying to help people that come from a different culture and believe me your routine might be very strange to others. I want to travel to India next year and I'm already planning everything. Thank you for your guide I think it covers alot.

[@grrrltraveler]

+Mod Mark

[@mahalingam1212]

You have done a great job in summing up India for people--love and hate at the same time. I was in the Peace Corps for 2 years and that was the start of a life time changed by India. It's a very deep culture that is so unique and multi-facited. when in India do it the Indian way!

[@grrrltraveler]

Thanks for getting this video!❤️🙏

[@brigittajohn2211]

Thank you for being so accepting and open minded about India. There is dirt, poverty and all of that, but India has a large heart :-) you're so much better than a lot of Westerners I've met and who have completely misplaced notions about my country :-)

[@josephmalleswaram9550]

There is dirt, poverty and all of that, That's what makes India , INDIA, You can walk through time.

[@jessicaramos2703]

Can I ask you something? Ok so its more about the indian culture stuff cause i really want to know if its a differebce within cultures or the people was being rude or grumpy 🙃 . Ok so im an hispanic(not american 100% latina) I traveled to Canada and met some indians there. as latinos we are usually cheerfu and laid backl(not everyone of course) but normally its essay to approach someone you dont know and start talking about life ( I once met this mexican lady at the airport and we spent an hour talking about each others lives in general im 18 btw) but when i met them they were really cold direct and distant and i felt a little uncomfortable i thought thwy didnt like me or they were angrhso i want to know if it was really that or just a cultural difference

[@breyannajones155]

Jessica Ramos I mean they probably just didn't like you, most people are chill

[@VinayKumar-kl2eg]

Jessica Ramos we people are little shy. Don't get it wrong. They weren't being cold or rude. Or you don't know what kind of situation was that.

[@mohitmishra497]

Let me tell u....there was the time when india was the most richest country in the world!!.... later india got looted by British people.... india was also known as golden bird

[@meentv7315]

As an Indian, I thought this was going to be low-key offensive and ignorant. But guess who found a new subscriber? :)

[@Fredd00007]

You were on point, with all of it. You even explained stuff even me as an Indian was clueless as to why some of us did it. Yes, the fairer and more exotic you look, the more stares you earn. Think of them as browny points for looking good, you'll be fine. You explained everything beautifully even the tricky parts (: I'm glad visiting India made you a more seasoned traveller. Yes India is challenging. It is nothing like the rest of the world, we are a boiling pot of so many cultures, religions, traditions. And you do seem to blend in pretty well as you are Asian and the people in the North East states of India have Asian features. Thank you for visiting our humble country and thank you for inspiring more travellers to visit us. Cheers

[@Neo_G]

I really applaud the way this topic was handled. There are some basic truths about India and the world that need to be addressed and instead of hiding behind a ban or sensitivity, to discuss about these so that such commonalities are tackled. All what was said is true. Most Indians are introspective and self-judging. We want to improve from here and bring positive changes. No one likes listening to bad things being said about their country. But one must be open minded and accept opinions and viewpoints because only then can we move forward and correct and fix ourselves as a nation as general public. Being straightforward, not looking for political correctness and not being overtly sensitive but rather take these as inputs to know our flaws will help us not only become a better nation but also better human beings. I for one personally believe that being good human beings to everyone matters the most.

[@Fredd00007]

Avik Niyogi well said mate. Probably the most sane comment in this whole thread.

[@mpras684]

Hey Christine, stumbled upon your vid today and thought it was GREAT! My husband (Irish born) and I (Indian heritage but brought up in Australia are visiting family in India soon. It’s my husband’s first time visiting and while watching this vid with him I could really tell that he was starting to understand that the experience will be confronting but it would be up to us to decide how we handle and process things. Get over it, and move on! 😉 Its the best way to truly experience things and get the most out of our trip, and life overall! Thank you!! 😁

[@grrrltraveler]

Yeah, I know NRIs who experience a lot of culture shock with India and its totally natural. The conditioning is worlds different and it can feel jarring and stressful. But there's a wondrful transformation that can take place if you get into it. You can't compare India to anywhere else in the world, although your mind will try it, just to find a balance to process it all. Navigating India is best done (for me) intuitively vs logically. The quicker I could get into the flow intuitively, I could find its rhythm and go with it (like crossing a busy Indian street or navigating crowds, etc... the stress falls away). Things find a better flow, ease and naturalization.

[@mpras684]

GRRRLTRAVELER | Christine Kaaloa Thanks C. So glad I stumbled upon your channel. We watched a couple of your Asian toilet vids too. Really well done and to the point! 👍🏾

[@mpras684]

What I meant to say was, your Asian toilet videos were tastefully done. As we quickly discovered! 😆

[@christiekumar1110]

I won the staring lottery. I went to India to marry my husband. I loved India and every place we went the no blink blind stare followed me. But the most happened at and after our wedding his whole town ( not joking) came to his family house and took pictures and stared blankly at me somewhere afraid of me because of my eyes and they just looked at me some of them had to have their pictures taken with me and when I say some of them I mean maybe about close to 300 people. My eyes begin to hurt my husband notices from The Flash and that was when he stopped everybody from coming everybody had to place their hands and give you blessings on my head. I even had some wrestling team six foot five men come to see me and take their picture with me as if I was superstar in their town but actually they were it was quite an interesting moment. I'm truly hoping after years that me and my husband are married people get used to me and this settles down but thank you for the warning before I left.

[@xyz-ic8xs]

Incredible India. INDIA has changed a lot and will keep on changing. Welcome to India my friends. "Attiti devo bhava" Guests are equal to gods. Come to experience the culture and warmth. Memories to remember forever. Jai Hind

[@tejaswi921]

they don't watch blond hair and blue eyed people as angelic beings ....its more like aliens........ like, is this even possible .....but its not always true not all will stare at a foreigner coz most of us now have watched hollywood movies and TV shows that many Indians are very familiar with foreign cultures ... but even those people might be curious about foreign culture. just as u are curious about India.... well that's the Indian point of view

[@tejaswi921]

11:00-11:03 too much generalisation

[@vishwaswadekar6357]

Well whatever you have said is your experiwnce. But I feel that when one goes to another country he should do research of that country. EVEN when I am in US I avoid homeless people here when they come closer or I avoid abandoned and lonely roads (unluckily they are too manyvin US). Also public behaviour and the way you dress up is also another area of importance. All asian cultures are conservative and being too physical with your buddy or being exhibitionist with your body, especially for women, is treated differently. Well people are changing now but still one has to be on guards anywhere on the earth. Thank you for mentioning some good words for India. Do come again and see the changed India during past 5 years.

[@TrainTransportShortsOfficial]

Tejaswi Gururaj how do you think she feels from a lovely American place coming to somewhere with such odd ideas

[@mla--v6930]

Oh yes many do!

[@WranglerDude]

Queen Mummy .. Well.. then she should not go to these “odd” places and stay in her lovely American places. No one cares.

[@tadeusz11000]

Top Grrrl and very useful, watchable and informative comments and tips. Helpful to me, as I am on a Rajasthan photo assignment, which will include Banaras and the Pushkar Mela etc this November. Keep up the feed and go well.

[@motionmarketer4762]

Being an Indian male isn't easy when people hear of such reviews and generalize Indian men to be sexual predators. While travelling abroad I come across people asking me if Indian males are really that bad and I am like :-(.

[@grrrltraveler]

Unfortunately due to the fact your country has received bad press in the past, it's an eyebrow raiser. I get ongoing questions from followers or friends asking about the safety level. I even did a host interview once for a popular travel channel and their first question was-- you travel alone as a woman to India... is it safe? I posted this video on my FB personal page and a dear male friend commented-- don't get raped... It's unfortunate the topic strikes fear and misunderstanding in some people. It's a small part of the Indian population that is like that, but when you're a traveler and it's your first time to India, that percentage can exist anywhere in society. Travelers will always be worried about safety and press will always magnify unfortunate news to sell stories. In the past, I've gotten on my apple box to my followers about India being safe before, but then another travel blogger friend gets a boob grabbed during holi (I think she was even interviewed by your press about that situation) ...and well, how do I counter the fact it exists and is a possibility? While I'd like to tell women not to worry when they travel to india, I cannot tell them it won't happen. I can however, tell people that there are strict laws around it to make it less of a possibility that they imagine, that there are Women's Only seats & cars to aid protection and to give general safety tips that make they feel prepared. =(

[@motionmarketer4762]

GRRRLTRAVELER | Christine Kaaloa​ I agree with what you just said but the truth is that the gender separation tends to cause more damage than good. Ladies only seats and train compartment tend to perpetuate the idea that women are weak and can't manage themselves in a world of men.It is not like a woman can't be assaulted by another woman.Sexual haressement can go either way. The problem is women are seen as people who need to be protected from the societal evil which are caused by men.This overprotection creates restriction that are applied for women safety which in the long run becomes misogynistic. 

[@grrrltraveler]

I can certainly see your point. I feel Indian women might be getting stronger voices due to the press, perhaps? This could be a good thing as many will stand stronger in the face of that issue and I find it wonderful that they also get some good support from good Indian men, who look to change the face of India . Youth and modern India is changing the system and perspectives; I can feel it in the metropolitan cities. It will be exciting to see where you folks go from here.

[@motionmarketer4762]

Yup there is a change. But the change should be where it matters, For example, unequal pay for men and women,financial dependency,female literacy,employment,preventing kangaroo court decisions are the grassroot levels where support is needed.Then the change is real. I am going to be working on a book that aims to break the stereotyping. Hope it helps.

[@sunishification]

you can say no you confused us with mexicans, hahah

[@damanbhalyngdoh3156]

Hi, nice to see a video about my country but I firmly believe that Describing India without a visit to the North east is incomplete. India is so diverse in many ways. And this side of the country is different and yet unique. As I am from this side, I will say, this is a paradise on Earth.. so much to learn and see, legend of the head hunting tribe, the matriachal khasi tribe, etc.. as far as the landscape is concern, we do have plenty.. world renown too, two places in the world with heaviest rainfall, Loktak lake-floating lake, cleanest village in Asia, WWII memorial (Japaneese soldiers were stopped in this region at Kohima), etc... A must visit..

[@NoraDunn]

LOVE IT! Thanks! I'm of to India (solo) in a couple of days and although I've been traveling full-time for 11 years, I'm pretty freaked out by India. I figure I'm either going to love it and stay longer than I plan to, or be on the next plane outta there. Ha ha! Most people tell me I'm going to love it....once I get used to a whole laundry list of horrible things they describe. The place confuses me and I haven't even arrived. Let's see what happens, I guess!

[@grrrltraveler]

+Nora Dunn I'm excited for you!!! I think you'll love it. China can offer doses of culture shock too and you thrived. Keep an open mind and like the intro of this video flip the culture shock into the adventure. Embrace it, go with the flow; you'll be fine. There's a lot to love about India -- the beauty of traveling it is that theres nowhere like it! I miss it already. ❤️🦋

[@NoraDunn]

Thanks for the vote of confidence, Christine! I have arrived, and although I'm in the lap of luxury at the moment, I'm also quite confident that I'll manage just fine here. :-)

[@Dragamea]

I started crying when you talked about feeling important when you take pictures of them🥺 I love you and I can’t wait to travel India one day!

[@tejasvi18joshi]

Native Indian culture was never conservative but unfortunately India was invaded by Islamic and European/Christian colonial invaders. These invasion have corrupted our culture. Europe of today is not like Europe of 16th 17th century it was super conservative society back then and they imposed those conservative laws on us. It will take time to completely wipe out the influence of foreign mideval invasions. You must have seen in North India women in saree with covering their head well this head covering was alien to our culture before 14th century. In India we had Nalanda University that was burnt down by one of the Islamic invaders along with its library in 12th century, the University was built in 5th century, If any country which had such a big university in 12th century couldn't be called backward. Its just that foreign invasions compelled our society to become conservative.

[@kumar4768]

They adopted our culture and exported their culture to us.

[@wajahatkhan1080]

Ohhh well said sir......a small percentage of other religions are so influential that majority of population embraced their culture.

[@azrafarheen321]

wajahat khan 👏👏

[@boshirmh007]

you would say the caste system was also bought by the muslims. and sati, get of your high horse face facts, muslims gave you culture, from music to architectures, to poetry, to science. variuos instruments, encluding artist, do you know who built the first university? a muslim women in the 8th century, in morroco, so dont talk rubish.

[@vinayn9110]

you are living in the past. You have gone back to the 12th century, people in England for example never talk about the Norman invasion (1066). The French invaded and mixed french with old English that's how modern English was born. Talking about one 1000 years history to excuse the here and now is a form of fatalism.

[@thenomadpath8904]

Those pics are beautiful! I'm heading to India for my first solo trip...I'm nervous but excited!

[@kerrywithawhy5715]

You have a lovely soul and I very much enjoy your perspective on the life that surrounds you. Thank you for your videos.

[@grrrltraveler]

Thank you for your kindness! So glad you find them helpful. =D

[@bobbyjett7047]

I have been to India 4 times now, going back this October for a couple months. As a guy solo traveller, much of what you cover applies as well. I must say you described and your tips beautifully and with MUCH respect. Kudos to you! I, like you, have fallen in love with India and its people. Keep the videos coming!

[@ValenciaB]

ACCEPT IT AND MOVE ON!!! GIRL!!!!! I needed these videos sooooooo much more than you know!!!! MY life will be moving near INDIA this fall and I coped well with some parts of life, but not so much with others! Thank you for sharing your wisdom!!!

[@grrrltraveler]

Hang in there! We all have difficulty with change. The greater we perceive cultural difference, the harder some situations feel and it can ruin the gift of experience and its lessons. The gold is in the difference for which without it, we'd never grow beyond ourselves. =)

[@tintunbirha]

Now, why do you remind me so much of my landlady (in India ) of 25 yrs ago. The way you talk, move your hands, lecture in a non offensive loving way, and convey your point on delicate issues in a gentle yet powerful manner, all the while holding complete attention of the listener.

[@grrrltraveler]

Awww. I feel like it's a moment. 🤗

[@twinklepoornima7]

You are one courageous woman traveling solo to these countries!

[@SandeepNagarkoti]

I have nothing against women/men wearing shorts or running naked but you can't do that in front of most of the Indian public (though men can lol) ... so what i don't understand is that is it so hard to just put on a T shirt / shirt and a comfortable jeans or trouser which works very well during summer for both male and female or some foreigners are too obnoxious/desperate to wear shorts or revealing clothes (not that I am against it) but keeping in mind the public POV foreigners can at least compromise with T shirt / shirt and a comfortable jeans which is not at all uncomfortable for travel and enjoy their visit instead of complaining about how people stare at their body cause they wore revealing clothes....

[@vtecpreludevtec]

Poster,wear salwar kameez or sari and r from Nepal or Northeast.Im a haole kiwi with a drop of polynesian,long shirt pants n flip flops,if Im not carry a backpack ppl often talk to me in local languages.

[@sam2011ize]

Indian rule for life and road : Just go with the flow and u will reach ur destination 😀

[@pscraft1337]

Your tips are good for travelers since they have to be prepared for all kind of situations,places and people to deal with but I would like to point out some misunderstandings or stereotypes about India. It's not like ALL Indians associate a simple point and shoot camera with movies and celebrities. The people who do that are all from the unprivileged and backward strata of the society who have never been to school,so it's quite normal for them to lose their mind when they see a camera. Hobbyists and professionals in India own very expensive cameras paired with all kinds of expensive gears, so no, not everyone is desperate and unprivileged. Regarding the dress code you mentioned, yes there are such parts in India which are very conservative but as long as you are in a city you wont have any problem or run a risk of getting lynched by a mob.Come on! Indian women and teenagers wear shorts too! But if you are travelling through shanty areas of a town or in suburbs then you will risk being catcalled or stared by the people on the streets. Another myth - Men and women can't hold hands in India - partly true and you get to see this only in regressive and unprivileged states but if you are in a big city in a busy park it's no deal at all! India is very diverse, the richest and most poorest of people live here! No one rule can be applicable across the country.

[@jordanowens6253]

In my experience as someone who lives in a Bible belt state in USA, India gets a bad rap except for your awesome food! I am fascinated by how different people live and visiting the country is a dream of mine. Your comment is very interesting to me. Thank you.

[@pretttu]

I love your videos! Mostly because it's not instructional, it's something I could connect to. Keep up the great work. Hahaha the bit about Indians and cameras made me laugh. Happy new adventures!

[@grrrltraveler]

I'm glad (cause I do have sorta instructional videos too- lol). Are you traveling to India or living there?

[@chizc8k]

i'm asian and have white complexion, and I plan to go to India i guess i better not dye my hair any lighter otherwise I get some unwanted attention

[@KhushiSingh-dy2yo]

??!!

[@schrisss29]

First video of yours that I have seen, this was amazing! I loved the pictures of the people you included, they were so raw and touching. Subbed! Keep being awesome

[@RahulSingh-xt6le]

I will say fairly accurate....the staring is there for all non -indians but yes i agree more so for white/blonds..... the sexual harassment is a bit of problem....mostly it will happen in crowds....and it will a group of young guys...statistically such ppl i would say are only 1% or 2 % of the population but unfortunately in India even that number wud come out to be more than 10-20 million + ppl...so it appears like widespread problem when it actually is a very small percentage....and yes the white women dont feel anything about hugging men...indians are not used hugging women......so u mite get molested even when u r just giving a friendly hug!!! and yes non-Indian women are more open in general so they dont take seriously a bit of touching and all so Indians wud dare and do it with them....if u shout or show them anger they will never try again....and if shout and get ppls attention there's a good chance dt dat guy will be beaten to death by ppl...... but then again sole women or group of women shd better stay away from group of guys...if you need help best ppl are family men(ppl with families) or women..... I'm not demonizing all Indian men but as stated above there's no way to know exactly which of these will be one those from above 10 million!!!!!!!!!! The only solution I would say is better sex ratio and Education!!! Both will take time to develop!!

[@grrrltraveler]

Thanks for your response- very insightful! Do you feel like Indian public are hard on men who are caught attempting molestation/sexual harassment? Or might many turn away? On a very positive note, I do find it incredible how you can be in a crowded area (rather tight) and some men don't touch you... even by accident. I actually don't feel I've experienced anything that Americans might consider sexual harassment. So the one part I was a bit unclear about is~~ are men not supposed to touch Indian women in any way...even in say, a crowded bus of little space?

[@samREDICEbunny]

yes men are not supposed to do it

[@coqudocu]

Ahhh, these videos are too good! This footage really gives you an epic view of the travels. Thank you -- Thank you!

[@ZarahJade1]

I was my own damned circus when I spent three weeks in India! White and very fat...I was tempted to charge per stare! lol

[@grrrltraveler]

+Zarah Jade You made my drink go up my nose with your comment. ;D

[@ZarahJade1]

Awesome! :)

[@JAMRAJ2804]

🤣🤣🤣

[@vtecpreludevtec]

Zarah Jade A friend of mine met a western dwarf,little guy,in India,he was havin stare issues!

[@malinw1910]

Green eyes, green hair and skin that reflects moonlight. Going to an Indian wedding, wish me luck.

[@PA-bu5cs]

Your both funny and smart - Great Videos Christine !

[@grrrltraveler]

Thanks +Patrik Gyllhamn !

[@inlovetechnologysaurabhrai]

India is partly modern like bandra churchgate and southern parts of Mumbai or delhi while if you go to states like bihar up or any other rural country..you will feel like its very less modern..so it depends on the region you are going to..All indians are not like that😂(Personally I dont greet anyone saying namaste.Imagine how akward it would feel sometimes to go to friends and say namaste😂) And India is mix of all rural and urban experiences one can have which makes it apart from other countries♥Jai Hind💕🙌

[@MontyGumby]

If you can make it (as a traveler) in India you can make it anywhere in the galaxy

[@rajpriykaushik2815]

One life is not enough to see India. It's many countries in country (population wise + geographically + culturally) good observations, great expressions :) come again, I promise u will have a lot more to add to this....

[@heerkaur4600]

Well no Indian I believe stares at the camera unless he is extremely poor or illiterate...because they are poor they can't afford one. The world's most expensive house 'Antilia' is in India, and the owner will definitely not stare at your camera. Bahahahaaa...

[@abhishektanwar8576]

Get a life and live in reality. Most people in India are poor and yes they do stare at the camera. :P . Mukesh ambani do not represent these millions of curious not a privileged people. :P . She is right in every statement.

[@abhishektanwar8576]

Tube User Lol, I am from south delhi and even have a better camera you idiot. You are a dumb person and keep your mouth shut. There are lot of poor people and lower middle class people like you who stare at the awesome cameras. :P

[@darkmaster666.]

This thing is much more noticeable to foreigners than Indians. Because visiting India after spending your entire lifetime in countries where beggars aren't as easy to come by, 90% of the people look like beggars. A small shop owner in the US >>> that in India. So I think her statement stands justified. Whatever she said in this video is as polite she could be as possible without lying. You know its much worse than that don't you.

[@amishakhatri3963]

Heer Kaur Antilia is in Mumbai. Not every Indian lives in Mumbai. Heck, roughly 67% Indian population still lives in rural areas. And coming to Mumbai, is everyone Ambani-rich over there? No :) I am an Indian, but I like to be realistic. :)

[@dtana8057]

Dumbass

[@akkykumar8599]

your sense of humor is like Indians and it's good fight with challenges with Lough . One thing is India have great diversity even an Indian move 100 km he will found a different language and customs but it's fun . Last thing India also have clean places . So if some one wants to come India say these word which every Indian say before going on a daring task " Jo hoga dekha jayega "

[@jamillah4927]

culture shock for sure..hehe, the way they look at ladies in different dress/attire ,its like their first time to saw a women..

[@rollojarvis6567]

I love listening to your videos. Just discovered you after doing a bit of research for a solo trip to india starting on Wednesday! Keep up the videos!

[@grrrltraveler]

+Rollo Jarvis ✊🏼✊🏼✊🏼Have a great trip! India truly a unique and incredible country. #tripofalifetime

[@rohan200931]

I don't know which part of the country you visited but India is a very vast country. If you come to cities like Bangalore you need not worry about anything that you mentioned in the video. But foreigners only visit places like Tamil nadu, Delhi, Mumbai these states are always in a rush and it is chaos. But there are places like Bangalore, Goa, Hyderabad where life is pretty high standard and calm.

[@udayrathod3786]

She must have been to old India I guess, Nothing like here in Gujarat too man. Half of it is right, but not completely.

[@gopalakrishnan7667]

+Uday Rathod hardik patel has a different opinion , I guess ......

[@udayrathod3786]

Gopala Krishnan He is just another Moron like Kejriwal only Patels from south Gujarat listen to him, a disgrace to Gujarat I would say

[@tgkrjpm]

huh|bangalore traffic is pathetic.....

[@smallfingerbiggod1396]

why can't u accept that ur a poor country. so pathetic

[@annagaynor3496]

You are one brave grrrltraveler This has never been on my bucket list but you make it adventurous

[@grrrltraveler]

You'd think it was dirty. haha. But it's made even Thailand feel boring for me at times. In Thailand, I had to search for things that could outperform India, when I really just wanted to be in India. I was grateful for the Thai street fruit vendors tho. Love those guys! Do you go to them?

[@OriginalBernieBro]

No public affection between spouses but men holding hands?! Hey that's Ethiopia, was married there in 2005. ;-)

[@DipakBose-bq1vv]

boys or men holding hands are not Homosexuals.

[@OriginalBernieBro]

Dipak Basu duh.

[@sunilphotographer5448]

I love my India I love my culture Bcz Indian culture is world best culture Here is love for seven lives and Seven birth relationship 🤗🤗🤗🤗 India is not poor, see here how big our heart is

[@shilpauchil4311]

accept it guys everything she said is true.

[@ujwalmokashi6702]

Kinda true in villages, Ill yell at her if she takes my pictures. She has lot of preconceived notions about India. One part of it India is not similar like other, in kerala they have better cameras than what she has? They look at her as a whatt a poor lady.

[@storykillers2986]

Have you seen her actual list of cameraS and tech gear she takes with her??? I think they cost your entire village.

[@saraferman5618]

Wow! Grrr you're really doing great ! I started following you since you begin and your videos just keep getting better.

[@grrrltraveler]

Awww.. thanks Sara!

[@thelogicless9040]

every body traveling to india what she says is true so be prepared

[@cezaraberezovschi2585]

Great video! Thanks a lot for sharing this valuable information!!!🙏🙏🙏

[@grrrltraveler]

Glad it was helpful!

[@TheVersysGuy]

don't just push one side of the coin..! BTW, Thanks for visiting; Atithi Devo Bhava :)

[@KellyC48999]

I was wondering, how do you maintain relationships (be it friends or romantic) when you travel around so much? What about when you're abroad, how difficult is it to have meaningful friendships with those you meet? Great video btw!

[@abbujaan]

hahaha it's a life learning 'accept it move on '

[@PatMaxAdventures]

Great tips! Best way to get through so many aspects of taveling and different cultures. "Accept it, move on" Love it! ^^

[@markkhamiri5632]

Am in the airplane right now going to visit New Delhi it's my first time and this video sounds scray ,but am up to changallage

[@ankitvatsal5565]

Mark Khamiri how was your experience plz tell

[@Moonmayi]

Overall a good video covering all the topics needed. But i would like to add a point here, Your(everyone's) experience of India is subjective and really depends on the place or city you are visiting. If you want the calm and serene vacation like experience you might consider visiting urban cities or scenic beauties like udaipur,The himalayan states(Himachal and the north east India) Andaman nicobar islands,Goa,dehradun etc and avoid chaotic places especially crowded cities. Going to chaotic places when your intention was a lazy vacation wont make sense. However if youre up to an adventure and have thrill of exploring different places, this part of India will give you exactly the adventure you came here for. If you want to wear shorts go to urbanized metropolises where the Locals themselves wear shorts instead of going to a remote village where the people are still new to the concept of revealing(not in a bad way tho,I just didnt find another suitable word) clothes and the locals themselves dont wear short clothes so you'll end up being the only one wearing those and end up attracting attention. In places like Mumbai,Pune,Banglore,Goa,North east etc

[@1993satyaprakash]

wow...u nailed it..amazing ma'am I am sorry not able to catch u r name but,what u just said its all true..

[@AnuragGupta2410]

For staring issues, even I get it when I visit any village or township in India where people have not been out to see the world. I have typical Indian looks but my hairstyle or my jogging in 3/4ths or my bag pack also attracts stare. I think it's because people are either admiring you or are find you strange. And we all stare atleast once at strange things, don't we. 😎

[@lynnrogers2855]

i just spent a month all over in India. (April 2017). I think she is trying very hard to gloss over the realities of India. Let's face it, in India, poverty is overwhelming. Beggers and poor people are everywhere. I have never seen a single person in a white starched shirt. Are you kidding me! And trash is ubiquitous! Why don't the people pick up the trash? Not to mention cows, camels, dogs mixing with vehicles and people in the roads. You can imagine the animal droppings all over the roads. So dirty. India needs to clean up big time!

[@samREDICEbunny]

Lynn Rogers you are absolutely right

[@akshay288]

Not to mention cows, camels, dogs mixing with vehicles and people in the roads. You can imagine the animal droppings all over the roads .. thats becoz we think everyone has right to live .. Have you seen any stray dog in USA either they caught till someone adopt it or they are killed.

[@goddessofjinx6043]

This is the perfect way to explain India! Love it.

[@parulnigam13]

Must have stayed in some cheap hotel. Spend some money and take a decent hotel. Just coz u have visited slums you have generalised all indians. See whole of india then comment. Good luck.

[@grrrltraveler]

Since 2009 I've been staying at various hotels all across India-- north to south, east to west, Mumbai to Kerala, Ladakh to Delhi, Varanasi to Sikkim. Probabbly more than you've stayed at hotels in your country. So I'm commenting as a western traveler. Quality ranges and just because you pay more, the quality doesn't always get better. You don't like what I say, do your own video on India.

[@MJ-rn4km]

well said :) I have been brought up in a poor family myself in india and now have settled in UK and I totally agree with u, even though India is progressing, majority of it is still poor, something that's very hard to accept to us indians because we respect our country and culture so much. Great video though!

[@TrainTransportShortsOfficial]

Parul Nigam good luck?!Wow ur so rude

[@atifkhanthegreat]

no indian have even seen whole of india, its stupid to expect her to see all of India. Also she made this video a foreign tourist point of view.

[@ra-wj1wl]

Parul Nigam girl you seem offended for no reason. I was 15 when i first moved out of my home, since then I've been living all by myself and believe me every girl(doesn't matter if you're indian or not) will exactly have the same perception.

[@swatcat9605]

You go girl ! Please ignore all the negative comments. It's no surprise most of them are men or sheltered women who are totally oblivious to the fact that women in India go through or are vulnerable to sexual harrasement in a public place. I really appreciate your efforts as a tourist to understand and respect the culture of different country. It was all positive and really helpful to a tourist coming from a western culture

[@partagashabaneros]

To all real Indians who just watched this video, let us strongly support PM Modi’s initiatives like swachh bharat(clean India)so that next time tourists like this lady don’t have to “accept” anything. Being dirty and rude cannot be a culture, it is lack of nationalism and lack of culture. This is the side effect of Muslim vote bank based politics for so long.

[@jyotishmansarma8207]

You know the india they show on tv and advertise. The north eastern region is very nice, hygienic, and fun.

[@anoushkasharma5359]

i am an indian i do not know what useless things she is saying about Indians.Indians are not conservative .Now India has totally changed.

[@baldevsinhdabhi5032]

Anoushka Sharma yes right

[@mla--v6930]

Changed since when???

[@SuperCOCOPANDA]

Anoushka Sharma you have to travel abroad to see what the rest of the world lives like. India is extremely conservative

[@rajavarma3894]

Tan don't worry about us our future is bright

[@isthisronnie]

Thanks so much for sharing! I am going to travel India for 2 months in October and I found this really helpful 😊

[@nzron7899]

I hv a camera too bigger better costlier than yours....n i m just a regular indian

[@grrrltraveler]

See my camera equipment video. This is a my 2ndary vlog camera

[@TheOriginalKvhups]

hehe! Cool video Christine. Thanks for sharing this vlog. I want to start traveling (from Canada), is India a good place to start?

[@TheUjjwal1]

I was painful but its true. thanks.

[@matthewhendricks5712]

Thank you for this extremely helpful video. I am traveling to India by myself in 2 months time and I am suuuuper excited. but I also feel like a bit of travel noob with regards to this country. I know I need to be very prepared. The adventure is exhilarating XD

[@sudiptadey6476]

you shouldn't criticise any country by just visiting them for once or twice for tour purpose. you are talking about a particular part of india,you can not judge an entire country .I doubt, you have stayed in dirty or cheap areas for sure for saving your money.

[@rishabh2885]

Sudipta Dey wth...she isn't criticising she is just telling her opinion which is TRUTH

[@TrainTransportShortsOfficial]

Sudipta Dey silly woman 80% of India is poor

[@atifkhanthegreat]

you mean she should have stayed in some 5 or 7 star hotel and never explore rest of India

[@videoloops1]

Great video! Keep them coming ;) P.S: you're beautiful!

[@wasabii1375]

I don't agree with u... India isn't a conservative country... some of them r who live in villages... not the people in cities....I wear shorts n dresses n tank tops daily n walk around the city like a normal human being.. it's totally normal

[@amishakhatri3963]

shakshi dass 'some of them who live in villages'? Umm.. 67% Indian population still lives in rural areas so that makes them the majority

[@amishakhatri3963]

shakshi dass you must be from a big city, and again big cities of India are way too westernised and not traditional at all so thats not a true representation of India. Accept it and move on :) Not every Indian lives in big cities

[@manasad4721]

Hon, I live in a conservative joint family at the heart of Delhi. I am not allowed to wear shorts at home, and my mere interaction with the male species is frowned upon. But I still do it, cuz #rebelforlife. It takes a good mouth for argument and a sense of self-confidence to make them see your way. It's a battle I'm glad I fight every day because at least my younger sisters don't face the same restrictions as I do.

[@wasabii1375]

Amisha Khatri I live in Patiala...its nt a big city...nobody wears shorts n dresses..only I do...still I don't face any problems

[@direnokra7993]

Manasa D , well ,depends on what type of people you live around,simple

[@26jrodriguez]

I really enjoyed this video! You are so funny and adaptable. I loved the “Accept that and move on!” Lol I’m a single mother and I would love to solo adventure just like you do. In a few years my kids will be old enough for me to take off and learn from different cultures. I’m sure you have a lot to share. I thought about a camera with instant picture printing features to give away to those in India. That would be a life memory for them. I loved this video! Thank you for sharing and yes, I’m now subscribed to your channel. 😊

[@ritvick9179]

lol that's all true

[@shibaprasad3367]

best positive way of enlightening people about INDIA i have ever seen...Thanks Christine

[@garrygarry6603]

Well most of the things which you have mentioned doesn't co relate to India and most unacceptable part is when someone stare at your camera, its completely non sense as the picture which you have shown are taken in most remote part of India in villages where people are illiterate. I feel bad that you have not visited Indian cities where people are enjoying there life in more better ways and got all luxuries. I can guarantee you just go to any Indian city and no one even look at you, if anyone does than the only reason can be your strange behavior or childish acts which we are not used to at public places. Second thing your off white bed sheets, if you stay in low budget hostels what can you expect, five star hotels in India are much more luxurious than what in your country. So please if you want to be a traveler than ready to spent some money, otherwise don't complain. Finally we are ones who are going to rule the world and in coming years even homeless people in india will carry i-phones and better gadgets than you got. And please dont make any one star or make them feel special, they don't need your sympathy. They are more than happy with what they have. NAMASKAR

[@MoonLight-sd6fk]

shes just talking about the good and bad. Theres good and bad aspects about each country. No need to make her feel bad by showing off that you're going to rule the world one day.Just accept it and move on. Peace

[@TrainTransportShortsOfficial]

garry garry lmao embarrassed low ego man spotted

[@TrainTransportShortsOfficial]

What a load of nonsense 😂

[@ABanRocks]

The staring is a big problem in India. My sister is Indian but she has brown hair. Everyone kept staring at her and this was in Kolkata. It was so weird.

[@alex-sv8ru]

+Adi B haha, my mom is Indian, she has brown hair aswell. One of my classmates had brown hair aswell. It ain't that uncommon in India i think.

[@supriyobanerjee6387]

Quite perceptive and humorous .Liked it !Love from India .

[@eddiemartinez265]

I would never go there Now thailand that is one country i want to see good video.

[@Skyknight12]

So go and comment on a video on Thailand. Why are you even watching this video?

[@vatas2020]

This is not truth ... Our culture is as old as civilization itself .. think about it.. vatas [e-mail]

[@theresahutch168]

Thank you so much for these videos. I'll be going to India next winter for a month by myself. One question that I'd love to know about is about common phrases to be polite as well as tipping suggestions. thanks in advance!

[@Preetpandher9]

There are few things that I don't agree with you on but I really like that you were quite mindful of the vocabulary you used during the video, and yes acceptance is the key. Good job

[@melissav.2761]

Hi Christine! I LOVE your videos! What is the camera you are holding up here? I am going to travel India next year

[@encryptedcodename8109]

Hello I’m a half Indian born and raised raised in America and I realize that I might have to go there someday so I appreciate your tips. Thank you!

[@varun0491]

This is the most honest, unbiased vlogging loved it :)

[@grrrltraveler]

Thank you so much for you kind feedback!